Thank you for downloading this programme.

In this edition, we're looking at the art of paying less tax,

the tax avoidance schemes commonly used by some of the big multinational companies.

Hello and welcome to the program and pull up a chair, stop what you're doing, this one might get complicated

because we're going to tackle that most thorny issue of corporate tax today.

Now, there is a pervasive sense that the system has gone off the rails,

with big multinationals essentially paying tax voluntarily.

Is that true? How do they get away with it?

And whose fault is it anyway?

We'll drill down into some details,

and we'll also ask some very basic questions about what corporation tax is for.

And to help us, three of the best tax advisors money can buy and they're kindly donating their expertise to us.

So let's meet them.

And first up is Heather Self, a partner at the international law firm Pinsent Mason's.

And you're not actually a lawyer, Heather. What are you?

I'm a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor.

Right. So the law firm hires some accountants to help on the tax side.

We're a multidisciplinary practice.

Right. What kinds of business are your clients?

Mostly large companies, mostly operating internationally.

And most of what I'm doing is trying

to help them solve arguments with the tax authorities, mostly in the UK, HMRC.

...