Constitutions: Could paying a ‘fair share’ of tax already be enshrined in law?

Joe Stanley-Smith

January 25 2017

Politicians and campaigners are fond of saying that companies should pay their ‘fair share’ of tax, but the phrase is over-used and lacks legal meaning and backing, becoming little more than a cliché. However, new research has identified clauses in the Constitutions of 15 countries – including two of the G7 member states – which identify an obligation to contribute to the public purse. Joe Stanley-Smith explores how this could force companies to take more notice of the fair-share debate.

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Joe Stanley-Smith

Editor ITR

Joe manages ITR’s online and print coverage, and the publication’s events worldwide. He covers a range of tax issues affecting multinational corporations, particularly indirect tax matters and case studies.

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