THE PREVIOUS POST discussed Microsoft's control of the press, especially in Washington (the state). But there are also some interesting news from Washington DC. We'll touch on both subjects.
Some of the biggest multinationals operating here, such as Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, are gearing up to fight an Obama administration plan to curb offshore tax avoidance.
The $15.5bn (€11.3bn) proposal in US President Barack Obama's 2011 budget targets what the IRS calls the growing problem of so-called transfer pricing. The technique allows companies to reduce their tax bills by transferring intangible property such as patents, trademarks and licenses to offshore subsidiaries.
The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a Washington-based trade group that represents technology companies, said it would "educate policymakers" on how the proposal would hurt US companies, jobs and the economy.
Software and computer companies such as Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. are gearing up to fight an Obama administration plan to curb offshore tax avoidance.
The $15.5 billion proposal in President Barack Obama’s 2011 budget targets what the Internal Revenue Service calls the growing problem of so-called transfer pricing. The technique allows companies to reduce their tax bills by transferring intangible property such as patents, trademarks and licenses to offshore subsidiaries.
Microsoft is fortifying its congressional lobbying team as major issues that could affect them begin to work their way through Capitol Hill this year. The software firm has hired Christina Pearson to join its Washington office as senior director for public relations.
WASHINGTON: Microsoft named Christina Pearson the senior director of PR in the company's Washington office, effective February 15.
Pearson, most recently an SVP at Fleishman-Hillard, is a former assistant secretary for public affairs at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She replaces Ginny Terzano, who was hired to lead the communications practice at Dewey Square Group. Pearson reports to Lori Harnick, senior director of PR, who continues to oversee public affairs.
Washington may soon be broke. So perhaps now is not the best time for Rep. Ross Hunter to suggest one of the state's richest companies get a tax break.
In 1997, Microsoft opened a small office in Reno, Nevada. Why? So they could avoid paying $100 million a year in software royalty taxes.
Seattle Times Microsoft Tax Dodge Coverage Only Found in Comments
Microsoft's alleged dodging of over $1 billion in Washington state Royalty taxes may or may not be illegal. It may or may not be unethical. But it's certainly news.
The P-I, Crosscut, KUOW, HorsesAss, TechFlash, BoingBoing, the U.K.'s Guardian, Huffington Post and Seattle Weekly all think so. The Seattle Times does not.