Ross McClure

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With the second and third releases of ATO tax transparency data, the was no reaction from the financial markets at all, not even for those firms included in the disclosures. BEN RUSHTON/AAP

Revealing how much tax companies pay doesn’t move markets or reduce tax avoidance

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney; Brett Govendir, University of Technology Sydney; Peter Wells, University of Technology Sydney, and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

Mandatory tax return disclosures for large companies were designed to increase public awareness of tax avoidance - but a new study reveals they may not work.
If Australia adopted a similar approach to the Hong Kong to eliminate debt loading abuse, United States oil and gas giant Chevron would have been denied A$6.275 billion in interest deductions. Ray Strange/AAP

Chevron is just the start: modelling shows how many billions in revenue the government is missing out on

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney; Brett Govendir, University of Technology Sydney, and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

New modelling shows governments need to ensure that corporations benefiting from the use of Australia’s resources, are contributing the same as they do in other jurisdictions.
The amount of tax payable from Australian corporations went down in this latest report. www.shutterstock.com

The tax office’s transparency reporting is looking a little opaque

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney; Brett Govendir, University of Technology Sydney, and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

As long as the ATO doesn’t question why companies are reporting zero tax payable on their income, the public won’t know if serious tax avoidance is happening.
BHP Billiton is reporting details of its tax thanks to new UK regulations, however its still not completely transparent. David Crosling/AAP

Australian companies have more work to do on tax transparency

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

A number of Australian companies have released tax reports to the public in a bid to show transparency, however those reports are still incomplete.
BHP Billiton’s Andrew Mackenzie said his firm has an effective tax rate of 45%. AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

FactCheck: Is BHP Billiton Australia’s largest taxpayer, averaging $8‑10b in tax a year?

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

BHP Billiton’s Andrew Mackenzie says his firm is Australia’s largest taxpayer, pays an average of $8 - $10 billion of tax in Australia every year and has an effective tax rate of 45%. Is that right?
Microsoft Corporation’s Bill Sample, Google Australia’s Maile Carnegie and Corporate Vice President of Apple Australia Tony King appeared before Senate committee public hearings on corporate tax avoidance last week. AAP/Nikki Short

Explainer: the difference between tax avoidance and evasion

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

Tax avoidance or tax evasion? One is legal and one isn’t, but there are acres of grey area in-between.
Pressure is growing on Apple to pay more tax in Australia. Justin Lane/EPA/AAP

Without US support, multinational tax crackdowns will fail

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

It’s no secret that companies including Apple, Google, Amazon, Uber, Airbnb and Ikea seem to pay less than their fair share of tax in Australia. Despite booking huge revenues from sales to Australian customers…
Treasurer Joe Hockey has picked up the pace on tax information sharing, in response to a push by the OECD. Dave Hunt/AAP

What’s needed for Australia to seriously tackle tax avoidance

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

Despite Treasurer Joe Hockey’s continued statements that the government is doing “everything we can … to ensure that companies that earn profits in Australia pay tax in Australia”, the federal government…
Westfield Retail Trust’s chairman Richard Warburton deferred a vote on controversial plans to spin off the group. AAP/Dan Himbrechts

Westfield’s stoush should shine light on tax paid by property trusts

Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney and Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney

Reports of the Westfield Group’s attempts to push through a A$15 billion restructure - complete with a boisterous showdown last Thursday - have mostly concentrated around the effect of the deal on its…

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