Commenting ahead of the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s new report on tax avoidance in the UK, Christian Aid has called for decisive action.
Alex Prats, the churches' global development agency's Principal Adviser on Economic Justice, said: "Tax avoidance is a major problem across the world and it’s especially devastating for developing countries, which lose billions every year as a result of tax avoidance by multinationals."
He continued: "Their tax authorities also have to contend with multinational companies’ armies of highly-paid accountants and tax lawyers. It’s not a fair fight.
"The UK could very easily help poor countries start catching up with multinationals by using next month’s Budget to require such firms to reveal the tax avoidance schemes that affect developing countries.
"The Chancellor has promised action at the G8 and G20. He should also use his power, under bilateral and multilateral treaties, to tell developing countries’ tax authorities about the schemes, and help them recover taxes dodged by British multinationals."
Christian Aid is part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF… campaign, which is calling for the forthcoming Budget to include this important reform.
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