Microsoft Microshaft pays just 0.04% Tax

As if we needed another reason to dislike Microsoft…

Accounts for Microsoft Ireland Research, an Irish subsidiary of the global software giant, show that the company paid just €460,000 in tax, on profits of more than €1.2 billion last year, by using provisions in Irish tax law to take its corporation tax bill down from €158m. Much of Microsoft’s international profits are channelled through Ireland, but because the main company for Microsoft’s activities has unlimited liability, it does not have to file detailed accounts.

That is so totally disgraceful.

And as my partner at The Open Learning Centre just pointed out to me, it almost certainly means that they pay little or no tax whatsoever here in the UK – it all gets channelled through Ireland. So the public money that they steal receive for education etc, has zero tax recovery. I wonder if the National Audit Office would consider this good use of taxpayer’s money?

I’m so glad I have nothing whatsoever nothing to do with them.

Oh yes. And when somebody starts extolling the virtues of Bill’s philanthropy, just remind them of where his money came from.

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