Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · 1d

A Tesla executive is leading Australia’s R&D review. That’s not OK. Public roles should serve the people – not billionaires. Add your name to demand Denholm’s resignation and new integrity laws: getup.to/ABPAKt22oClX...

Billionaire Hands off Public Policy!

Tesla's chair is in charge of our tech future - but it should be us shaping policy

getup.to

Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · 1d

@sbworkersunited.org

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Reposted by Jason Ward

Oregon Center for Public Policy @ocppnews.bsky.social · 1d

You may have heard of corporations using #OffshoreTaxHavens to avoid taxes, but what does that actually look like? The latest episode of Policy for the People breaks it down

@itep.org, @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social, @cictar.bsky.social

How big corporations hide their profits — and how to stop it - Oregon Center for Public Policy

I want to thank Jason Ward and Spandan Marasini for sharing their insights into how it is that big corporations hide their profits and what we can do to

www.ocpp.org

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · 4d

Corporate lobbyists doing what they do!
"Numerous supporters of the proposal, including union leaders and advocates for education, public health, direct personal care and other services... Sen. Liz Miranda... said the change would ensure large multinationals "actually pay their fair share" of taxes"

COST Decries Massachusetts Foreign-Source Income Tax Plan - Law360 Tax Authority

A Massachusetts proposal supporters said would fight offshore corporate tax avoidance and raise $400 billion annually would violate the U.S. Constitution and place the state at odds with other jurisdi...

www.law360.com

Reposted by Jason Ward

cictar.bsky.social @cictar.bsky.social · 12d

"The Canadian government must not bow to corporate pressure — or President Donald Trump — and instead ensure that profits earned in Canada are taxed in Canada"

CICTAR's Jason Ward on why Canada should follow Australia on tax transparency in Canada's National Observer: cictar.org/news/canadao...

‘Corporate Canada's deal making needs more sunlight’ — Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research

Jason Ward calls for greater tax transparency in Canada’s National Observer

cictar.org

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Reposted by Jason Ward

cictar.bsky.social @cictar.bsky.social · 8d

“Generally most Australian companies do the right thing...

Most of the abuse we see comes from the big multinationals, and big US multinationals in particular"

CICTAR's Jason Ward in the Guardian, commenting on the latest Aus Tax Office 'Corporate Transparency Report':

cictar.org/news/guardia...

Optus among companies earning billions in Australia but paying no income tax — Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research

The Guardian reports on the latest ATO data and apparent tax minimization by multinationals operating in Australia

cictar.org

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Reposted by Jason Ward

cictar.bsky.social @cictar.bsky.social · 6d

cictar.org/news/podcast...

Livi Gerbase from the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR) joins Canadian podcaster extraordinaire ‘Millennial Moron’ to discuss ways that Brookfield and other Canadian pension fund managers are leveraging tax havens and tax-advantaged programs to privatize public utilities in Latin America.

Using CICTAR’s case studies of Isagen in Colombia and BRK Ambiental in Brazil they discuss the decline in capital investment into infrastructure, increases in prices to consumers, stagnant wages for workers, and the massive increase in debt charges to these former public utilities - which are potentially being used as a profit-shifting scheme to avoid paying taxes to the local governments where these utilities are located.

CICTAR highly recommends a full perusal of this illuminating youtube channel, described as ‘Canadian content for people who love to hate Canadian content’ and providing accessible, but detailed insight into themes linking closely with a lot of our work.

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Reposted by Jason Ward

Americans for Tax Fairness @4taxfairness.bsky.social · 24d

Palantir is the data giant behind ICE's attacks on immigrants.

Its co-founder is JD Vance's billionaire benefactor.

Stephen Miller owns around $250,000 of its stock.

Its CEO got up to an $85 MILLION Trump tax break over 7 years.

You see what's happening here, right?

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jul 22

Talking tax on TV (squatting @ MUA - Sydney Branch) calling out Trump for attempting to run a protection racket for giant US tax dodging multinationals
@cictar.bsky.social

Australia to miss out on tax top-up from multinationals | The Business | ABC NEWS

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

youtu.be

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jul 21

"Trump is essentially running a protection racket for larger US multinationals that most people already know are the most aggressive in dodging their tax obligations on the profits, the vast profits they make in Australia and around the world." @cictar.bsky.social
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...

Australia to lose revenue as Trump tax backdown 'protects American companies'

The man who spearheaded negotiations on a global minimum tax rate says Australia could miss out on significant revenue from US multinational companies after the G7 "caved" to Donald Trump.

www.abc.net.au

Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jul 15

Trump’s tax policy is now crystal clear! He aims to run a protection racket to help US MNCs dodge tax in the US and globally!!! Transparency!
@cictar.bsky.social @globaltaxjustice.org @icrict.bsky.social @taxjustice.net @factcoalition.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/b...

He Helped Big Companies Dodge Taxes. Now He’s Writing the Rules.

www.nytimes.com

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jul 15

@cictar.bsky.social

Fair Observer | FO° | Global | Independent | Debate @myfairobserver.bsky.social · Jul 12

#Pharma giants shift U.S. profits offshore and dodge taxes — all while costing Treasury billions. Brad Setser’s eye-opening analysis calls for urgent reforms. It’s time Big Pharma pays its share and secures our supply chains. #TaxReform #DrugPolicy
www.fairobserver.com/economics/me...

Merck Faces Pressure Over Global Tax Practices

Merck & Co., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, faces growing pressure from investors and governments over its global tax practices.

www.fairobserver.com

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 26

Jason Ward of @cictar.bsky.social said "it was “ludicrous that donations to these elite private schools...should be tax deductible...while the state public school systems are struggling with higher rates of teacher turnover and class sizes.”"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

‘Cruel joke’: tax concession drives donations to Australia’s richest private schools and must stop, critics argue

Eleven private schools received more than $3m from donors in 2023, topped by St Aloysius’ College in Sydney with $9.1m

www.theguardian.com

Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 25

Even shareholders at the dodgiest US Big Pharma Co are demanding tax transparency, Merck is Murky... @cictar.bsky.social @taxjustice.net @factcoalition.bsky.social @icrict.bsky.social @fairtaxfoundation.bsky.social @globaltaxjustice.org
taxjustice.net/2025/06/24/b...

Bad Medicine: A Clear Prescription = tax transparency - Tax Justice Network

Merck shareholders backed a call for greater tax transparency. Jason Ward explores what this means for Big Pharma, investors, and global tax justice

taxjustice.net

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 24

"Jason Ward, principal analyst for @cictar.bsky.social ... applauded that the treasurer's speech" and called for "a continued focus on making sure that large corporations and multinationals are paying their fair share...to ensure integrity in Australia's tax system"
www.taxnotes.com/tax-notes-to...

Australian Treasurer Launches National Discussion on Tax Reform | Tax Notes

Tax Notes is the first source of essential daily news, analysis, and commentary for tax professionals whose success depends on being trusted for their expertise.

www.taxnotes.com

Reposted by Jason Ward

Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · Jun 23

EU Annual tax report shows that average tax-rate for high income declining from 42.9 to 39.9 %

The 0,001 % saw their wealth increase between 1995-2023 with 224%

So much scope for wealth taxes

@ingridrobeyns.bsky.social
@gabrielzucman.bsky.social
@epsu.bsky.social

op.europa.eu/en/publicati...

Trend in top statutory personal income tax rate 2019-2024

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 23

Trump is attempting to run a protection racket for US MNCs, this is not America First, it's corporations first and the damn the rest or us... @cictar.bsky.social @factcoalition.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/o...

Opinion | This Loophole Buried in Trump’s Bill Is Anything but Beautiful

www.nytimes.com

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 10

As the US descends further into fascism... "One of the very thin silver linings of the second Trump presidency.... Trump has pulled the mask off America, and the leering face behind it isn’t pretty." www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/06/d...

Musk and Trump's undignified divorce rips the mask off modern America, in all its faded glory

The Musk-Trump clash has continued Trump's tradition of happily exposing the once-secret nature of how power operates in the United States.

www.crikey.com.au

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Reposted by Jason Ward

Jan Willem Goudriaan @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social · Jun 6

Tax avoidance of Starbucks exposed news.mongabay.com/2025/04/repo...

by @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social

@epi.org

Report accuses Starbucks of tax avoidance through ‘ethical’ Swiss subsidiary

Starbucks has defended its little-known Swiss subsidiary handling its ethical coffee sourcing after a critical report accused it of “major global tax avoidance.” The report, released by the Centre for...

news.mongabay.com

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · Jun 6

Excellent coverage in France of @cictar.bsky.social Starbucks tax report:
"The only thing the 'fair trade' label does is allow them to charge their customers more and hide an incredible system of global tax evasion," says Jason Ward of CICTAR"

Starbucks, entre café équitable et allergie aux impôts

En 10 ans, Starbucks a transféré 1,3 milliard de $ en Suisse pour éviter d’avoir à payer des impôts dans d’autres pays où ses filiales sont implantées.

www.off-investigation.fr

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · May 30

“tax transparency continues to have momentum with a wide range of mainstream investors,” Jason Ward @cictar.bsky.social nearly 1/4 “of shareholders supported the call for public country by country reporting.” @factcoalition.bsky.social
www.taxnotes.com/tax-notes-to...

Investors Seek Tax Transparency at Merck | Tax Notes

Nana Ama Sarfo reviews a recent tax transparency shareholder proposal filed at Merck.

www.taxnotes.com

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · May 28

US MNCs, already the most dodgy globally, could now avoid even more US tax payments! Trump & Co cut corporate taxes while gutting public services for those most in need. Shame!!!
House Bill’s $164 Billion Giveaway to Multinational Corporations Puts America Last @iteptweets @cictar.bsky.social

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · May 26

@cictar.bsky.social is on this one with union partners, perhaps an opportunity to expand public health capacity on the cheap!!!

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Jason Ward @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social · May 20

Merck shareholders get a chance to vote on a resolution requiring public country by country reporting in 1 week #tax #transparency Big Pharma aggressively dodges tax & the risks are mounting... @factcoalition.bsky.social @cictar.bsky.social @icrict.bsky.social @globaltaxjustice.org @taxjustice.net

US Pharma Investors Deserve Transparency to Understand Tax Risks

Opinion: FACT Coalition's Ian Gary says large pharmaceutical companies such as Merch & Co. should be more transparent about their tax practices.

news.bloombergtax.com

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Reposted by Jason Ward

Tax Justice Network @taxjustice.net · May 12

A new tax tool in Australia - it's going to get even better when the new public country-by country reporting data comes through thanks to Australia’s new world-leading multinational tax transparency reporting taxjustice.net/2025/05/12/l... from @jasonward-cictar.bsky.social @cictar.bsky.social

Lessons from Australia: Let the sunshine in! - Tax Justice Network

Our friends and colleagues in Australia of the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability & Research, Tax Justice Network Australia, and researchers from the University of Technology Sydney...

taxjustice.net

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