International Conference on Taxpayer Rights

“Cosy deals”, Social Media and Tax Morale.

Lynne Oats Cosy deals and other stories

2010: : let off an unpaid bill of £6bn HMRC spokesman said: ‘It was agreed that Vodafone’s liability was £1.25bn ...There is no question of Vodafone having a tax liability of £6bn. That number is an urban myth” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11658950 2011 Goldman Sachs: ‘sweetheart’ tax deal “The deal reached between HMRC and Goldman Sachs was unlawful… in direct contradiction to HMRC’s duty to collect taxes and to do so properly, fairly and equally” http://ukuncutlegalaction.org.uk/2013/04/hmrc-in-the-high-court-over-goldman-sachs-sweetheart-tax-deal/ 2012 Comedian Jimmy Carr “I now realise I’ve made a terrible error of judgement” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18531008 The ‘public’ reacts

October 2010 “Vodafone shops blockaded in tax protest” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11658950

“is made up of the people who take part in actions…We are you. We are ordinary people standing up (or sitting in) for what we believe in.” http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/about/

Since 2010 over 800 UK Uncut actions all over the country http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/about/

2012 UK Uncut Legal Action re Goldman Sachs The ‘public’ reacts

“ London is part of a global movement that has brought together concerned citizens to fight for a new political and economic system…” http://occupylondon.org.uk/about-2/

Began outside the London Stock Exchange in 2011 Social media Facebook

Global reach coupled with personal intimacy “people can see each other’s worlds across previously socially defined boundaries, one to one across time and space, or one to millions.” Going viral Who gets to decide?

New dynamics of activism

The spiral of silence Whither tax morale?

“The motivation of a country’s citizens to paying taxes” OECD 2012

Intrinsic motivation to pay taxes Reactions to Jimmy Carr

• Analysis of comments on news stories as: • An issue of right or wrong • An issue of fairness – divide between wealthy and others • A political issue – blame the politicians Talking about Tax

• Online discussions – conversation analysis • “I have been doing design competitions now on websites and have built up quite a nice amount of money. But my dad is […] saying that I really need to stop or the IRS will come after me”

• Most defiant responses occurred when threatened by the coercive power of tax authorities

• Most amenable responses were to more subtle forms of influence For tax administrations

• Information provision & policy consultation

• Co-creation of administrative improvements (crowdsourcing)

• Intelligence gathering ‘Nudging’? • • Security issues But • Negative feedback Conclusions

A double edged sword: • Opportunity to foster compliance and boost tax morale. • Spread of misinformation may lead to reduced tax morale.