Corporate Tax Avoidance

It’s no secret that large corporations are using loopholes to avoid taxes and the federal government is missing out on revenue that could help fund programs on the chopping block in upcoming budget negotiations. Between 2008 and 2012, more than two dozen corporations — Facebook, GE and Verizon among them — managed to avoid paying any income tax at all.

As the Sept. 30 federal budget deadline draws near, a coalition of local and national advocacy groups is asking Congress to end corporate tax avoidance. Here’s how you can help:

• Find out more about inequities in the corporate and individual tax system through Americans for Tax Fairness, one of the groups seeking to put pressure on Congress.
• Protests and actions are planned around the country, some of which are listed on the National People’s Action website and the Americans for Tax Fairness blog. Actions are already planned in New York City, Chicago, Des Moines, Bangor and Los Angeles in the next few days.
• If you don’t live in a city where people are marching, you can still take action. Amanda Devecka-Rinear, the national campaign director for National People’s Action, says, “we think the best way for people to amplify the message of the week of actions is to call their Senators and demand that they stop corporate tax dodging in the upcoming budget showdown.”