For some, only total, or near-total, tax transparency will suffice so far as multinational companies are concerned. Only then will taxpayers at large be able to see just how much tax these firms pay, and, just as importantly, where they pay it and with reputations at stake, such a state of affairs might discourage companies from engaging in aggressive tax planning and profit shifting.

These calls are currently being reflected in EU proposals for country-by-country (CbC) reports to be made accessible to the public, which have been approved by the European Parliament by a wide majority.