Tell HMRC that big companies must pay their tax

38 degrees have launched a campaign this morning -please consider joining me in sending an email from their link below. Already many of these companies seem to be avoiding tax by using havens - you can also see my 6 short videos of the talk in Stroud earlier this year by tax expert and former government advisor, John Christensen (pictured left): http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/2011/03/tax-haven-videos.html

38 degrees write: We found out that the government’s tax collectors - HMRC - don't seem to have been doing their job properly. Instead of making sure everyone is paying their fair share of tax, they’ve agreed to “sweetheart deals” letting big companies off paying billions of pounds (see BBC). The government will be hoping we’re too busy doing our Christmas shopping and working out how we’re going to pay our heating bills to care what their tax officers have been up to. But they’re wrong.

A huge public outcry and a flood of complaints to HMRC will send a powerful message: we won’t stand for the government giving big business the green light to dodge billions in tax. It only takes 2 minutes to send a complaint letter to HMRC - we’ll collect all the letters together and deliver them in the New Year: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/complain-to-HMRC

Today's news is full of the shocking details of these deals. The Daily Mail warns "While families, shopkeepers and small businesses are forced to pay their bills in full, big businesses are striking favourable deals and have a 'far too cosy' relationship with HM Revenue and Customs." 

As lots of us prepare for winter on a tight budget, it’s not hard to imagine that those billions of pounds could have been spent on something better than stuffing the wallets of the most powerful companies in the country. We could have spent it on schools, on hospitals, or making sure everyone can have a safe, warm home this Christmas time. We know that tax dodging is a big issue. That's why last month we decided that it should be something we should make an urgent priority. [3] This is our chance to make sure we get a fairer system. A people-powered flood of complaints now will surprise HMRC and force them to think again.