The British government's Chancellor of the Exchequer addressed parliament on Tuesday 13 March but much of what he said went unnoticed, which included taxing transactions carried out online. People using e-commerce sites for example, eBay, could be taxed on what they trade on the Internet.
Phillip Hammond used his Spring Statement to call on Internet companies operating in the 'gig economy' ensure users pay tax. For example, eBay, 'the world's online marketplace' where users buy and sell new and second hand items could become a revenue stream for HMRC keen on taxing people on what they trade online.
A call for evidence on how online platforms can help users pay right amount of #tax is announced by the Chancellor during the #SpringStatement, will be interesting to see what the impact on the #GigEconomy will be
— Jonathan Berger PwC (@UKEmploymentTax) March 13, 2018
"Some people who earn money from using these platforms may never have earned money without an employer to act as an intermediary between them and HMRC before, and can find it difficult to understand and meet their tax obligations," Phillip Hammond said.
READ MORE: Google Up in Arms Against Cryptocurrencies
Hammond also called for more scrutiny in how Google and Facebook pay tax, suggesting revenues rather than profits should be taxed. To date, the multinational tech giants channel sales through Ireland and Luxembourg to avoid paying what they should in UK taxes.
READ MORE: Tax Them on Sales: UK Chancellor's Interim Measure in Tech Giant Crackdown
Hammond remained upbeat about the British economy, saying it had reached a turning point. However Paul Johnson director of the Institute of Fiscal studies told the BBC that "nothing much" had changed and that the UK growth outlook was "the worst in the G20."
"The reality of the economic and fiscal challenges facing us ought to be at the very top of the news agenda. And I mean the reality, not the spin and bluster of politicians on all sides pretending there are easy solutions."
Full @theifs analysis of #SpringStatement here https://t.co/pfZXI04L7F looking at history since 2008 and future challenges. Two key points::
— Paul Johnson (@PJTheEconomist) March 14, 2018
1) Debt is not falling
2) Increased spending is not compatible with target to eliminate the deficit (absent big tax rises).
Free school meals for children aged seven and above whose parents claim income support will be scrapped.From April 1, the children from the poorest families will no longer be eligible if their parents earn more than £7,400 a year (US$10,300).
On a day of long knives — and devastating ‘news’ on the economy in the #SpringStatement — Tories attempt to ‘bury bad news’ #freeschoolmeals #poverty #SocialJustice #UK
— Amanda Ramsay (@AmandaRamsay) March 13, 2018
READ MORE: Hidden Figures: Despite Falling Unemployment in the UK, Poverty High and Rising
One million of our society's poorest children will now go hungry every single day because the Conservative Party with its DUP chums have just voted through an act that has made it so.
— G H Neale (@GHNeale) March 13, 2018
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY APPALLING #freeschoolmeals pic.twitter.com/h4fYyyUHNg
The Children's Society has said its a "huge step backwards" and means "one million children in poverty who could benefit now won't."
So sorry about this, we tried our best but government voted against us on our motion for free school meals, we will continue to campaign for #freeschoolmeals for the poorest children https://t.co/ANfGyE4Xa8
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) March 13, 2018
McDonnell ripping Tories to shreds:
£700+ billion added to national debt
£18 billion pa real term investment cut
Wages in real term smaller than 2010
Education real term cut
NHS real term cut
1million children losing school meals
Police, Army, firefighters cut#SpringStatement
— Matt Thomas (@Trickyjabs) March 13, 2018
Theresa May weak not stable, stole the food from the children's table! #FreeSchoolMeals pic.twitter.com/nsXi7nFGId
— andyPsearson 🌹 (@andysearson) March 14, 2018The @BBCNews didn't even mention the #SpringStatement #cuts to #FreeSchoolMeals. #ITN did. The @BBC is now more right wing than commercial television. #bbcbias
— Bubblejet (@Bubblejet) March 14, 2018
