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Speaking after a meeting with Bavaria's state Cabinet atop the Zugspitze mountain, Germany's highest peak, Merz said that continuing with the 15% minimum tax in Europe would put the continent’s economy at a disadvantage.

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[–] JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Not necessarily. If that were universally true, all multinational companies would have their seat in the country with the cheapest taxes, which they clearly do not. There are other factors. But yes, it’s one of them.

You're correct in that it's not universally true, but their premise is mostly accurate. Especially in a world which increasingly sees income generated by low-friction IT services. These can be easily relocated.

The global minimum tax isn’t that. It literally wouldn’t matter if the USA were in or out, because the broad global agreement means, if the Americans don’t collect the 15%, some other country can and will.

I'm not sure you understand how this tax treaty is intended to work, or in fact how income taxes work with regards to tax domiciles. Business tax is levied against profit accrued in the location in which the sale is ascribed. Microsoft can sell a German an Office license, and they are liable for zero tax on any profit if the sale is from the U.S. entity. However any products sold in Germany are liable for VAT, and that requires a tax presence. VAT is outside the scope of this tax treaty. It is concerned almost exclusively with tax on profit. By instituting a floor, it doesn't matter if Microsoft domiciles in Germany or Ireland. They're subject the same minimum taxation on profit. This avoids situations like the Double Irish Dutch Sandwich.

The user above is correct: if the U.S. won't impose a tax floor, companie can and will relocate their (at least for tax purposes), if their tax floor (including subsidies and exemptions) is lower.

[–] Don_alForno@feddit.org 1 points 13 hours ago

Microsoft can sell a German an Office license, and they are liable for zero tax on any profit if the sale is from the U.S. entity.

That is a political decision and can be changed at will.

The user above is correct: if the U.S. won't impose a tax floor, companie can and will relocate their (at least for tax purposes), if their tax floor (including subsidies and exemptions) is lower.

If it were that simple, Trump would not have had to threaten the G7 for an exception for his companies, he could just have withdrawn from the treaty. This is about the other countries in the treaty not taxing american companies. Because that is the only way you can combat tax havens: by collecting the tax that wasn't paid there yourself, regardless of company presence. "Wanna do business here? Pay your Tages." Companies can evade that if it's just one or two countries doing it, but not if it's a broad alliance.