The answer may surprise you. Despite making a £222 million profit, Amazon’s main UK division paid no corporation tax in 2022.
Because of government tax breaks, this is the second year in a row that this part of Amazon has paid no corporation tax here.
In fact the UK government actually gave Amazon money last year: £7.7m in tax credits for making investments in infrastructure, which they likely would have made anyway.
This would be an appalling situation at any time – but during a cost of living crisis when our public services are crying out for better funding, it’s an outrage.
That’s why we’re taking action.
We’ve teamed up with 38 Degrees to demand the government scraps tax breaks for Amazon – and other huge corporations.
They must close tax loopholes and stop handing out subsidies to tech giants that don’t need them. Sign the petition:
Summing up the dire situation, Paul Monaghan chief executive of our ally the Fair Tax Foundation told The Guardian :
“Amazon UK Services is not only not paying tax, but is being handed tax credits for investment that almost certainly would have happened anyway. Tax credits for old rope, if you will.
Amazon workers strike
At the same time Amazon is resisting giving it’s staff proper cost-of-living wage increases.
Amazon workers in Coventry are currently on strike , demanding their wages increase from £11 to £15 an hour.
Amazon workers in other locations are currently balloting to strike.
Big multinational corporations like Amazon must be made to contribute to the UK through taxes – and paying their workers properly.
They must not be given a free ride by the UK government.