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Research Paper on Tax Havens from Canada

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Whether you are an individual citizen or a multinational companies (MNCs) you are subjected to a tax. Certain offshore jurisdiction around the globe offers lower tax rates and other tax features. It is designed to attract domestic and foreign investors seeking an opportunity to game the tax code and maximize profits. The Canada Revenue Agency has defined Tax Havens as jurisdictions with no tax, or very low rates of taxation; strict bank secrecy provisions; a lack of transparency in the operation of its tax system, and a lack of effective exchange of information with other countries. As shown in (Desai, Foley, and Hines Jr 2004), examples of such Tax Havens include Ireland, Luxembourg, Singapore, and various Caribbean island nations in America. According to Tax Justice Networks 2012 report, approximately USD $21 trillion to $32 trillion is sheltered from taxes in unreported Tax Havens worldwide. Canada has suffered tax revenue loss of $7.8 Billion annually as a result of Tax Havens (Canadians for Tax Fairness [CTF], 2013).

In 2007, US president Barack Obama and his Senators C.Laevin and N.Coleman noted “Offshore Tax Havens have declared economic war on honest U.S. taxpayers”. Apple is among 82 of the top 100 publicly traded U.S. companies that operate subsidiaries in Tax Haven jurisdiction as of 2012 (U.S.PIRG, 2012). Every dollar in taxes that MNCs and top tier wealthy individuals avoid by using Tax Havens must be balanced by those honest taxpayers paying higher taxes. Every contribution in tax is reflected in our infrastructure, health system, public safety, school, and other essential services provided by government to keep us safe and to grow the economy (OECD, 2010). The burden of bearing higher taxes widen the income inequality gap and keeps unemployment and underemployment numbers high.

As noted above Tax Haven is a global issue. Organizations

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