"[A] must-see for anyone interested in reducing inequality within and between countries" Reuven Avi-Yonah, Prof. Law, Univ of Michigan

Tax Wars takes us behind the scenes of a global fight against the tax evasion of multinationals, a fight that is essential if governments are to have the resources to combat inequality, finance long-neglected public services, and address climate change, both in the North and the South.

Spearheading this fight are a handful of experts - "knights of tax justice" - including Thomas Piketty, Joseph Stiglitz, Gabriel Zucman, Jayati Ghosh and Eva Joly, who have joined forces to form the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).

Combining filming on four continents and futuristic animation inspired by the Star Wars universe, Tax Wars tells the story of how they succeeded in imposing their ideas on the most powerful actors in the global economy, with the adoption in 2021 of an agreement signed by 136 countries on a minimum tax on the profits of multinationals.



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2025     Copyright Date: 2024
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-45-4

Reviews "This is an outstanding documentary that shows how a group of experts have successfully unveiled how the richest corporations in the world manage to avoid paying their taxes. It is a must-see for anyone interested in reducing inequality within and between countries, and is an excellent aid in teaching tax in a community or classroom setting." Reuven Avi-Yonah, Professor of Law, University of Michigan, Author, Advanced Introduction to International Tax Law "Very well done and accessible to all...ICRICT relies on public awareness and mobilization...This documentary makes a significant contribution to this." Catherine Pacary, Le Monde "Eye-opening...Tax Wars takes its audience on a fascinating journey through the global movement for tax justice - a transnational effort that has scored crucial, if partial, victories in the past decade. The film effectively presents arguments and evidence in favor of unified global tax initiatives without shying away from the myriad economic, political, and administrative challenges involved. The filmmakers effectively link tax injustice to its damaging effects on social protections and socio-economic outcomes around the world. Don't miss this film." Janet Gornick, Professor, Political Science and Sociology, Director, Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, CUNY Graduate Center, Editor, Income Inequality: Economic Disparities and the Middle Class in Affluent Countries "Tax Wars exposes the real costs for real people, including the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, of allowing corporations to evade and avoid taxes with impunity. Stuffing corporate pockets while starving public investment in health and education exacerbates grotesque global and domestic inequality. While everyone should see this excellent film, I especially urge teachers to show the movie to their students and local public officials to learn where their desperately needed revenue has flown." Michael Ash, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst "To meet the needs of their constituencies, the governments of developed and developing countries must ensure the sustainability of their tax collections, which in turn relies on optimized tax policy design. That is how you put in place appropriate safeguards against tax evasion, strengthen legislation against tax avoidance, and encourage those in power to join forces against 'harmful' tax competition. You will find this lesson in Tax Wars, which I emphatically endorse." Lucas de Lima Carvalho, Founder, Latin American Tax Policy Forum "Tax Wars offers an informative and sobering introduction to a core issue at stake in international tax policy - how to ensure multinational corporations pay their fair share. The documentary pairs insightful commentary from leading economists with testimonials from communities and organizations working on the frontlines to confront tax evasion, which results in a nuanced portrait of one of the central governance problems facing the global community. I highly recommend this film to all people interested in preventing tax evasion, thus ensuring multinational corporations fulfill their obligations under the social contract." Thomas Herndon, Associate Professor of Economics, John Jay College CUNY "A committed documentary...The Jedi of tax justice...Effective. There is still a lot to do and ICRICT is still active." Caroline Michel-Aguirre, Le Nouvel Obs