I know it's popular to think that companies should pay their fair share, but the reality is that any taxes that are successfully levied on a company are simply passed on to their customers. So really it's all of us who pay those taxes anyway. If Amazon is forced to cough up more taxes they'll just raise prices by that same percent. Except for some sectors like agriculture that can't pass their costs on.
It is not all of us at all, it is all of us who shop there, and only to the degree to which we do so. I for one go out of my way to avoid shopping with Amazon, so not only am I perfectly content to have their prices go up, I actually welcome it because when Amazon pays a lower tax rate they get an unfair advantage over other businesses and I like more choice in the market.
Whether it's all people or some people is relatively immaterial. The fact is *people* pay the taxes in one form or another. So while you're correct that companies are hesitant to raise prices too much to cover taxes, the fact is that tax still has to come from somewhere, meaning from *someone*. I read a study recently that estimated nearly 70% of US corporate tax paid by a company is ultimately borne by the workers of that corporation in the form lowered pay. As you pointed out, companies are hesitant to raise prices too much to stay competitive. So it has to come from somewhere in the form of reducing expenses, and the largest expense of most corporations is labor. The rest of the tax paid comes from their customers. Very little of it comes out of the salaries paid to executives, which I think is the effect that many are looking for.
Whether it's all people or some people is relatively immaterial
No, it's the entire point. When Amazon dodges tax, everyone else has to pay for it. When they pay tax then their customers have to pay it or their staff have to pay it. Either way it's their choice to shop or work there.
I'm very happy if Amazon goes bust. Whether it's because they have to pay their tax or their staff I really don't care. Other companies manage to do both; if Amazon is so incompetent that it can only survive on subsidies (which is what it's getting now) then fuck 'em.
Always try to do things in chronological order; it's less confusing that way.
Who actually pays the taxes? (Score:2)
I know it's popular to think that companies should pay their fair share, but the reality is that any taxes that are successfully levied on a company are simply passed on to their customers. So really it's all of us who pay those taxes anyway. If Amazon is forced to cough up more taxes they'll just raise prices by that same percent. Except for some sectors like agriculture that can't pass their costs on.
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
It is not all of us at all, it is all of us who shop there, and only to the degree to which we do so. I for one go out of my way to avoid shopping with Amazon, so not only am I perfectly content to have their prices go up, I actually welcome it because when Amazon pays a lower tax rate they get an unfair advantage over other businesses and I like more choice in the market.
Re:Who actually pays the taxes? (Score:2)
Whether it's all people or some people is relatively immaterial. The fact is *people* pay the taxes in one form or another. So while you're correct that companies are hesitant to raise prices too much to cover taxes, the fact is that tax still has to come from somewhere, meaning from *someone*. I read a study recently that estimated nearly 70% of US corporate tax paid by a company is ultimately borne by the workers of that corporation in the form lowered pay. As you pointed out, companies are hesitant to raise prices too much to stay competitive. So it has to come from somewhere in the form of reducing expenses, and the largest expense of most corporations is labor. The rest of the tax paid comes from their customers. Very little of it comes out of the salaries paid to executives, which I think is the effect that many are looking for.
Re: (Score:2)
Whether it's all people or some people is relatively immaterial
No, it's the entire point. When Amazon dodges tax, everyone else has to pay for it. When they pay tax then their customers have to pay it or their staff have to pay it. Either way it's their choice to shop or work there.
I'm very happy if Amazon goes bust. Whether it's because they have to pay their tax or their staff I really don't care. Other companies manage to do both; if Amazon is so incompetent that it can only survive on subsidies (which is what it's getting now) then fuck 'em.