The financial transactions tax (FTT), also known as the Tobin tax and the Robin Hood Tax, has been the stuff of legend for decades, discussed eagerly by academics and socialist economists, without ever gaining much traction in the mainstream. The financial crisis changed all that and, now José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, has come forward with a proposal for an EU-wide FTT, everyone will be talking about it.
The ECJ’s ruling in the Danfoss and Sauer Danfoss case means that taxpayers can reclaim VAT from the authorities where it has been charged in breach of EU law, but there are caveats.
When Jeffrey Owens announced his retirement as head of tax policy and administration at the OECD, the race was on to replace one of the most important figures in global tax affairs. Pascal Saint-Amans is that man and, in an exclusive interview, he discusses his priorities on transparency, transfer pricing and tax avoidance before taking up the position in February.
The UK Uncut protest group has backed calls for the resignation of Dave Hartnett, HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) permanent secretary, over a tax settlement with Goldman Sachs.
Michael Jacobs was former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s special adviser on the environment and is now a visiting professor at the London School of Economics. In an exclusive interview with Salman Shaheen of International Tax Review, Jacobs discusses his time formulating environmental tax policy at 10 Downing Street, the role tax can play in tackling climate change and just what he thinks of the new government’s record.
