News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by mike_hearn on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @10:56AM (#11762091)
The idea that doing business is a "privilege" granted by the state is exactly why France's economy is famously bad, with unemployment double that of the UK.
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by chillacy on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @01:03PM (#11763283)
Is doing business not a privilege elsewhere? In the US you need to register your business and pay taxes (money from corporations are doubly taxed as well). The only businesses here who don't do that are drug dealing / crime enterprises.
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by gnaritas on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @04:43PM (#11765295)
> money from corporations are doubly taxed as well

No they are not. Money is always taxed when it changes ownership, as corporations are legal persons, it pays taxes on its profit. When shareholders are given some of that profit via dividends, that money is again changing ownership so it taxed as income to those shareholders. Saying something is double taxed is to misunderstand "when" tax applies. If you don't want company earnings taxed that way, don't be a C corp, but it isn't double taxing.

Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by chillacy on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @01:18AM (#11767798)
Double taxation isn't just some vague term I made up: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/double_taxation.asp

What you described is commonly referred to as double taxation. I merely pointed out that this is more evidence that businesses are legal entities defined by the government. If businesses weren't legal entities, this wouldn't be an issue.

However you could have noted that most corporate money is dished out as salaries and bonuses, which isn't taxed twice because the company can deduct it as a business expense.

Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by gnaritas on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @12:41PM (#11771093)
> What you described is commonly referred to as double taxation

Yes, just as liberals are referred to as leftists by conservatives, it's an inaccurate and derogatory means of referring to a perfectly normal tax practice whose sole purpose is intended to make the listener think it's unfair by glossing over the fact that money is taxed when it changes hands, not when it's earned. Anyone who calls it double taxation is participating in partisan propaganda and intentionally spreading ignorance.

Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by chillacy on Wednesday May 25, 2016 @04:05PM (#11772670)
Hmm, wasn't aware of that. I learned it in my econ textbook in high school, so I assumed it was standard terminology. My intention wasn't to offend, and I personally have no issue with the practice.
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by nametakenobv on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @11:18AM (#11762257)
This idea is in place for every government, everywhere in world, at any point in history.
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by JBReefer on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @12:39PM (#11763011)
Can you cite that? That's certainly not the opinion of ~50% of Americans
Re:Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe by toomuchtodo on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @01:45PM (#11763754)
Which might explain why Americans are driven slave labor with little to no protections and a laughable excuse for social safety net.

Just because an opinion is majority, does not make it intelligent, nor right.