UK public urges firmer government action to ensure business pays fair tax

Many issues have become sucked into the culture wars that now dominate UK politics, but the belief that the UK government should do more to encourage ‘responsible corporate tax conduct’ continues to enjoy strong support right across the political spectrum.

The Fair Tax Foundation have undertaken annual research on the UK public’s attitudes toward corporate tax conduct for a decade now. The latest annual polling is released today within the report, Strong and sustained: a decade of public support for responsible corporate tax conduct in the UK.

This takes place against the backdrop of Fair Tax Week 2026 (21-28 June), an annual awareness-raising week that celebrates the many businesses that embrace corporate responsible tax conduct and the enormous contribution this makes across the world.

The latest polling reveals that:

• Three-quarters of the British public would prefer to ‘work for’ (75%) and ‘shop with’ (74%) a business that can prove it’s paying its fair share of tax
• Support is exceptionally robust for policies that require companies to demonstrate fair tax practices when competing for public contracts (71%) or receiving government bailout money (82%)
• There is strong backing for greater transparency around corporate income and tax reporting, by both large multinationals (74%) and small micro-enterprises (76%).

In addition, more than two-thirds (67%) agree that:

• the UK should ensure big technology companies (such as Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon) pay an additional digital services tax to increase their overall tax contribution in the UK
• 62% agree the UK government should aim to be a world leader in regulating cryptocurrencies and other crypto assets, to help ensure they are not used for tax evasion or tax avoidance.

Support for further action exists across geographies, with a slight tilt towards a higher preference for fair tax from women and a strong tilt for older age groups. Respondents in the AB social class are also more likely to support than those in the DE social class, by a wide margin in many instances.

Paul Monaghan, Chief Executive of the Fair Tax Foundation, said:

“This research shows how much fair tax really matters to the UK, with the vast majority of people showing a strong propensity to ‘shop with’ and ‘work for’ businesses that demonstrate responsible tax conduct. The UK public care about many issues, but ‘tax justice’ is consistently at the top of their concerns when it comes to corporate conduct. They want to see government do much more to ensure that all businesses, both large and small, pay their fair share of tax.

“Politicians have a real mandate for action. There needs to be a step change in tax transparency. The days of large multinationals refusing to disclose what their income, profit and corporate taxes are in the UK need to end. As does the almost complete absence of tax transparency we see from the vast majority of micro-enterprises – which is helping to fuel fraud across the country.

“It’s great to see that Fair Tax Mark certified businesses are leading way, because tax avoidance doesn’t just rob public services of vital revenue, it also undermines the ability of business to compete fairly and reduces national productivity. Fair Tax Mark businesses alone contribute a colossal €4.8bn / £4.1bn annually in corporate income tax worldwide.”

The report was supported by Unity Trust Bank, a specialist bank for social economy organisations and the wider civil society in the UK and the first bank to achieve the Fair Tax Mark.

Penny Hogan, Chief Financial Officer of Unity Trust Bank, said:

“It’s positive to see such strong and widespread public support for responsible corporate tax conduct in this latest report.

“For many businesses, it’s easy to overlook the “G” in ESG, but paying fair tax should be a critical part of corporate governance. Organisations like the Fair Tax Foundation play a vital role in fostering a culture of increased accountability, and this mirrors a clear public appetite for greater financial transparency.

“As a long-standing advocate of fair tax practices, Unity was the first UK bank to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark in 2014, and it has retained this important accreditation for twelve consecutive years. In line with Unity’s mission to help create a better society, we understand the positive contribution that proper tax conduct can make to communities across the UK.

“Today, transparency and integrity in tax matters isn’t just good business – it’s essential for delivering real societal benefit. This new research reiterates the importance of corporation tax in the wider tax system, and why we must continue to advocate for fair and responsible financial conduct.”