Amazon Reports £932M Tax Payment in UK

Amazon reported revenues of £27 billion in the UK for 2023, a £3 billion increase from the previous year, while paying £932 million in direct taxes, equating to just 3.45% of its turnover. Union leader Andy Prendergast criticized the company for its minimal tax contributions, calling it an 'affront to the British public' amidst the UK government's financial challenges. Although Amazon claims to be the sixth largest taxpayer in the UK, details on profits remain opaque, particularly regarding its operations routed through Luxembourg. The company's main UK division, Amazon UK Services, paid £18.7 million in corporation tax, a fraction of its £250.7 million profit, due to tax reliefs from previous investment incentives. Critics argue that Amazon's tax strategies give it an unfair advantage over traditional retailers that face higher business rates. The ongoing scrutiny of Amazon’s tax practices highlights broader concerns about corporate tax responsibilities in the UK economy.