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

Future Forum Midlands: Government's financial plans 'implausible'

By Martin Ford | 10 September 2026

The Government’s financial plans have been described as ‘implausible’ by top economist Paul Johnson at The MJ’s Future Forum Midlands.

BUSINESS RATES

Can Burnham's devolution plan succeed?

By Andrew Percy | 02 September 2026

Andrew Percy says fiscal devolution needs clear service responsibilities, accountability and sustainable funding for councils.

BUSINESS RATES

Turning housing ambition into local government delivery

By Victoria Searle | 02 September 2026

Andy Burnham’s pledges to end rough sleeping and usher in the biggest post-war council housebuilding programme in England places major responsibility on loca...

BUSINESS RATES

28 years later - lessons from Herefordshire's unitary journey

By Cllr Roger Phillips | 19 August 2026

Reflecting on Herefordshire Council’s reorganisation 28 years ago, leader Cllr Jonathan Lester and chairman Cllr Roger Phillips say experience suggests struc...

-->