Carl Levin

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Carl Levin

Chairman, US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Carl Levin

Carl Levin is due to retire in 2015. He has been Michigan’s senior senator since 1995 and in that time his influence on taxation has been profound and far-reaching. He has initiated the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act, introduced the Levin-Grassley Bill (Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act) aimed at shoring up tax information reporting efforts to prevent money laundering and tax evasion by requiring states to obtain beneficial ownership information, as well as producing or commissioning various reports including one from the Government Accountability Office in July this year, which showed that effective tax rates for American companies are well below the top statutory rate of 35%.

But his most notable influence on the world of taxation in the past 12 months has been in pulling Apple representatives before the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

In May, Levin grilled Apple executives including Tim Cook, chief executive officer (and Global Tax 50 entrant alongside Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt; and pulled no punches in doing so.

“Apple wasn’t satisfied with shifting its profits to a low-tax offshore tax haven,” said Levin. “Apple sought the Holy Grail of tax avoidance. It has created offshore entities holding tens of billions of dollars, while claiming to be tax resident nowhere. We intend to highlight that gimmick and other Apple offshore tax avoidance tactics.”

Corporate tax issues have been something of a family affair for the Levins. Brother Sander, the ranking member on the House Ways & Means Committee, which he chaired from 2010-11, appeared in the 2010 and 2011 versions of International Tax Review’s Global Tax 50, where he was recognised for working diligently to put the US economy and tax market back on the map.

Testament to the longevity of the family’s impact, Carl also appeared in last year’s list, which noted his long history of opposition to tax havens and doggedness in ensuring the issue of offshore tax evasion caught the attention of the media and wider public.

Further reading

Camp and Levin progress US tax reform efforts through working groups

Where the fiscal cliff agreement leaves US tax reform

GAO report shows US effective tax rates much lower than statutory 35%


The Global Tax 50 2013

« Previous

Armando Lara Yaffar

View the complete list

Next »

Tizhong Liao

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Indirect tax professionals now rate compliance as a bigger obstacle than technology and automation; in other news, Italy approved a VAT cut on art sales
AI-powered tax agents are likely to be the next big development in tax technology, says Russell Gammon of Tax Systems
FTI Consulting’s EMEA head of employment tax and reward tells ITR about celebrating diversity in the profession, his love of musicals, and what makes tax cool
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump have agreed that the countries will look to conclude a deal by July 21, 2025
The firm’s lack of transparency regarding its tax leaks scandal should see the ban extended beyond June 30, senators Deborah O’Neill and Barbara Pocock tell ITR
Despite posing significant administrative hurdles, digital services taxes remain ‘the best way forward’ for emerging economies, says Neil Kelley, COO of Ascoria
A ‘joint understanding’ among G7 countries that ‘defends American interests’ is set to be announced, Scott Bessent claimed
The ‘big four’ firm’s inaugural annual report unveiled a sharp drop in profits for 2024; in other news, Baker McKenzie and Perkins Coie expanded their US tax benches
Representatives from the two countries focused on TP as they met this week to evaluate progress under a previously signed agreement – it is understood
The UK accountancy firm’s transfer pricing lead tells ITR about his expat lifestyle, taking risks, and what makes tax cool
Gift this article