Keep using all of your nutjob buzzwords. "Loophole". "Every trick in the book". You have no idea what you are talking about.
First, I know exactly how companies are run. I've worked for "companies" for 20 years.
Second, you don't know anything about corporate taxes. You just don't. I could mention "FIN 48" to you (and I realize that it has been renumbered now) and you wouldn't understand the significance.
No, "companies" do NOT "use every loophole and trick in the book to pay the least amount of taxes possible". That is an inaccurate statement. Due to public disclosures and IRS rules, we have to evaluate the likelihood of prevailing upon examination. I can't speak for every single "company" ever, but nearly every publicly-traded company has to have "substantial authority" for even TAKING a particular tax position, and even then, you have to take the financial statement hit (i.e., set up a FIN 48 reserve) for any amounts that are NOT "more likely than not" to survive an examination.
I realize that your rudimentary understanding of the business world has been informed by antiquated concepts and stereotypes that you probably saw on TV. But I have worked for publicly-traded companies, and interacted with Big 4 accounting firms, for 20 years.
So, yeah, it is not about "big companies" doing the "morally right" thing when it comes to taxes. But your fantasy that "companies" will "use every loophole and trick in the book to pay the least amount of taxes possible" is simply not true. There are limits. And those limits may come from the law, and risk analysis, and the fear of signing your name under penalties of perjury AND NOT FROM MORALITY, but there ARE limits that "big companies" acknowledge and abide by.
“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.”
~ Judge Learned Hand
(1872-1961), Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals
in the case of Gregory v. Helvering 69 F.2d 809, 810 (2d Cir. 1934), aff'd, 293 U.S. 465, 55 S.Ct. 266, 79 L.Ed. 596 (1935)