Levin: Public disapproval could cost Burger King

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) blasted Burger King’s announcement that it plans to merge with Canadian doughnut chain Tim Hortons in an effort to avoid U.S. taxes.

“If this merger goes through, there could well be a strong public reaction against Burger King that could more than offset any tax benefit it receives from a tax avoidance move,” Levin said on Monday.

{mosads}If Burger King decides to move its headquarters to Canada, it would no longer be subject to U.S. corporate taxes — a tactic known as inversion.

Levin has been a strong advocate of changing the U.S. tax code to punish corporations for leaving the United States while rewarding those that stay. But some Republicans argue the government shouldn’t pick winners and losers. 

“Today’s report that Burger King may receive a tax break for renouncing its U.S. citizenship is another example of why Congress can’t afford to wait any longer to put a stop to tax dodging through this kind of merger,” Levin said.