Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why tax corporations? (vanity)
Self | Nov 11, 2010 | Sten

Posted on 11/11/2010 1:47:02 PM PST by sten

I do not understand why the govt insists on taxing corporations, I mean beyond the basic "they just want the money" reason.

Let's say a corporation has $10m in sales... pays the various salaries and expenses necessary.... Then pushes some chunk to distribution (the shareholders)... All of which gets taxed normally... Leaving $2m in the corporate bank account.

At that point, the govt wants 40-50% or more.

I don't understand why. They say because the evil rich need to pay their fair share. But their fair share was paid from the distribution tax. The remaining money actually belongs to no person, but the corporation.

The only benefit of the money sitting in the corporate account would be to the employees... By insuring the company has the financial strength to weather the bad times... And to the people of the local community in which the bank sits, as the bank then has the funds to lend out for various individual loans

But when the govt grabs the money, it makes it more difficult for the company to survive... increasing the risk the company could go out of business ... Pushing the people into unemployment (which might be the point)

The current policies encourage corporations to perform the various gymnastics to avoid these taxes. This results in the money sitting in banks overseas and not in the local banks

I'd love to understand the reasoning


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: business; taxes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last
To: sten

Now that corporations, which are not citizens since they aren’t even humans, have the right to free political speech, I say let them be taxed. I’d prefer that only the profits that are collected by the shareholders be taxed and that corporations be barred from all political involvement.


21 posted on 11/11/2010 3:19:05 PM PST by freedomfiter2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Natural Law
We have a winner!!

Our congress critters are so badly educated that they actually think money comes from places other than the consumers. AKA you and me.

This has been clearly shown over the last year or so as expert after expert has come up with plans to “jump start”, “reset”, “help” the economy. Money poured into the top of the system, the bailouts, did nothing because the consumer, at the bottom, didn't get anything. So, he didn't have money to spend so he didn't spend any so those above them couldn't do anything, so the economy didn't move at all the stock market numbers to the contrary).

Add to this the extremely temporary nature of all the efforts, nothing lasted for a year much less the multiple years required for a sustained turn around, and you see why things haven't been turned around.

22 posted on 11/11/2010 3:26:46 PM PST by Nip (Retired USAF 1970-1990, Specter Gunships for half of that)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: freedomfiter2
Corporations may not be humans, but each one represents a group of humans, just as do unions, churches, political parties, the NRA and so on.

You can't bar speech for one of these for the reason of not being human, without risking the others. That would leave only the rich humans (e.g. George Soros) with the ability to widely broadcast their political beliefs.

23 posted on 11/11/2010 3:27:15 PM PST by slowhandluke (It's hard to be cynical enough in this age.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: slowhandluke

The country would be better served if every individual had the same limitations put on their political contributions. Churches that are also 501C3 corporations already have limits set.

Why should people be taxed on their earnings while corporations be allowed to sit on piles of untaxed profits?


24 posted on 11/11/2010 3:38:29 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: freedomfiter2; All

‘Sitting on piles of untaxed profits’ benefits who exactly?

No employee, executive or shareholder can use those funds without them being taxed as either wages, dividends, or corporate expenses.

Therefore, there is no reason to tax money sitting in an account... unless the purpose is the govt just wants more

That pile of cash is the financial life’s blood insuring the company has the capability to continue employing it’s people while accomplishing it’s mission.

Again, I’m at a loss why the govt should or would want to rip out a chunk for it’s own purposes.


25 posted on 11/11/2010 4:42:20 PM PST by sten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ChurtleDawg

I think you might be mixing capital gains and dividends. Dividends are taxed as normal income. Capital gains currently are taxed at a top rate of 15%.


26 posted on 11/11/2010 5:36:43 PM PST by VRWCmember (Jesus called us to be Salt and Light, not Vinegar and Water.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: sten
So the voters don't know they're paying taxes!

Make the corps collect the taxes from people and take the heat.

27 posted on 11/11/2010 5:45:03 PM PST by mrsmith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sten

Therefore, there is no reason to tax money sitting in an account...

Exactly, so let’s ditch the income tax.


28 posted on 11/11/2010 9:20:52 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: sten

Corporations are mostly a way for people to hold onto their earned wealth against lawsuits (not counting labor disputes).
Most zero out unless they are some kind of giant with some kind of dispensation from the government.
Three is usually no corporate taxes paid if they do it right.

Or they leave the USA, become global and just do business in the USA taking advantage of NAFTA.

Over taxation just makes wealthier people leave and mostly the middle class and people with welfare government employment or entitlements stick around.


29 posted on 11/11/2010 9:25:36 PM PST by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VRWCmember

they both are. Check out the tax rate for qualified dividends. That will end when the Bush tax cuts expire.


30 posted on 11/12/2010 5:30:16 AM PST by ChurtleDawg (voting only encourages them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: sten

Every tax on a corporagtion is paid for by the consumer after overhed and profit is tacked on!


31 posted on 11/12/2010 5:38:01 AM PST by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dalereed; All

so you didn’t actually read what i wrote.

i am talking about the profits in a corporate account that have not been pushed to shareholders, employees, or expenses.

that money would be time... the amount of time the company has before going out of business.

it also represents the companies ability to hire new personnel, fund new research, or purchase new equipment.

no person gets direct benefit of this money, yet the govt wants to grab 40-50% of it.

why should that be allowed and where did they get the right to do it?

especially after it comes to light that those self serving ‘economic giants’ just so happen to live in 7 of the 10 richest counties in the country.

http://wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2115275

nah... no corruption there.... move along /sarc

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

consent... it’s getting to the point where i no longer consent. then what? they just force me to work for them? they put me in jail for not bringing them enough tribute?


32 posted on 11/12/2010 7:57:51 AM PST by sten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: sten

Go to hell you sick socialist!!!

Corporations don’t you or anyone else anything!


33 posted on 11/12/2010 8:26:40 AM PST by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: dalereed

i’m assuming you’re either being sarcastic or trolling


34 posted on 11/12/2010 8:47:03 AM PST by sten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: sten

The problem is the double-taxation that is occurring. The corporations are taxed on their profits and then the shareholders are taxed on the dividends which have already been subject to taxes.


35 posted on 11/12/2010 8:49:38 AM PST by Redleg Duke (We didn't limit out, but we nailed a bunch of RATS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sten

Neither!!!!


36 posted on 11/12/2010 8:55:36 AM PST by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: freedomfiter2
The country would be better served if every individual had the same limitations put on their political contributions.

Are you sure about that? As far as I'm concerned, one person with one good idea should be allowed to shout it as far and wide as wanted. Otherwise, that good idea gets swamped in the effort of trying to overcome the millions of mediocre ideas held by the rest of us, if it's held to the same volume as the single idea of the most stupid among us.

Suppose everybody is allowed to spend $1 in political considerations. Do you think the incumbent politicians are going to count their face time with the media as 'political contributions'? No. So every incumbent gets hours of media time for free, and the challenger gets next to none.

So maybe $1 is too little, but who do you think gets to set that amount? That's, right, it's the incumbent. It will be set low enough to make throwing the incumbent out very difficult.

Freedom is messy, but it works better than a controlled society.

Why should people be taxed on their earnings while corporations be allowed to sit on piles of untaxed profits?

Is that really the case? There's nothing stopping you from either owning Google, or starting your own business overseas. Corporations go through a lot of paperwork to make sure that those foreign profits are correctly setup as 'foreign'. You can do the same paperwork.

Oh, it's an insurmountable bunch of paperwork for an individual? I doubt that John F'ng Kerry thinks so. Oh, it's too much for a person with more humble means? Now that is true. The only way a person of humble means can participate in this is to join a group, like maybe the shareholders of Google.

It's the income tax that is the problem here. It will always introduce gobs of paperwork to try and figure out what is and isn't income for tax purposes. And the rich will always be able to afford more protection from the tax than the poor.

37 posted on 11/12/2010 1:15:34 PM PST by slowhandluke (It's hard to be cynical enough in this age.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: devere

Corporate income is taxed in the year it is realised. Dividends are issued AFTER taxes. The investor gets to pay yet another tax on these. At least that’s the way it’s done in Canada with the exception of capital dividends.


38 posted on 11/12/2010 1:21:32 PM PST by BillM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: sten
I do not understand why the govt insists on taxing corporations, I mean beyond the basic "they just want the money" reason.

What other reason would you suggest for them taxing the income of anybody? They just want the money! is the primary reason for all taxes.

If corporations weren't taxed, then everybody would find a way to stuff all their money into a corporation. I could form a corporation that charged out my time to my current employer. Then, I'd pay no taxes except on what money I pulled out for expenses. And with a smart accountant, I might find a way to put my house and car onto corporate (non-taxed) expense.

Somebody owns the corporation. The corporate coffers are just another pocket for the shareholders money. I don't care what pocket you put your income into, it should be taxed if my income is taxed.

39 posted on 11/12/2010 1:23:41 PM PST by slowhandluke (It's hard to be cynical enough in this age.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sten

Have you heard of private corporations? They are owned by individuals in many cases. Can’t allow them to become too rich, can we?


40 posted on 11/13/2010 4:21:53 PM PST by B4Ranch (Conflict is inevitable; Combat is an option. Train for the fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson