Economist claims tax rate data flawed

The data used to support the claim that US multinationals operating in Ireland pay an effective tax rate of 2.2% is flawed, according to a leading economist.

In a research paper released by Trinity College Dublin academic Jim Stewart, data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis was used to show that US multinationals paid an effective tax rate of 2.2% on the $144bn of net income earned in this country.

However, UCC economics lecturer Séamus Coffey argued that the $144bn figure is not correct.