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get hired based on merit

You mean like 80% of librarians? (2011)

Perhaps 60% of accountants? (2006)

Or do you want to opine that the professions are "catering" and 100% of the work in those fields is done by the minority of employees that are male?

Accounting and Economics were the specialties of the original nerds, see: "technology" is the Solow Residual!"

I've been following this whole shitfest in the UK quite closely for the past few months, and one amusing thing has consistently struck me - the government are trying to be the goody-goody party in all of this, claiming that the companies involved are being evil and ethically corrupt when it comes to "fair share" taxation, while at the very same time flat out refusing to acknowledge that those companies are not doing anything illegal under the current tax regime.

This is just the government playing to the peanut gallery. If it was easy to change the law without breaching international treaties, pissing off lots of party donors and making the tax code even more labyrinthine than it already is (then watching ninja accountants find brand new loopholes and wheezes) then it would have been done years ago. So, they just wheel in a few high-profile household name firms, give them a public handbagging, maybe shame them into handing over a few bottle caps and bits of knotted string, so it looks as if they're getting tough on the issue, then.... crickets.

Of course, its not worth doing the same to the legion of more obscure companies doing the self-same thing (who, together, must have far more turnover than this handful of big names) because they don't have the same headline-grabbing power.

Meanwhile, they're offering tax breaks to Disney for filming bits of the new Star Wars films in the UK. That's good - I'm sure that there's no way that Disney is going to make a brass farthing out of this obscure little arthouse flick if they don't get government support. Of course, if Disney didn't get the tax breaks, I'm sure they can build a lens flare machine in Canada, New Zealand, Grand Fenwick or somewhere and piss on our childhood heroes from there.

Trouble is, in this globalised world, governments don't have the power they once did.

Not saying I like what Google or Amazon or Starbucks are doing... just that they are the high-profile tip of an iceberg that isn't going to go away any time soon.

GP is right. I worked it out myself, with Excel.

Local affiliates say they were "blind-sided" by the company's action.

I'm sorry, sir, I normally restrict myself to civil language but you are so full of shit.

I don't even live in North Carolina and recalled reading about 'warning' letters sent to you. Maybe you should open up your e-mails from June 17-18:

We regret to inform you that the North Carolina state legislature (the General Assembly) appears ready to enact an unconstitutional tax collection scheme that would leave Amazon.com little choice but to end its relationships with North Carolina-based Associates. You are receiving this e-mail because our records indicate that you are an Amazon Associate and resident of North Carolina.

Please note that this is not an immediate termination notice and you are still a valued participant in the Associates Program. All referral fees earned on qualified traffic will continue to be paid as planned.

But because the new law is drafted to go into effect once enacted -- which could happen in the next two weeks -- we will have to terminate the participation of all North Carolina residents in the Amazon Associates program on or before that same day. After the termination day, we will no longer pay any referral fees for customers referred to Amazon.com or Endless.com nor will we accept new applications for the Associates program from North Carolina residents.

The unfortunate consequences of this legislation on North Carolina residents like you were explained in detail to key senators and representatives in Raleigh, including the leadership of the Senate, House, and both chambers' finance committees. Other states, including Maryland, Minnesota, and Tennessee, considered nearly identical schemes, but rejected these proposals largely because of the adverse impact on their states' residents.

The North Carolina General Assembly's website is www.ncleg.net and additional information may be obtained from the Performance Marketing Alliance at www.performancemarketingalliance.com. We thank you for being part of the Amazon Associates program, and we will apprise you of the General Assembly's action on this matter.

Sincerely,
Amazon.com

You were warned! Tell us, James Barrett, how many letters did you sent to your representatives demanding they strike down this unconstitutional tax?

Yes, it came early. But you were warned. Unwittingly operating for one day could set Amazon back thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. They tried blocking it with litigation in New York and they lost. Don't get made at them for playing it safe, you have no one to blame but your elected officials.

Here's why this is misleading:

"According to latest available figures from the Government Accountability Office, 83 of the largest 100 corporations have subsidiaries in tax havens. Collectively they earned about $700 billion in foreign active earnings, and paid 2.3 percent taxes on those earnings. That is a situation the White House seeks to correct."

So while the US has high tax rates on paper, in reality loopholes and tax havens allow large multinationals to pay a much lower rate -- averaging just 2.3% for the largest 100, according to http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=107516

> I agree that Excel isn't enough, but don't dismiss Excel as a tool.

I think it is pretty well documented why Excel should not be used as a serious scientific tool - it will corrupt data, it is incorrect, and inconsistent (pdf) - all bad for science. I am surprised accountants are allowed to use it.

And it does not seem to be getting better either. So why should scientists be encouraged to use such an incorrect tool? Because it is easier?!?

For news from the UK accounting system, try Accounting web. Membership is free, and there is a newsletter you can subscribe to.

For a perspective from UK contractors, try Contractor UK and Shout 99.