Total tax contribution

February 2008

It is now more important than ever for your company to understand its total tax contribution to the economy and society.

The amount of tax paid by large businesses is coming under increasing scrutiny. Yet they pay considerably more in tax than it might first appear. Clear tax reporting is essential for investors, employees and other stakeholders to understand the economic contributions a company makes through taxes.

A business's tax contribution and its tax strategy should be looked at from the point of view of all the taxes it bears and collects – its total tax contribution.

The third annual Total Tax Contribution survey for the Hundred Group has shown that the total amount of taxes borne and collected by the UK’s largest listed companies is £64.6bn, representing 13.3% of total Government receipts for all taxes.  In 2007, for every £1 of corporation tax borne by survey participants, they paid a further £0.79 in other business taxes.

Having a clear understanding of its total tax contribution can enable a business to make better informed business decisions and demonstrate and communicate its wider social and economic impact and better monitor and manage tax risk.

• What is the total tax contribution framework and what will it tell me?
• What are the benefits?
• Communicating your total tax contribution
• Where can I find out more?