“How much should big companies mitigate their tax liabilities — both legally and morally? The controversy over Tesco’s tax structuring techniques involving sale and leaseback arrangements with offshore companies highlights a practice increasingly common among large companies. The revelations triggered an outcry about the behaviour of large multinational companies; some even argued that Tesco should ignore such lawful tax planning opportunities and simply volunteer 30 per cent of its profits in corporation tax out of a sense of social responsibility.”
The Times, 4th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk