Corporate Tax Law and Policy

Are multi-national companies escaping taxation through artificial tax planning, transfer mis-pricing and profit shifting? Where should they be paying tax and on what basis? Should we abolish corporation tax altogether and find some other way to tax business?

Recent action by the G20, OECD, and EU, prompted by debates in the media, by politicians and pressure groups, illustrates that tax is not just a technical area. It raises ethical, political, constitutional and economic questions of fundamental importance. But it is also an area where lack of understanding of the underlying law can result in distorted policy discussions.

 This course looks at both the law and the policy aspects of taxation and brings them together to create a more complete understanding of both. Tax law is central to all businesses and of significance to many business transactions. It is also critical for public finance. The course focuses on the taxation of domestic and multi-national businesses and integrates a rigorous examination of the law with the economic and other questions underpinning and arising from it. It uses UK tax law  as a starting point and for case studies leading to  comparative and theoretical discussions.

The course is thus suitable both for those with an interest in these broad questions as well as those wishing to specialise in and become tax or corporate law practitioners.  This is a law course so no maths is needed- no calculations! It is designed to accommodate students from a variety of backgrounds and  jurisdictions, whether or not they have studied tax before. Students with knowledge of taxation in the UK or other jurisdictions are encouraged to introduce material into seminars upon which we build, but others will bring other perspectives. 

This option is not offered in 2024-25.