TJN-USA is committed to a socially just, democratic and progressive system of taxation.

We oppose the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and the very rich to launder profits and hide income from taxes so that the middle class pays more, small national businesses suffer unfair competition, and public services for most of us are cut.

We oppose the tax looting of developing countries that contributes to their poverty.
 
Where do Presidential Candidates Stand on Tax Havens?
TJN-USA calls on the presidential candidates to declare what they would do to combat tax evasion -- particularly how they would block the use of the offshore bank and corporate secrecy to enable corporations and the very rich to dodge their fair taxes. Candidates who support tax havens are for higher taxes -- for everyone who doesn't cheat. (See what Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz says about tax havens on this video.)
hillaryclinton.jpg
Barak_Obama.jpgBarack Obama is co-sponsor of the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act. 

Hillary Clinton says she would focus on changing the tax code to make it harder for companies to "hide profit offshore." But she hasn't cosponsored the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act. Why not?

John McCain: He hasn't cosponsored the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act either. Or talked about the issue. Why not? Sen. McCain: What's your position? 
Read more...
 
What a tax haven editor says about Obama PDF Print E-mail
The Obama factor
Cayman Net News, Jan 14, 2008

Editorial
Although the Barack Obama bandwagon went off course in New Hampshire last week's primary leading up to the US presidential election in November - and whether this is permanent or temporary remains to be seen - it seems clear that he is going to be a significant influence in politics in the United States in general and the Democratic Party in particular for many years to come.

It is therefore worth looking at Mr Obama's public attitude towards the Cayman Islands and other offshore centres that are commonly described as tax havens.

In virtually every speech or debate Mr Obama refers to Ugland House on South Church Street in Grand Cayman, a building that houses thousands of corporations, calling it "the biggest tax scam on record."

To Mr Obama, it is nothing more than a haven for thieves and cheats.

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Levin Provision Will Prohibit Federal Contracts to U.S. Companies that Move Offshore to Avoid Taxes PDF Print E-mail
Carl_Levin.jpgLevin: The federal government should not be rewarding tax scofflaws with lucrative federal contracts

Dec 20, 2007
A provision authored by Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., to bar the award of all future federal government contracts to any U.S. company that has avoided paying federal taxes by setting up a phony headquarters offshore has been approved by Congress and is on its way to the President to be signed into law. 

"We should not be rewarding tax scofflaws who establish offshore shell corporations to avoid paying U.S. taxes with lucrative contracts at taxpayer expense," said Levin.  "For the vast majority of American companies who play by the rules, this is a matter of fairness: they should not have to compete with tax dodgers to win federal contracts.  I am pleased that this provision will take corporate tax dodgers off the government payroll."

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemns offshore tax cheating by the rich PDF Print E-mail
PBS NewsHour, Dec 13, 2007

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House, said today in a TV interview:

nancy_pelosi_pbs.jpg "Imagine this: 5,000 people, the wealthiest people in America, who are sheltering their income offshore to the tune of billions of dollars, they would rather keep that intact for them than to pay for tax relief for 23 million families."

She denounced "the evasion of taxes of those CEOs of certain hedge funds and other private equity firms who are sheltering their income offshore."

She said: "The difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that they would rather give tax breaks to 5,000 people in our country. Imagine this: 5,000 people, the wealthiest people in America, who are sheltering their income offshore to the tune of billions of dollars, they would rather keep that intact for them than to pay for tax relief for 23 million families, 5,000, 23 million."

Here is the excerpt of her interview with reporter Gwen Ifill.
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Top Democratic candidates attack offshore tax havens PDF Print E-mail
Corporate taxes: a hot hot button
Republicans push 1986-like changes, Bush cuts; Dems try populist line by attacking tax loopholes
By Nicholas Rummell
Crane's Financial Week, Nov 26, 2007

Obama, Edwards and Clinton all speak out against offshore tax evasion: excerpts

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who has blamed corporate special interests for a jerry-rigged tax code with $1 trillion worth of tax havens and loopholes. Mr. Obama has called for an international tax evasion watch list for corporations using offshore tax havens, eliminating certain foreign tax deductions for multinational companies and taxing carried interest at higher levels.

Mr. Edwards has talked mostly about tax havens and avoidance. He wants to increase the amount of time the Internal Revenue Service can take to investigate offshore tax havens, as well as to increase penalties on illegal havens and prohibit contingency fees for corporate tax advisers helping to stash money offshore.

Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton .... also has said she would focus on changing the tax code to make it harder for companies to "hide profit offshore."
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What a tax haven editor says about Huckabee PDF Print E-mail
Huckabee vs. offshore investing
Caymanian Compass, Jan 21, 2008

Editorial
The Cayman Islands is scheduled to host Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee next month when he will be the keynote speaker at the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards banquet.

The former Arkansas governor and winner of the recent Iowa caucus has been here before, speaking previously at a Young Caymanian Leadership Award event. This time, however, he is a far more prominent figure and his recent comments about the Cayman Islands and offshore tax havens as a burden on the American economy promise to make his visit very interesting.

During a recent appearance on NBC's Today Show, Mr. Huckabee made a point to stress that he is "not the guy hiding money in the Cayman Islands".

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Breaking News
Incomes for Super Rich Grow Faster Than Their Taxes
By Robert Frank
Wall St. Journal, March 5, 2008,

A new report by the IRS on America'stop 400 income-tax payers shows that the super-wealthy are gaining a largershare of the income pie, but are paying a lower share of taxes.

The report, obtained by my Journal colleague Tom Herman, profiles the so-called Fortunate 400 (as measured by ... read more

Liechtenstein: Senators Carl Levin and Norm Coleman, Senate Investigations Subcommittee, supports
March 5, 2008

Statement of Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich) and Senator Norm Coleman(R-Minn) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Yesterday, the 27 Finance Ministers of the European Union (EU) displayed renewed determination to crack down on tax havens that trade in secrecy and facilitate tax dodging at theexpense of honest taxpayers around the ... read more

Stop this timidity in ending tax haven abuse
By John Christensen and David Spencer
Financial Times, March 4 2008

The Liechtenstein Affair could be a watershed in the fight against tax evasion, organised crimeand corruption. Germany is rallying support in Europe to crack down ontax havens and financial secrecy. News commentary headlines such as"Blockade the Tax Havens" capture a fast-changing mood. In the US, Democratic senators ... read more

Congress targeting corporate tax dodgers in Cayman trip
By CNN, March 4, 2008

Congressional investigators are in the Cayman Islands this week to determine if some U.S. businesses are taking a vacation from paying their taxes. More than $100 billion in uncollected taxes may be related to corporate tax havens.

  • GAO says probes into offshore tax compliance can outlast statute of limitations
  • Investigators to ... read more

    • Blog
    Tax dodger Bono doesn't deserve Constitution Center "Liberty Medal"
    By Lucy Komisar
    Co-chair TJN-USA

    Rock star tax dodger Bono (Paul Hewson) and his anti-African-poverty organization last week were given the "Liberty Medal" by The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1988 through the Constitution Heritage Act. The award to Bono was extremely inappropriate.

    The Center is dedicated to increasing awareness about the Constitution and its relevance in Americans' daily lives. According to the Center's press release, the Liberty Medal reflects the values of the U.S. Constitution - a belief in justice, fairness, self-governance, and a ... read more

    Does the World Bank know what stolen assets are?
    By TJN International
    Sept 17, 2007

    The World Bank has launched its Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative, a scheme the Bank says will "help developing countries recover assets stolen by corrupt leaders, help invest them in effective development programs and combat safe havens internationally." The Bank estimates the cross-border flow of the global proceeds from criminal activities, corruption, and tax evasion at between $1 trillion and $1.6 trillion per year.

    TJN should be clear: this is excellent progress, for several reasons. First, it mentions "tax evasion" -- a matter that is so often swept under the carpet ... read more

    Offshore shell games threaten global financial system
    By Lucy Komisar, Co-chair TJN-USA

    There's an astonishing article in the Washington Post's Business Section ("Risk. Now They See It. Now You Don't." Sept 16, 2007)

    The Post, which has never, ever, railed against tax havens, is now suggesting that their use to cheat tax authorities and investors threatens the entire global financial system. Of course, it doesn't put it so starkly, but that's the gist.

    The Post says, "Over the past few years, major banks figured out how to use "conduits" and "structured investment vehicles" to earn big fees while playing cute little games of tax ... read more

    "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes."
    By Joseph Horgan, Project Director TJN-USA

    For most of us "little people," we can be sure of two things: Death and taxes. For Leona Helmsley and the wealthiest few, death is the only sure thing. Helmsley's death this past week reminded us of her conviction for evading $4 million in taxes. And the infamous quote.1

    The trial also increased the statures of then US Attorney Rudy Giuliani, who prosecuted the case, and Judge Walker, whose cousin, President George Hebert Walker Bush, would shortly name him to the Federal Appeals Court.

    Compare the Helmsleys' evasion of $4 ... read more