eBay Policies On UK Taxation

[chelshite]

It seems from the latest Accounts filed by eBay in the UK that the Company diverts some income to other countries and only pays £1.1million UK Corporation tax in the UK on sales t5hat they estimate as £1.2billion. 

This suggests that eBay is not a serious and respectful contributor to the UK economy and community and does not 'pay its way'. 

I would like eBay to provide an open honest assessment of its Corporation Tax policies in the UK ( and also an explanation of the VAT position) in order to convince people like me whether they should continue to be members of and transact through eBay.

Personally I refuse to use Amazon for reasons of their approach. Should I do the same for eBay?

[*vyolla*]

Do what you like, but I personally can't see how you closing your account will make of bit of difference.

I don't know what kind of answer you're looking for, eBay are not functioning outside any law here. UK tax policies are set by HMRC.

[corred]

@chelshite

It is entiely up to you.......eBay UK is actually a part of eBay Europe sarl.......a company registered in the tax haven of Luxembourg.......

I suspect that if you take that approach then you will not be buying much of anything within the UK

Officially eBay are doing nothing wrong & it is down to European governments to standardise tax systems........the Apple/Dublin case being a case in point at the moment !!  I very much doubt that the Apple Sheep will stop flocking to buy the latest Apple fashion accessories simply because they are avoiding tax on a global scale

[023mjc]

Ebay are not answerable to UK laws, and much less to individuals like us. Do you really think ebay will publish their business affairs for you to see.

It's not just ebay - theres amazon, google, starbaucks coffee and a zillion others who don't pay tax here. If you don't want to use any of these companies that's entirely your prerogative.

[cee-dee]

They're all at it:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37600891

[uk2014_daen]

Can I refer you to my last post (click on my avatar). And the possible Conflict of interest of HMRC Cheif Exec: Edward Troup. And the possible reasons why Theresa May reportedly wants to basically burn past records of offshore tax avoidance.

[theelench]

Only the poor pay their full contribution in tax because they can't pay for experts in avoidance to find the loop-holes to wriggle through.

As already said ebay is not doing anything illegal. What is wrong is that if a small business, self-employed person or individual is found to have to have underpaid by a small amount they will be hit with a sledge hammer. The amount owed, automatic fines for non-payment, interest on it as well and no excuses accepted. The likes of ebay with a phalanx of tax lawyers to fight back will be allowed to negotiate a deal.

[uk2014_daen]

Well that's exactly right Quibono. I pay 20% VAT as a small business on lots of things I need to run a business. Yet larger companies who claim the VAT back don't. It is the self employed and micro businesses - it seems to me - who are getting the worse deal of all,and are getting strangled at birth so to speak. IF you consider that these UK micro businesses are often having to compete against the big multi nationals (who finance the Tories btw) in -lets face it  -  most fields of business. It's no wonder they are having to turn to the state for help.  The big multi-nationals have been named & shamed so often now, in the press, for using slave labour produced products(Garments Food Manufacturing ect ect) and yet still the government goes to them for advice. Cameron set up a business advisory team for example, that consisted of Phillip Green (see pension funds deficit) and basically all the tax avoiding charlatans and slave masters this country has ever produced. I can't think of one Cameron business advisor who wasn't mentioned in a slave labour sourced company reports. This uneven playing field then is a race to the bottom for many. Resulting in millions now having to turn to food banks from time to time. While those at the top consolidate their wealth and power by the use of "totalitarian" methods. Control of the market place outlets: Ebay/Amazon,Walmart ect. Control of food production and GM farms. Control of information and mass surviellence,and finance,with Bankers heading the "Public" broadcasting network. And by backroom deals with phone hacking Murdoch companies who monopolize the Press, all the while blaming the poor and foreigners for everything that goes wrong. 

[uk2014_daen]

I don't know if readers would yet been able to read any of the latest Wikileaks #Podesta-emails releases, regarding Hillary Clinton's election advisor. Conspiracy,or what ??  Well one daren't say that word, that is what the establishment (Bankers,Big Corps ect) like to paint you as, if you say the word "conspiracy". Oh another "Conspiracy Theorist" they say. But apparently the US Democrats plan was to allow Trump to succeed. (Pretty much as in the UK with Nigel Farage), encouraging the mainstream media to promote Trump. We know in the UK Farage rise coincided with disproportionate appearances on TV. BBC Question Time was called out on this. The QT studio audience selector this week has been questioned why she was encouraging extreme right wing EDL to attend. The MSM all the while were plastering anti-immigrant front pages for weeks and weeks leading up to the Brexit vote. And notably printing their retractions and mis-reporting apologies somewhere buried near the back pages.  So a concerted effort is going on by the establishment to hide their offshore dealings ?