Title

BUSINESS RATES

Budget 2018: Google and Amazon to be hit by new tax

The chancellor announces a new UK digital services tax aimed at giants such as Google and Amazon

A new UK digital services tax aimed at giants such as Google and Amazon will be narrowly targeted on UK-generated revenues  from April 2020.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in the Budget the established tech giants will bear the burden of the tax, which is expected to raise £400m a year and will only be paid by companies with sales of at least £500m a  year in global revenues.

The chancellor said progress on a new global agreement was the ‘best solution but progress is painfully slow' and the Government would continue to work with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to seek a global solution.

 It was ‘only right that the global giants paid their fair share towards our public services', he added.

BUSINESS RATES

40% of West Surrey revenue budget to be absorbed by servicing debt

By Dan Peters | 11 June 2026

Some 40% of one of the new Surrey unitaries’ net revenue budget will be absorbed by servicing debt, it has emerged.

BUSINESS RATES

Lessons from Swansea: A collaborative approach to addressing poverty stigma

By Amanda Hill-Dixon | 11 June 2026

Amanda Hill-Dixon sets out evidence-informed actions for councils to reduce poverty stigma through universal services, dignified support, inclusive communica...

BUSINESS RATES

How we can sort out social care

By Lee Peart | 08 June 2026

Adult social care leaders gathered at The King’s Fund charity to discuss the prospects for finally addressing the fundamental issues facing the sector ahead ...

BUSINESS RATES

What England can learn from Japan's approach to local government finance

By Naoki Fujiwara | 04 June 2026

Consideration of Japan’s approach to local government funding suggests possibilities for doing things differently in England and opens up space to think abou...