Companies have long complained that the tax policy being pursued by the current government was making the UK a less attractive place to have the headquarters of a multinational business. Recent proposals over the taxation of foreign profits finally seems to have tipped some of those critics over the edge and into action.
Several big names have already stated their intentions to hop across the Irish Sea and settle in Ireland, where corporate tax rates are much lower, and many others are considering following suit. Will the government continue with its aggressive strategy and risk a tax exodus or will it back down?
Read all the latest news, features and analysis in this special report, which also contains an archive of all our stories on this topic.
News
UK wealth creators pay more tax (09 Jun 2008)
Irish minister warned tax plans at odds with EU (09 Jun 2008)
Smiths Group might relocate because of tax fears (4 June 2008)
UK’s tax system seen as less fair than other regimes (03 Jun 2008)
Treasury defers tax on foreign profits (02 Jun 2008)
Power boss blasts UK tax regime (22 May 2008)
We are staying put, say pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca (15 May 2008)
Compass mulls switching tax bearings (15 May 2008)
Fears of US backlash to govt tax changes (09 May 2008)
GlaxoSmithKline turnaround on quitting UK (08 May 2008)
Treasury tight-lipped on business tax forum (08 May 2008)
UK's top business chiefs threaten tax move (06 May 2008)
Multinational bosses threaten corp exodus (05 May 2008)
Irish finance minister defends tax regime (02 May 2008)
Treasury urged to revisit foreign profits (01 May 2008)
WPP considered leaving UK over tax (30 Apr 2008)
UBM move angers Treasury (29 Apr 2008)
CBI calls for tax rethink to stop multi-national exodus (28 Apr 2008)
UBM joins tax exodus to Ireland (28 Apr 2008)
Call to stem company exodus (24 April 2008)
GSK: tax rules must be 'favourable' (24 Apr 2008)
Shire move 'the first of many' (21 Apr 2008)
'Two or three' companies plot offshore move (16 April 2008)
Shire quits UK over tax (15 Apr 2008)
CBI urges ‘radical’ overhaul of UK’s corporate tax (10 Mar 2008)
Analysis
Is it a one-way street for foreign profits tax? (29 May 2008)
Dublin's gain is Darling's loss (08 May 2008)
Shire's tax move: foreign legion? (24 Apr 2008)
Comment
Corporation tax: keep it simple (05 Jun 2008)
Companies leaving the UK: what will we lose? (15 May 2008)
Desire to 'compete' is wrong (30 Apr 2008)
Features
The great escape (01 May 2008)
Blogs
'Two or three' companies to follow Shire offshore (16 April 2008)
Will Tories drop taxation of foreign profits?