Introduction

Summary

Introduces the book by outlining its approach, which is conceptual and comparative, and its focus, which is on the practical implications of policy options within a corporate tax system. In defining the scope of the book, it engages with the meaning of ‘corporation’ and what aspects of income taxation may be considered to fall within the corporate tax system. In doing so it identifies the importance of the corporate/shareholder relationship and its interface with the nature of corporations. The importance of corporations within the global economy is outlined. The introduction proceeds to explain how the nature of corporations engages with the fundamental features of income taxation. The importance of the use of corporations to structure commercial dealings in different ways is identified, as is the consequence of this for the income tax system. The corporate tax choices that corporations make have serious implications for corporate governance, which forms a background to the book. The legislative framework within which the corporate tax system is positioned is discussed, as is the scope and structure of the book.