Accountancy Age tax avoidance debate now live

ACCOUNTANCY AGE is delighted to present its first Debate.

The tax avoidance debate will look at the heart of the matter: What is tax avoidance, and where is the line drawn between legitimate tax planning and unreasonable, unfair strategies that starve the government’s coffers?

Two of the foremost voices on tax, Tax Justice Network founder Richard Murphy and BDO tax partner Stephen Herring, will post their opposing views on the issue – with you voting on who has won the debate.

The debate is an interactive forum where the audience can discuss important topical issues, using an ‘Oxford-style’ debate, across the course of a week.

There are five main protagonists:

The Proposer: In this debate, Tax Justice Network founder Richard Murphy proposes that tax avoidance is unacceptable.

The Opposer: In this debate, BDO tax partner Stephen Herring suggests that there is room for legitimate, non-abusive, tax planning.

The Guest: An expert ‘guest’, Pinsent Masons partner Ray McCann, gives his opinion – independent of the proposer and opposer – on the second day of the debate.

The Moderator: Accountancy Age editor Kevin Reed will act as moderator for the debate, providing further thoughts and background to the issue being discussed, as it progresses.

You: The audience can interact with the debate at every stage. As the debate progresses day-by-day, a live online comment section will appear for you to give your opinion and discuss the debate with other audience members. You can vote at any point when the debate is live to determine an overall ‘winner’ – and you can change your mind as many times as you want until the debate closes.

The debate begins on Monday 14 January, and runs until Friday 18 January. The whole debate will remain archived on the site to view. Click here to visit the debate website.

You can also take part in the debate through Twitter at #AADebate