// Currys CEO claims Amazon is getting a “free ride” from UK retailers as it swerves taxes
// Alex Baldock told the BBC that Amazon “appear[s] to play by different rules than those of us who actually pay some tax”
Currys’ chief executive has said Amazon is getting a “free ride” from UK retailers by using the country’s infrastructure while swerving taxes.
Alex Baldock, the boss of the high street electronics retailer told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show Amazon “appear[s] to play by different rules than those of us who actually pay some tax”.
The online giant has been accused of reducing its UK tax bills by sticking to a primarily digital footprint although it does pay tax on distribution warehouses.
Amazon’s UK tax bill could rise by £29m next year following the changes to business rates introduced in the autumn statement that will hit those that operate warehouses.
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As business rates tax physical commercial spaces, bricks and mortar retailers are more exposed to the UK tax system than digital players, which Amazon has managed to largely avoid.
A flurry of high street retailers have called on the government to tax online marketplaces’ sales to help level the playing field although Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ditched plans to launch an online sales tax in last month’s autumn statement.
In response, an Amazon spokesperson said: “We made a total tax contribution of £2.77 billion during 2021 – £648m in direct taxes and £2.13bn in indirect taxes. Based on analysis from PwC, Amazon ranks in the top 15 largest private sector taxpayers in the UK for taxes borne and collected, as well as for overall total tax contribution.”
While speaking to the BBC, Baldock also confirmed reports in The Telegraph that Currys has temporarily dropped Royal Mail as its delivery provider “for now” to avoid strike-related disruption.
However, it is thought that other retailers are set to follow suit amid a string of strikes throughout the peak period.
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