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Oil firms see tax rates fall

Oil firms see tax rates fall
RAW STORY
Last Updated: 11/14/2005

Buried in the C-section of the Wall Street Journal, Steven D. Jones reveals Monday: "Oil companies operating in the U.S. typically pay taxes at or above the 35% rate on corporate profits. But for about one in four big oil companies, tax rates have fallen recently, even as profits have soared." Full (paid-restricted) article here. Excerpts:

Of the 87 publicly traded oil companies with a market capitalization of more than $1 billion, the effective tax rates of 21 companies fell in the most recent quarter compared with average rates paid over the trailing 12 months, Reuters data show.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC's tax rate fell to 37% in the third quarter from 41%, BP PLC's declined to about 27% from more than 30% and Burlington Resources Inc.'s dropped to about 33% from 37%. The rates were derived by dividing the amount of income tax paid by taxable income.


LINK: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Oil_firms_see_tax_rates_fall_1114.html