When news broke yesterday that Burger King was headed north of the border to reduce its tax liability, many people lost their minds. Facebook commenters took to Burger King’s page and hurled epithets like “traitor,” “un-American,” and “tax cheat” at the burger joint. Americans have a right to be upset that an iconic brand is fleeing for Canada, but they’re pointing their finger in the wrong direction. The only reason Burger King is heading north is our prohibitive corporate tax rate, which is the highest effective corporate tax rate in the world. At nearly 40 percent, our corporate tax rate is some 15 points higher than the average nation’s. It’s important to remember that corporations don’t pay taxes. It’s not as if Burger King’s creepy faux king mascot foots the corporation’s tax bill. People do. Burger King’s workers pay it through lower wages, shareholders pay it through lower payouts on their investments, and consumers pay it through higher burger prices. Burger King’s attempt to reduce its tax burden will only mean it can pass on higher wages to workers, higher earnings to investors, and cheaper burgers to the rest of us. Burger King is simply making a prudent business decision. If Americans are up in arms about the restaurant’s relocation, they should call their congressman and demand that we fix our tax code, starting with the corporate tax. Get rid of all the loopholes that favor some business over others, and lower the overall rate for all businesses—from the mom and pop shop to the Burger King’s of the world. That’s the “American” solution to this whole affair. – Justin Owen
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
LATEST POSTS
First Principles Series: The Practical Case for Protecting Free Speech
Our “First Principles Series” is an ongoing awareness effort by Beacon to restore our nation’s commitment to those principles of free market...
First Principles Series: The Importance of Protecting our First Amendment Rights
Beacon tirelessly advocates for the principles of liberty whether government officials like them or not. Thanks to the First Amendment, all...
Freedom Wins: The Future of Education is Here
While the EFS success is a great reason to celebrate, there is more work to be done to unlock education freedom for all Tennesseans.
First Principles Series: Worker Freedom
More and more people are relocating to Tennessee to live and work and fleeing states that refuse to protect their freedoms, like California,...
First Principles Series: The Plight of Property Taxes
Tennessee joins Hawaii, Vermont, and New Hampshire as the outliers where property taxes can go up without limit.
Fact Checking Claims on Enrollment Declines
Despite declining enrollment occurring all across the nation, recent news reports have claimed that the problem is specific to Tennessee bec...
Get to Know Kathryn Beale, Beacon’s New Director of Development
Tell us about you—where you’re from, any fun facts about yourself, and where you spent your career prior to Beacon. I’m originally from Bent...
August 2025 Beacon Poll Results
A majority of Tennesseans, 56% of voters, believe the cap on Education Freedom Scholarships should be lifted from where it currently sits at...
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
WANT TO DO A STORY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU SEE HERE?
CONTACT US AT:
kylie.walker@beacontn.org
(O) 615-383-6431
WHO ARE WE?
The Beacon Center of Tennessee empowers Tennesseans to reclaim and protect their freedoms, so that they can freely pursue their version of the American Dream.