"Starbucks executives have dismissed charges that it has underpaid its European tax bills.
Politicians in the UK, Germany and France have called for investigations into the coffee company following Reuters reports into the firm's tax arrangements..."
"...Starbucks paid no tax on its UK earnings for the past three years after recording annual losses. But Reuters reported that US executives claimed in telephone calls with investors that the UK business was profitable..."
"...The House of Commons public accounts committee has asked senior officials from all three companies to address the issues at a hearing later this month. Margaret Hodge, who chairs the committee, told parliament last month that Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google and Starbucks had avoided nearly £900m of tax.
Prime minister David Cameron responded to the claim by saying: "I'm not happy with the current situation. ..."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/01/starbucks-dismisses-tax-avoidance-claims