Amazon has released a statement expressing its pride in paying £492m in tax on £20.6bn UK sales. Demand has boomed for Amazon during the Covid pandemic with revenues up from the £13.73bn it achieved in 2019. However, the statement is not quite what it seems. The £492m in taxes is the amalgamation of business rates, stamp duty and employee national insurance contributions together with digital services tax. Amazon employs 55,000 UK workers and is continuing to open new distribution depots and local delivery hubs around the country.
The business which has come under fire for not paying tax on the profits it generates in the UK, and other countries, said: “We are proud of the significant economic contribution we are making to the UK economy. Looking ahead, we know that the UK remains full of opportunity and we continue to be excited by the potential to continue to invest, create jobs, develop talent and have a positive impact in communities across the country.”
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