Sam Al-Hamdani

Local councils across the UK have made it clear: these tough times are no obstacle to doing the right thing on tax. Three more – the City of Lincoln Council, the City of Edinburgh Council and Trafford Council – have made significant commitments in support of responsible tax conduct, joining the six already signed up. Lincoln and Trafford have both approved our Councils for Fair Tax Declaration, committing them to lead by example on their own tax conduct, demand greater transparency from suppliers, and, call for more meaningful powers to tackle tax avoidance amongst suppliers. In Trafford, the motion passed…

MJ Gleeson plc, the low-cost housebuilder and strategic land specialist, announces is the first housebuilder to be accredited with the Fair Tax Mark. The FTSE-listed housebuilder which is known for making home ownership affordable to those on low incomes has met the Fair Tax Mark’s tough criteria and demonstrates its commitment to responsible tax conduct and transparency. As part of the accreditation process, Gleeson Homes, and its parent company MJ Gleeson plc, revised their Tax Strategy – which now explicitly shuns both tax haven abuse and tax avoidance. The Annual Report and Accounts now provides extra detail on tax relief…

Epworth Investment Management, which has in excess of £1.2bn of assets under management, has today (Monday, 21stSeptember) secured its first Fair Tax Mark certification, and joins the growing movement of responsible businesses who ‘say what they pay with pride’. Epworth Investment Management is an investment manager dedicated to serving the needs of Churches and Charities. They are stewards of their investors’ money and carefully select investments using Christian ethical criteria. Epworth is wholly owned by the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which was founded in 1960. The Fair Tax Mark an independent certification, which recognises organisations that demonstrate…

The UK Government recently announced its intention to create up to 10 ‘freeports’ across the country. These are essentially special economic zones, and characteristically offer looser customs rules with the aim of attracting investment, but are also known to provide resident businesses with a wider set of preferential treatments including tax reliefs. Freeports are an issue we are concerned about due to the likelihood that they will exacerbate tax avoidance and evasion in the UK, encourage a global race to the bottom on corporation tax, create unfair advantages to a select group of businesses, and, attract illicit actors, such as…

The internationalisation of the Fair Tax Mark moved a step closer with the release of proposals that would form the basis of the Fair Tax certification of businesses that have their ultimate holding company situated outside of the UK. Responding to the needs and demands of civil society, regulators, investors and municipalities around the world, the Fair Tax Mark intends to expand and offer certification across the world – not least to counter the low-bar programmes of unscrupulous accounting and auditing entities. The move follows a number of Fair Tax Mark certification enquiries from businesses around the globe – all…

More Brits call for greater accountability for businesses on tax avoidance and social responsibility New research reveals Govt bailouts have prompted growing consumer unease towards companies who avoid or do not publish tax contributions A new ‘Lockdown mindset’ emerge as more Brits now expect employers to do their bit for local economies and public services Significant shift in consumer behaviour towards ethical spending as Brits shop by their values The public are using lockdown to take decisive action against tax avoidance practices, as record numbers of Brits would rather shop with (79%[1]) or work for (82%[2]) a business that can…

  Southern Co-op is the first business headquartered in Hampshire to secure Fair Tax Mark certification, and the 14th co-operative in the UK Southern Co-op has secured its first Fair Tax Mark certification, and joins the growing movement of progressive businesses who are proud to say what they pay with pride. Southern Co-op was established in Portsmouth, Hampshire over 145 years ago. It is an independent, regional co-operative owned by its more than 140,000 members. Southern Co-op operates across 11 counties in the south of England, with a network of over 200 convenience stores including a successful franchise arm. Southern Co-op…

– Company reinforces its commitment to responsible tax conduct Severn Trent has today secured its first Fair Tax Mark certification, and joins the growing movement of progressive businesses who are proud to say what they pay with pride. Severn Trent is one of the UK’s largest water companies, providing water and sewerage services to more than 4.3 million homes and businesses in the Midlands. It becomes the third FTSE 100 listed organisation (alongside SSE and United Utilities) to have achieved Fair Tax Mark certification, and the seventh FTSE listed business. In preparing for the Fair Tax Mark, Severn Trent enhanced its…