Last year MPs were up in arms over multinationals recording sales offshore in countries such as Luxembourg and thus not paying much corporation tax in the UK.
Amazon was one of the companies hauled before a Parliament Select Committee to explain themselves and the upshot is that they’ve reformed their tax affairs, are recording sales to UK consumers in the UK and are registered to pay UK Corporation tax.
Great news for the Chancellor and a success for the Select Committee, Amazon will this year pay more tax in the UK… except they may well pay less tax in the UK or none at all!
According to the Mirror, Amazon are investing so heavily in infrastructure that they could possibly show a loss and pay no tax at all.
We know that Amazon are investing heavily in multiple areas, they’re opening up new Amazon Logistics depots, setting up food deliveries, setting up one-hour deliveries, investing in technology and it all costs money. Amazon are one of the few companies who’ve never bothered about making a profit for their investors but for 20 years happily posted losses pouring the cash into expansion and diversification.
It’s somewhat ironic that moving their tax back to the UK also means they’ll be offsetting their investments against their tax bill and could pay nothing this year. As we’ve always said however, if it’s all within the tax legislation and the legislators don’t like it, it’s down to the law to be changed, not for Amazon to make voluntary tax donations.
4 Responses
If this is genuine it isn’t an issue at all. This rule has been in place for a very long time and applies to all businesses large or small. Business investment is tax deductible. It applies to me as much as Amazon. Take away something like this, and many small businesses would find it impossible to significantly invest in growing their business. It really is misguided and a non-issue if the media think it is something to bash Amazon with.
Pretty much as Martin said. This is something we all take advantage of and can hardly hold it against Amazon for doing exactly the same and being efficient with their reinvesting.
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And it is very unlikely they will continue to ‘invest’ in infrustruct for every year to come….
Why not make the heading say…
“Amazon may pay UK tax”l