Corporate taxes are taxes imposed on the profits of a company. These are also known as corporate income taxes and are typically levied at a flat rate on all companies in a particular country. Corporate taxes are set by the government and are used to raise revenue for public spending and programs.
The amount of tax that a company pays is affected by a number of factors such as the kind of industry, size of the company and its financial performance. Generally, the higher the profit the company makes, the more corporate tax it will be charged. Most countries have a progressive rate structure, where companies are taxed at different rates based on the amount they earn (much like personal income taxes).
The majority of countries levy taxes on corporations operating within their borders and these taxes affect the bottom-line of a company. It is seen as fair that corporations operating within a country should contribute to the same public services that citizens benefit from.
In the United States, corporate taxes account for 7-8% of total federal taxation revenue. The federal corporate tax rate is currently 35%, and there are multiple provisions and incentives that can reduce the amount that a company has to pay. In addition to federal taxes, companies must also pay taxes to the states where they do business.
As companies move around to different countries or regions to minimize their taxes, governments have started to take countermeasures. They have become much more transparent and efficient in the way they administer corporate taxes, tracking down the profits of large companies and creating incentives to keep them within the countries.
In recent years, governments worldwide have also focused on preventing multinationals from avoiding taxes through the use of complicated offshore structures. This has resulted in initiatives such as the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, implemented in 2015 to reduce tax base erosion and compliance costs.
In the European Union, corporate taxes bring in more than 12.5% of national revenue. Rates are different from country to country and the EU has moved towards harmonisation of corporate taxation to avoid tax avoidance and incentivising investments across the region.
In China, the corporate tax rate is also 35% and includes a city corporate tax rate, local corporate tax rate and a surcharge on enterprises with foreign investment and foreign enterprises. Since December 2019, China’s corporate tax exclusion for income from technology and innovation-related businesses has been raised to 75%.
Overall, corporate tax is an important source of income for governments across the world. It has become a complex and evolving system, with governments taking multiple approaches to taxation, including harmonisation and anti-tax avoidance measures. As a result, companies must pay close attention to corporate taxation rules and regulations.