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26 Big Firms Paid More to CEOs Than to US in Taxes

New study blasts corporate tax code

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2012 7:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – A new study that might set your blood boiling finds that 26 large US companies, each of which generated an average of more than $1 billion in net income last year, paid more to their CEOs than they paid to the federal government in taxes last year. The CEOs received an average of $20.4 million while the companies paid little to no federal tax, according to regulatory filings analyzed by the Institute for Policy Studies, which the AP refers to as "a liberal-leaning think tank." Eighteen of the companies actually received refunds or credits against future taxes.

The companies include:

  • Boeing, which got a $605 million tax refund and paid its CEO $18.4 million. (A spokesperson says the company actually paid $1.3 billion in taxes.)
  • Citigroup, which received a net $144 million in tax benefits and paid its CEO $14.9 million.
  • AT&T, which saved $5.2 billion in taxes using accelerated depreciation and paid its CEO $18.7 million.
The study blasts the corporate tax code, claiming massive deductions and credits are enabling "bloated CEO pay." But the study did not take deferred taxes—which will theoretically be paid some time in the future—into account. Click for more details.

This Jan. 25, 2011, file photo, shows the Boeing Company logo on the property in El Segundo, Calif.
This Jan. 25, 2011, file photo, shows the Boeing Company logo on the property in El Segundo, Calif.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 36 comments
NorCalHal
Aug 16, 2012 9:46 PM CDT
And despite Obummers ramblings to the contrary, the company CEO's, unlike the IRS, actually worked for and made money for the company.
ddhartma
Aug 16, 2012 7:00 PM CDT
The problem here is not the amount of taxes they paid, or didn't pay. The problem is the insane amount of compensation that corporate officers are receiving here in the States (no other country even comes close to comparing with the compensation packages paid out to corporate officers). It is so ridiculous that even if a CEO runs a company into the ground, they get let go while retaining a unreasonable amount of compensation. This whole compensation beyond anything within reason for corporate officers practice is what is driving the spread between the rich and the middle-class. Corporate taxes don't even begin to touch the surface of the real issue. Eliminate these unreasonable compensation packages and force corporate officers to earn their keep, by re-investing those profits and stimulating jobs.
Mr.Hobbs
Aug 16, 2012 4:43 PM CDT
Good old usa---or what once was the USA--corporations are sitting on trillions, ceo's are raking off from those corporations, and the little people are being forced to prove citizenship before voting, because afterall the little people might just pull the plug on these so-called American companies along with telling them to fight their own wars against the communists! The communist loving flim-flam man along with his friends including those in communist China and his go-for guy (some call them Mitt & Jeff) want to add to the situation and make it worse. First, by screwing with our Social Security and Medicare turning them over to their Wall Street and "industry" friends. Stand in line for your voucher and by the way you'll need to add about 7 or so additional thousands of dollars to cover those corporate expenses like CEO bonuses. So if your sick drop and can't afford the additional Ronney "fee" then too bad and drop dead. Oh, yes forgot to mention that the high rollers like Mitt and Jeff and corporations will continue to be allowed like him--to pay little to no taxes while keeping their funds in their off-shore accounts. Oh yes, lets not forget about the corporate welfare that must continue on anyway!! Let's see where do you supposed they'll get the money needed to cover their shortages---I know the pensions and benefits of civil service and other workers, by, how else special taxes and fees.
 

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