You do realize this is highly unusual behaviour, correct? OP's question was more or less hypothetical, in that almost everyone who isn't a programmer sends exactly the amount they have to, and no more.

(and often less, if they think they can get away with it)

That isn't equivalent to what Google does at all though; if they didn't shift business around to shell companies in Ireland or Luxembourg and just paid the "the amount they have to, and no more" they would pay a hell of a lot more tax in the UK. You are comparing two different things: sending in extra money, which I think we can all agree is rare (although I also could pay less tax than I do), and actively using complex accounting involving other countries so that you pay far less then you normally would (and other equivalent dodges for individuals), which is not common among individuals.

Of course, it is not so easy to avoid tax as a salaried individual, which is why your comparison is failing. Somebody on PAYE (i.e. most people) can't create a clone of themselves in Ireland to pay their income tax there instead of the UK. If that option was available to individuals then I'm sure plenty would take it (assuming Irish income tax is lower, I have no idea). That is what the debate is about though: some entities have great flexibility and can avoid tax if they want, others (individuals of average means or less) don't have the choice to pay less.

Agreed, it's different. I didn't want to make a broader comment, actually. Was just letting OP know that his behavior (used as an anecdote to counter the other poster's hypothetical) is highly unrepresentative.

On a side note, one point I've been stuck on is what to call the commentors above me. I know there's established language for it (parent, grandparent) but I have trouble using it right. Anyone know what I should have called the poster of the hypothetical, and the response that I responded to?