We make no effort to conceal the fact that we support small businesses and promote initiatives that drive profits. But when a company grows so big and generates so much cash that it takes business away from the high street, forcing companies into administration we have to take notice.
The company that is causing a stir is ‘Amazon’ who’s savings have ballooned to somewhere in the region of £6bn following a successful Christmas period. On the one hand it’s great to see a company performing so well in today’s economic climate but there are always two sides to every coin. On one side of the coin we have a company that has earned more than £7bn in the UK between 2009 – 2011.
Unfortunately on the opposite side of the coin are high street stores going bust and the UK government having to use its resources to ensure that they don’t get cheated out of Corporation tax, as Amazon funnel their sales through their head office in Luxembourg.
We think that there should be measures in place to ensure that loopholes in our tax system are plugged to avoid large cash rich corporates benefiting by avoiding their obligations, while small businesses suffer.
We want a fairer system that cares for the smaller business. Let us know if you agree and leave your comments below or on our blog: http://www.aims.co.uk/blogs/blog62.html
Regards,
Henry
www.aims.co.uk
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Replies (7)
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Charge non-resident companies ...
tax on turnover - 5% say, even 1%, still far more than they are paying now.
Thanks (0)Pricing
If UK stores sold dvds and books online (I'm not going out) as cheaply as Amazon then people would use them. But they don't. Billy Bob Consumer isn't going to fork out more on a regular basis just because it would be better in theory for the UK economy.
Their customer service is miles better too!
Thanks (0)Vicious circle
Due to the ability for multinationals to avoid tax (or reduce it), UK companies will never be able to compete on price.
Wasn't it Mr Dodwell (in defence of the multinationals) who said that it is ok for the multinationals to pay reduced tax, because the tax cost was passed back to the consumer anyway?
Isn't it the same for UK companies? Therefore it is an unlevel playing field, as UK companies have to charge their consumers more (as they don't have the same scope for tax avoidance) and are then uncompetitive?
Thanks (0)But ...
... retails stores have to charge VAT on their goods, so the are 20% more expensive, even if they charged the same net.
As for customer service, Amazon is the pits, even guaranteed next day rarely appears until the day after, items are often obviously returns as the cases are scratched or cracked on CD'd and dvds, which are frequently not plastic wrapped, book covers frequently folded or torn, often very grubby or stained and also books are often US variants - but apparently Amazon have no way of letting you know when you buy,so craft and cookery books in particular have US measurements and terms (and more appallingly US spelling, although I don't suppose many would notice these days :o) )
Thanks (0)Agree to disagree
We'll have to agree to disagree on Amazon OGA - all the dvds I've had (and that's quite a few!) have been sealed and fine, books perfect, and whenever I've contacted their customer service people they've been fab. And any delivery problems have been down to the couriers and Amazon have refunded delivery charges.
Thanks (0)DVD's less of a problem ...
... CD's more so.
You probably wouldn't notice the US versions of books (or would prefer them :o) )
One book just before Christmas took about 3 weeks to arrive, and then looked like some one had been using it to reach the top shelf judging by the boot-print on the cover!
Anyway, go away, I'm supposed to be doing tax returns ;oP
Thanks (0)Good music here
... for all the poor souls still doing tax returns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7O91GDWGPU
Put it on repeat and keep pace.
I put this on LOUD when doing the housework and it gets done in half the time :)
I imagine myself galloping through Monument Valley and it makes a rotten job bearable.
Thanks (0)