I don't think it is "wrong thinking" on the parent comment's part not to blame the corporation for doing what it can to profit. Hell, if I could find a legal tax loophole I certainly would take it, too.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin wanted Google to be different, but all they've done is create yet another giant corporation.
On many matters Larry Page and Sergey Brin have had opportunity to take the moral high ground, but they have failed.
Why would I want you as a CEO of a company I invest in if you're not doing everything legal to raise my stock price / return money to me as dividends?
In this instance, Google was given no choice.
http://utterlyboring.com/archives/2004/04/19/google_may_be_f...
Because your definition seems to be taking advantage of something in a law, miswording or mistake, in a negative way, or even illegal, to avoid paying taxes that are rightfully due.
I define it as following the law as written to lower your tax burdens.
You imply that there's something inherently wrong with using "loopholes". I say there's something inherently wrong not using them, since it is the law.
You may attempt to make this about moral high ground and doing what's right, but that's your definition of the situation and you are welcome to your opinion. But the law says otherwise.
Especially since the company is basically legally required to use such methods to reduce their tax burdens, because otherwise they're likely to be sued by share holders or to whomever they are beholden to.
If it were true that a corporation is legally obligated to reduce its tax burden... then why isn't every shareholder in America suing the company for not moving the headquarters to Dubai where corporation tax is ZERO percent?
I'm pretty sure the parent meant within reason. Moving a $300b tech company's headquarters from the heart of SV to a location halfway around the world is not reasonable.
So why doesn't Google and every other company move to Dubai where corporation tax is zero percent? Why aren't shareholders demanding the company move to the lowest tax jurisdictions in the world?
Run down to your local university and audit a class in Federal Income Tax. It's actually a pretty well thought-out system. There are "loop holes" (e.g. for oil and gas companies), but when it comes to taxing multi-nationals there are real theoretical challenges.