Amazon's UK corporation tax halves while turnover jumps

Amazon's UK corporation tax bill halved last year. Picture: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

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Internet giant Amazon saw steep drop in the amount of UK corporation tax it paid last year while it enjoyed a 54 per cent increase in turnover in the same period.

Accounts filed by Amazon UK Services show the company was billed £15.8 million in 2015, compared with £7.4m in 2016.

In the same period, turnover at Amazon UK Services broke the £1 billion barrier for the first time, climbing from £946m to £1.46bn, while profit before tax fell from £48.5m to £24.2m.

The company’s tax bill has been described by one MP as “peanuts”. Conservative Charlie Elphicke said: “People will say it’s high time Amazon paid their fair share.”

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The company has said it meets all tax obligations in the UK and every other country in which it operates.

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