1. TAX IS A FEMINIST ISSUE THE GENDER DIMENSION OF TAX JUSTICE LIZ NELSON @ZILHEN TAX JUSTICE NETWORK @TAXJUSTICENET

2. TAX JUSTICE NETWORK A global network of researchers and practicing professionals working with advocacy and campaigning activists to remedy financial market failures, promote just tax policies and tackle the harm caused by secrecy jurisdictions and their impact on equality. A global network of researchers and practicing professionals working with advocacy and campaigning activists to remedy financial market failures, promote just tax policies and tackle the harm caused by secrecy jurisdictions and their impact on equality. Launched in March 2003, the network spans over 80 countries on 6 continents. Launched in March 2003, the network spans over 80 countries on 6 continents. www.taxjustice.net www.taxjustice.net www.taxjustice.net

3. Gender neutrality? Gender neutrality? Taxing for gender equality Taxing for gender equality Global Financial Architecture & Financial secrecy Global Financial Architecture & Financial secrecy Tax competition Tax competition

4. GENDER IS NOT A POWER-NEUTRAL CONCEPT Concept of gender is not neutral Concept of gender is not neutral Taxation policy must address women’s inequality in society Taxation policy must address women’s inequality in society Unique role - as carers, single parents, often low income earners Unique role - as carers, single parents, often low income earners

5. ODI HTTPS://WWW.ODI.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/7213-GLOBAL-FINANCIAL-CRISIS- RECESSION-WOMEN-GIRLS-GENDER-INEQUALITY HTTPS://WWW.ODI.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/7213-GLOBAL-FINANCIAL-CRISIS- RECESSION-WOMEN-GIRLS-GENDER-INEQUALITYHTTPS://WWW.ODI.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/7213-GLOBAL-FINANCIAL-CRISIS- RECESSION-WOMEN-GIRLS-GENDER-INEQUALITY ODI - ODI - Off the balance sheet: the impact of the economic crisis on girls and young women (2013) Key findings from the report include: Girls drop out of school more – with a 29% decrease in primary school completion for girls versus 22% for boys. Family poverty hits girls hardest - a 1% fall in GDP increases infant mortality by 7.4 deaths per 1,000 births for girls versus 1.5 for boys. Health cuts leave adolescent girls at greater risk during pregnancy with 14-19 year olds most at risk of death in pregnancy in many countries.

6. GENDER EQUALITY & TAXES Women & girls bear the brunt of austerity policies in any on particular country Women & girls bear the brunt of austerity policies in any on particular country Insufficient budget revenue can either mean a government could increase taxes, or introduce public service cuts: Insufficient budget revenue can either mean a government could increase taxes, or introduce public service cuts: Welfare provision cuts impact on women: Welfare provision cuts impact on women: 1 Women lose services themselves 2 They fill the gaps in services 3 Experience unemployment (public sector jobs) Regressive Taxes, such as VAT disproportionately impact on women, often the carers – using their income to provide clothing, food, household essentials Regressive Taxes, such as VAT disproportionately impact on women, often the carers – using their income to provide clothing, food, household essentials Both nationally and international ‘austerity’ appear to have become policy orthodoxy Both nationally and international ‘austerity’ appear to have become policy orthodoxy

7. SPAIN – CASE STUDY State budget for social security benefits for children and families has been cut by 91% since 2008 State budget for social security benefits for children and families has been cut by 91% since 2008 Austerity measures implemented include regressive sales, tax increases, cuts to public sector pay, restrictions to health care entitlements, and the privatization of public services (CESR et al, 2012). Austerity measures implemented include regressive sales, tax increases, cuts to public sector pay, restrictions to health care entitlements, and the privatization of public services (CESR et al, 2012). Postponement of parental leave measures Postponement of parental leave measures High % of women outside of the labour market in role of care provider without state support High % of women outside of the labour market in role of care provider without state support

8. FAULTLINES IN THE INTERNATIONAL TAX SYSTEM Cross-border finance Absence of: Absence of: Comprehensive and consistent bilateral asset data Comprehensive and consistent bilateral asset data Identification of ultimate beneficial ownership Identification of ultimate beneficial ownership Automatic exchange of tax information Automatic exchange of tax information Estimates of scale: Estimates of scale: Low end: Zucman $7.6 trillion, or 8% h/hold fin wealth; revenue loss $190 billion per annum Low end: Zucman $7.6 trillion, or 8% h/hold fin wealth; revenue loss $190 billion per annum High end: Henry, assets up to $21-32tn High end: Henry, assets up to $21-32tn our analysis of profit-shifting by US multinationals suggests that around 25%- 30% of global profits are shifted into jurisdictions with no corresponding real economic activity our analysis of profit-shifting by US multinationals suggests that around 25%- 30% of global profits are shifted into jurisdictions with no corresponding real economic activity our analysis our analysis Tax avoidance, tax evasion, cross border flows = Erosion of tax base Tax avoidance, tax evasion, cross border flows = Erosion of tax base

9. CLOSING THE LOOPHOLES... Exchange of tax information between jurisdictions: Exchange of tax information between jurisdictions: Public Multi-lateral Country by Country Reporting transnational companies Public Multi-lateral Country by Country Reporting transnational companies Beneficial ownership of companies - public registries, including Trusts Beneficial ownership of companies - public registries, including Trusts

10. TAX COMPETITION

11. WHAT IS NEEDED… A narrative and ‘political’ change in thinking A narrative and ‘political’ change in thinking Regressive tax policies are part of an ‘austerity’ ideology – research needed Regressive tax policies are part of an ‘austerity’ ideology – research needed Austerity hits the women hardest – greater visibility, profile needed Austerity hits the women hardest – greater visibility, profile needed Addressing tax dodging and loop holes in the ‘financial architecture’ – incorporating Trusts in Anti-Money laundering Directive; ensuring Country-by- Country Reporting is Multilateral – does allow TNCs to exclude reporting on non-EU subsidiary activity Addressing tax dodging and loop holes in the ‘financial architecture’ – incorporating Trusts in Anti-Money laundering Directive; ensuring Country-by- Country Reporting is Multilateral – does allow TNCs to exclude reporting on non-EU subsidiary activity

12. RESOURCES The Tax Justice Network's Financial Secrecy Index can be accessed here: http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/introduction/fsi-2015-results. The Tax Justice Network's Financial Secrecy Index can be accessed here: http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/introduction/fsi-2015-results. http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/introduction/fsi-2015-results How Tax Competition affects women http://foolsgold.international/how-tax-competition-affects-women/ How Tax Competition affects women http://foolsgold.international/how-tax-competition-affects-women/ http://foolsgold.international/how-tax-competition-affects-women/ http://www.taxjustice.net/topics/inequality-democracy/gender/ http://www.taxjustice.net/topics/inequality-democracy/gender/ http://www.taxjustice.net/topics/inequality-democracy/gender/ http://www.taxjustice.net/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/TJF_2015_Women.pdf http://www.taxjustice.net/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/TJF_2015_Women.pdf http://www.taxjustice.net/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/TJF_2015_Women.pdf http://www.taxjustice.net/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/TJF_2015_Women.pdf http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/global-resources http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/global-resources http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/global-resources Spain, a case study: http://www.cesr.org/downloads/FACTSHEET_Spain_2015_web.pdf Spain, a case study: http://www.cesr.org/downloads/FACTSHEET_Spain_2015_web.pdf http://www.cesr.org/downloads/FACTSHEET_Spain_2015_web.pdf