CBI urges firms to be upfront with public on their tax affairs as survey shows consumers avoid businesses which don't
The head of employers body the Confederation of British Industry has called on UK firms to show the public that not only are their tax affairs legal, but also that they are ‘responsible taxpayers’.
CBI director-general John Cridland made the call for companies to be upfront about tax as an Ipsos Mori survey it commissioned revealed that 23 per cent of consumers have avoided a firm within the past year because of its tax affairs.
In 2014, business paid nearly £175billion in tax – 29 per cent of the total take, which was enough to pay for all spending on schools and the NHS, Cridland said, adding: ‘Business has a great story to tell.’
'Be upfront about taxes': CBI director-general John Cridland's call on businesses
The £175billion includes business rates, corporation tax and employer national insurance payments.
But Cridland, who is hosting a debate on ‘responsible tax’ on Tuesday, said: ‘The misconception that businesses don’t pay the right amount of tax will continue unless they can clearly show how they are behaving as responsible taxpayers.
‘The CBI is calling for firms to clearly set out their tax affairs on their websites.’
More than 60 per cent of the public thinks businesses do not pay their fair share of tax and 64 per cent believe firms do not care whether the public thinks they do, while 71 per cent say the Government is not doing enough to prevent corporate tax avoidance.
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