Starbucks paid nearly as much corporation tax in 2015 (9.40) as it did in its first 14 years in the UK. In 2012, the Seattle-based company was accused of using artificial corporate structures to shift profits out of the UK and into lower tax jurisdictions. Tax accountant Richard Murphy has called on Starbucks to join the Fair Tax Mark scheme, of which he is a director, a watermark system for companies that pay their share to the exchequer. The company plans to start offering its baristas the “national living wage” from April 2016, including those who are under 25. This is set to start at £7.20 an hour, less than the Living Wage Foundation’s latest recommendation of £8.25 (or ££8.6m in London).
Starbucks paid nearly as much corporation tax in 2015 (£8.6m) as it did in its first 14 years in the UK. In 2012, the Seattle-based company was accused of using artificial corporate structures to shift profits out of the UK and into lower tax jurisdictions. Tax accountant Richard Murphy has called on Starbucks to join the Fair Tax Mark scheme, of which he is a director, a watermark system for companies that pay their share to the exchequer. The company plans to start offering its baristas the “national living wage” from April 2016, including those who are under 25. This is set to start at £7.20 an hour, less than the Living Wage Foundation’s latest recommendation of £8.25 (or £9.40 in London).