Rise in “phantom” foreign direct investments is “just the way of doing business now”, according to the Tax Justice Network

The US threat of tariff retribution on France for its Digital Services Tax shows how tax on corporate giants has little to do with fairness and a lot to do with global economic power

ON THURSDAY [11 July], the French Senate passed the Digital Services Tax, a landmark levy on global tech giants. The tax will see digital companies with global revenue over $750 million have to pay 3 per cent of global revenues and sales to the French Government, raising an anticipated 500 million Euros.

The money saved from not going ahead with an air tax cut is about equivalent to the money to be spent on a “game-changer” in tackling child poverty – making progressive choices matters, Ben Wray finds

Bill Austin, Customs expert with 25 years experience and delegate to this weekend’s SNP spring conference, argues that closing the UK’s huge tax gap is a huge opportunity of independence – one that is totally absent from the Growth Commission report

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray takes a look at the Workplace Parking Levy, a rushed policy supposed to be about fairness and sustainability but which could anger low-income earners

THE Scottish right-wing press think they have found an issue which they can really hurt the SNP with. 

The Daily Mail is running daily front pages on the workplace car levy, claiming that “the great car park tax revolt” is underway. 

Company Chancellor has a financial stake in paid just £5,964 in tax on £1.6 million worth of profits over eight years

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray analyses yesterday’s draft Scottish Government budget, and looks at whether Finance Minister Derek Mackay’s attempt to position it in the centre-ground will win him parliamentary allies

MOST people aren’t paying much attention to the Scottish Budget this year, even the small minority who usually do pay attention to it. What with the severe crisis at Westminster, Holyrood’s finances aren’t getting much of a look in.

We’ve got news for you budget slackers – you aren’t missing much.

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray looks ahead to the Scottish Budget next week, and finds a choice for Finance Minister Derek Mackay – take wealth inequality seriously and scrap the Council Tax, or continue with the “don’t scare the middle classes” government-by-tweak politics

SINCE the devolution of Income Tax, there is now a common dynamic in the run-up to a Scottish Budget, which will be announced by Finance Minister Derek Mackay next Wednesday [12 December].

Russia most common place of origin for fraudsters using British overseas territories

A NEW report has identified over £250 billion in fraudulent funds directed through UK tax havens, more than over 20 years of the UK Government’s foreign aid budget.

The report, by Transparency International, examined the UK’s overseas territories, many of which act as tax havens for companies around the world to launder illegally obtained funds through.

The analysis comes as the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council is set to meet in London.

The Scottish Government will outline it’s spending plans for 2019/20 on 12 December – what options does it have, and what constraints is it working under? CommonSpace takes a look.

THE Fraser of Allander Institute’s new report on Scottish public finances provides an in-depth analysis of the situation Finance Minister Derek Mackay faces in his Scottish budget on 12 December.

CommonSpace has broken down four key findings of the report, and what it tells us about the likely opportunities and constraints the Scottish Government face in the budget.