AIBU to think the Treasury needs to investigate Shell's latest tax dodge?

[Hortesne]

Calling themselves "Adura", they are nominally merging part of their operations with a loss making company to avoid paying tax.

https://globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/shells-adura-will-see-oil-giant-dodge-13-billion-in-uk-tax/

Wow

Nothing surprises me anymore tbh

Going after them could really be the making of keir starmer tbh, as a man of the people

Why would they investigate it?
Tax avoidance is legitimate.

Not all tax avoidance is legitimate. Specifically, loss buying is not legitimate, under the Corporation Tax Act.

ALL tax avoidance is legitimate. No exceptions.

Tax evasion is what is illegal.

If this is evasion, rather than avoidance, I am sure HMRC will already be looking into it.

I am also sure that Shell has employed enough accountants and tax barristers to make damn sure it isn't.

Avoidance is not legitimate when the sole purpose of an activity or created entity is to avoid tax. That's a basic principle of tax legislation.

As to the other things you're sure of, well you may be right, even though you're wrong about tax avoidance. But, I think it's worth checking, don't you? At least worth asking. That's a lot of money right there. And at the bare minimum, it's worth pointing out to people, as we head into winter, what this corporation is up to.

@mumofoneAloneandwell I agree that this could be a good move by the government. It would sit well with us ordinary mortals who can't dodge tax by making up imaginary companies.