[calf]

Originally Posted by firebug

Again, if you don't understand it, don't quote it.

That isn't a charge to the government (i.e. no cash impact). In fact, if you read their financials (Q2 - 2015 note 7) you'll see that their H1 2015 deferred income tax expense is $60 MM lower than H1 2014 (209 vs 269) and current taxes paid are -3MM for Q2 (ie they got money back) and -108MM for H1.

Do they figure they will have to pay more in the future, of course, but it's being reported like they have to pay $579 right now, when in reality in North America they only had to pay $79mm (vs $225mm last year) in the quarter. The $579MM is an accounting gimmick (aren't they all) that they are using to score some political points and put pressure on the government.

The corporations should be paying these deferred taxes!!