Give the protest - and Starbucks - some credit. This tax "donation" is a step in the right direction - Comment - Voices - The Independent In an open letter shared on Facebook, Engskov - formerly an aide to Bill Clinton - announced Starbucks will pay an additional £20 million in tax to HMRC over the next two years. This sum will be "above the rate required by law." Cap fimly in hand, Engskov added this bizarre donation was prompted by "our customers," who have made their feelings on avoidance "loud and clear" (Sample quote from Facebook: "I go to costa now... This morning, however, much of the Caps-Locked customer bitterness remains. While the sum is significant, and the other commitments admirable (Starbucks will no longer offset overseas licensing charges, or intra-company loans against tax) the general scepticism - encouraged by tax experts who labelled this voluntary donation a "joke" - has yet to soften. Top of the Twitter reaction is a much retweeted snark from Gary Lineker: "Starbucks to pay some tax in future. How terribly considerate of them. Campaigning group UK Uncut announced that tomorrow's protest in Starbucks stores will go ahead as planned, this being just a "desperate attempt to deflect public pressure." Of course, tax experts are right to scratch their heads. First, the sudden flash of generosity hasn't been agreed with HMRC. Second, It smacks of PR. Third, it makes a mockery of the point that tax should be a legal obligation - not a voluntary one. But it's not Starbucks' fault that our tax system hasn't kept up with the increasingly global nature of trade. So why condemn the company for making a "voluntary" donation, when that's the only option they could really take? It's not their job to lobby for long-term reform of the tax system. Furthermore it shouldn't matter that this decision was made to "deflect public pressure"? The ends - a more responsible multinational - surely justify the means. And what a win for public pressure! So perhaps, customers have right to be optimistic. The fierce Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodges MP called this "a first step in the right direction." As of yet Google and Amazon have declined to follow. And they take far more gumption to protest against than Starbucks, who fight competitors every few feet.