US multinationals use a variety of legal devices to avoid payment of US taxes. One of the more popular methods is to take their profits in tax havens. In 2008 43% of corporate profits were taken in tax havens in which they do little business. (Bermuda, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland). For example, Microsoft has moved its patents to a tax haven. This enables them to take profits on the patents in the tax haven. Another tactic to manufacture a product in a tax haven, like Ireland, and use high transfer prices to international subsidiaries. The profits are taken in Ireland instead of the subsidiary. The bottom line is that many US corporations have dramatically reduced their US tax bills.
This problem is not unique in the US. The rapid growth in globalization has made the tax policies of most nation states obsolete. Multinational corporations in most countries take advantage of obsolete tax policies and make extensive use of tax havens. At the same time they campaign for lower taxes. The ability of MNC's to avoid taxes has consequences for everyone else. The tax burden must be shifted to other taxpayers, or government's must cut spending. Its not surprising that there is pressure on governments to cut spending on popular programs that primarily benefit citizens who don't have lobbyists representing their interests in government.
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