The slew of companies caught red-handed in this year of corporate sleaze face potentially colossal legal claims, but they may enjoy pleasant reprieves next year — huge tax breaks from Uncle Sam.
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The IRS’s conclusion: “The amounts paid by Taxpayer pursuant to the settlement are currently deductible.”
...
“People are going to be upset when they hear companies can deduct these expenses,”

The slew of companies caught red-handed in this year of corporate sleaze face potentially colossal legal claims, but they may enjoy pleasant reprieves next year — huge tax breaks from Uncle Sam.
...
The IRS’s conclusion: “The amounts paid by Taxpayer pursuant to the settlement are currently deductible.”
...
“People are going to be upset when they hear companies can deduct these expenses,”

Hrm, I'm not. Corporations are not people. Corporations do not pay taxes on expenses. The reason for this is that eliminating specific deductions would allow the government to incent corporations to operate a certain way, thus leading to effective centralized economic control. This is a fundamental feature of capitalism. If the agencies that are levying fines don't think that the fines are punitive enough on their own, they should RAISE the fines rather then setting a precident that will lead to central control of the economy.

The slew of companies caught red-handed in this year of corporate sleaze face potentially colossal legal claims, but they may enjoy pleasant reprieves next year — huge tax breaks from Uncle Sam.
...
The IRS’s conclusion: “The amounts paid by Taxpayer pursuant to the settlement are currently deductible.”
...
“People are going to be upset when they hear companies can deduct these expenses,”

[ This is totally ridiculous. I rant and rant and rant about how corporations have more rights than human beings. Usually I get some crap about corporations being the money generators in the society and they should (of course) have more rights. Bzzzt! Wrong answer. If this isn't enough to convince you that large corporations and the people who run and support them (government leaders) are morally bankrupt, I don't know what is. Steal money from your investors, get fined, then write it off! Hurray for AmeriKKKa! --Rek ]