Amazon will make bumper profits on Black Friday. Time for them to pay more tax
This week we were at Downing Street. We handed in a petition of 110,000 signatures, demanding the government close tax loopholes for Amazon.
We’ve shown the government there is strong public support for taxing Amazon and other huge corporations more fairly.
We were joined by an MP, Bobby Dean, who helped hand in the petition. Watch his video here.
Watch our new Head of Advocacy Caitlin at Downing Street when we handed in the petition.
It’s never been more important
Amazon’s wealth and power keeps growing and growing. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos’s net worth has just hit £180 billion.
This week Amazon is poised to make billions of pounds from Black Friday worldwide.
Last year they made £27 billion revenue in the UK. Yet they are paying a fraction of this in corporation tax.
This is happening in a country creaking at the seams for lack of investment. Everywhere you look, public services and the NHS are struggling.
Not paying their fair share
The fact that one of the world’s largest companies pays so little tax, while benefiting from all the things our taxes pay for, is unjust.
Amazon would not be able to operate in the UK without an educated, healthy workforce. Or without decent roads and infrastructure. Or without a police and fire service.
We all pay for these public services. Why shouldn’t Amazon? They are reaping the rewards of doing business in the UK without paying their fair share.
How we stop them
The government must take action against companies offshoring their profits to low tax countries.
The government should do this by making all global corporations publish what they earn in the UK and what tax they pay, both here and in every country.
This transparency does not exist currently – and would go a long way to forcing Amazon to pay up.
At the United Nations
The UK government should also do more to support global efforts to stop tax avoidance by multinational companies.
Let me explain. Yesterday, the United Nations member states voted on a resolution to adopt the terms of reference of the new United Nations Tax Convention, a key tool to improve the global tax rules.
The UN Tax Convention would help create a more just global financial system and tackle international tax avoidance by wealthy companies.
Whilst the resolution passed with 125 votes in favour, the UK voted against it, one of just 9 countries to do so.
This means the UK government continues to remain opposed to fairer global tax cooperation. This is not right. We’ll keep campaigning to change this.
Black Friday protests
Tomorrow is Black Friday.
Amazon workers across the country will be protesting against Amazon’s poor working conditions and their tax avoidance.
We support these protests wholeheartedly. Caitlin will be going along to speak at one of these rallies in London.
A new campaign in Scotland
It is really exciting to see organisations in Scotland come together to launch a new campaign for tax justice.
Tax Justice Scotland will work for a fairer, greener and more equal country, funded by a better tax system – that takes more from those with the broadest shoulders
The campaign is supported by over 50 organisations from think tanks to trade unions and charities. We’re proud to be backing Tax Justice Scotland and their efforts.
It’s so encouraging to see our movement for tax justice growing.