In May of 2009, the governor of New York signed into effect the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax (also referred to as simply the “mobility tax”). The MCTMT imposes a tax on both businesses and self-employed individuals provided they meet certain income thresholds. The MCTMT was
Tulip Mania: An Old Presage of Modern Economic Bubbles
The term “tulip mania” refers to the period during the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands saw an incredible rise in the popularity and sale of tulips. Tulips were first introduced to Europe when they were brought from the Ottoman Empire in 1554. They were initially brought to Vienna but made
The Beginning and End of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange
Long before the New York Stock Exchange was even a dim possibility, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange reigned as the world’s leading market for the trading of securities. Though stock transactions took place elsewhere prior to its creation, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange was the first financial institution
The Basics of Balance Sheets
The world of finance can be a bit complicated at times, in part because financial professionals often have an interest in portraying matters to be more complex than they actually are. However, one of the more straightforward items in finance is the balance sheet. Put simply, a balance sheet is a
The Cost of Starbucks’ Dutch Connection
Back in October of 2015, the European Commission ordered the Dutch government to recover approximately €30 million (or about $34 million) from Starbucks. The EC determined that the arrangement made between the two entities was illegal and had given Starbucks an unfair advantage in the marketplace.
Apple’s New Tax Bill
The European Commission has recently ordered multinational tech giant Apple, Inc. to pay €13 billion to Ireland to settle back tax debt. The EC concluded that the deal made between Apple and Ireland was illegal and aided Apple in avoiding its proper tax liability. Though it is not the largest
The Basics of the Google Tax Quandary in the U.K.
With total earnings of approximately $74.5 billion for 2015, Google is truly a multinational corporate juggernaut. International sales constitute a substantial portion of Google’s overall revenue source. Presently, sales in the United Kingdom make up about a tenth of Google’s entire income. In
The Dire Condition of Kansas’ State Budget
In 2012, Kansas governor Sam Brownback and the state legislature passed a measure to reduce state income tax rates for all Kansans and eliminate income tax for some 300,000 LLCs. Brownback and his fellow statesmen reasoned that such a measure would re-energize the state economy and promote job