the system is designed by the lackeys of those who have an interest as a class in not paying tax, or in paying as little as possible. The argument that companies “pay all the tax as legally required” fails to address the question of why the tax system is rigged in their favour.

Speaking of political influence, it is interesting to note that some of the big contributors to the political coffers of the Coalition are also companies which pay no tax.

As Gareth Hutchens and Nick Evershed reported in The Guardian:

… the Greens have pointed out at least eight of the largest companies paid more money in donations to the Labor and Liberal and National parties in 2016-17 than they paid in corporate tax that year.

Chevron paid $82,228 in political donations in 2016-17, Origin Energy $103,574, Woodside Petroleum $279,000, Whitehaven Coal $30,000, and Santos $102,516, but none of them paid corporate tax that year.

Even when they are making a loss (either because of market conditions or tax avoidance or other circumstances) should big business not be paying a contribution, such as an operating fee or licence perhaps to the rest of us? This could be based on their gross income for the privilege of carrying on business here, and using the infrastructure, educated workforce and other benefits paid for by our taxes.

 They do elsewhere (ODT)

via Big business: Legally avoiding tax the Australian way