UK Taxpayers Back Higher Levies on Tech Giants

A recent survey reveals that a significant majority of UK taxpayers believe big tech companies, such as Meta, Google, and Amazon, should be subject to higher digital services taxes. The poll, conducted by the Fair Tax Foundation, found that 67% of respondents support increasing the tax burden on these multinational technology groups to boost their overall tax contribution in the UK. The UK's digital services tax, introduced in 2020, currently imposes a 2% tax on revenues from search engines, social media, and marketplaces with UK sales exceeding £25m or £500m globally. Although the tax has generated approximately £800m for the government in 2024-25, it has faced criticism and opposition, including from the US.

The survey also indicates that three-quarters of the British public prefer to work with and shop from businesses that can demonstrate they are paying their fair share of tax. According to Paul Monaghan, chief executive of the Fair Tax Foundation, the research shows that the UK public prioritizes tax justice and wants the government to ensure all businesses, regardless of size, contribute fairly to the tax system. The foundation's annual poll of 2,000 adults across Great Britain has consistently shown strong support for a digital services tax, with at least 70% of respondents over the past decade expressing a desire to work for a company that pays its fair share of tax.

Source: The Guardian