Asked by: Lord Ahmed (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any internationally-owned companies operating in the United Kingdom which are paying less tax as compared to British companies.
Answered by Lord Deighton
HMRC does not comment on the tax affairs of specific taxpayers, as the department is bound by strict rules of confidentiality. It follows that HMRC cannot provide comparisons of particular businesses.
The UK corporate tax rules apply equally to multinational enterprises (MNEs) and UK-owned companies. All companies operating in the UK are required to pay tax in accordance with UK tax law, and HMRC employs substantial resources to ensure that all taxpayers comply with those rules. HMRC does not distinguish between MNEs and UK companies when carrying out compliance work.