THE ETHICS OF CORPORATE INCOME TAXATION AND CORPORATE INCOME TAX SHELTERING

Abstract

What follows is a defense of corporate tax shelters. The first section shows that there is no ethical case in favor of the corporate income tax by examining traditional, as well as original arguments. The second section studies the effects of the corporate income tax on the economy and its various actors. On that basis, the last section argues that corporate tax shelters are not only respectful of natural rights, but also socially useful, and thus compatible with both deontic and utilitarian ethics.