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ACT parent company Bira responds to Prime Minister's 'Bobbies on the Beat' plan

11 Apr 2025

Bira has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement this week on plans to put 'thousands of Bobbies back on the Beat' with a new neighbourhood policing guarantee.
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ACT parent company Bira warns of 'Atrocious April' as shop price inflation rises

1 Apr 2025

Bira has voiced serious concerns over the latest figures from the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index for March 2025.
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ACT parent company Bira says Spring Statement fails to address high street crisis

26 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said the Chancellor's Spring Statement delivered today has failed to address the "perfect storm" of cost pressures facing independent retailers across the UK,... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira outlines key priorities ahead of Spring Budget

25 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Budget statement.
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Bristol-based cycling charity Life Cycle now offering Cytech training courses

20 Mar 2025

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics, have partnered with Bristol-based charity Life Cycle to offer a range of bicycle mechanic... Read more…

High street 'death knell' – indie retailers, including cycle shops, shutting doors ahead of April tax rises

12 Mar 2025

Towns and cities across Britain are already seeing a wave of closures as independent businesses shut their doors ahead of April’s triple tax burden, including those in the cycling retail... Read more…

Research shows UK businesses hiring more as consumer confidence lifts

5 Mar 2025

New research has revealed a recent uptick in UK consumer confidence, leading to increased hiring by businesses, with the retail sector responding positively to signs of economic resilience.
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Independent cycle shop becomes first retailer to stock new local bike brand

28 Feb 2025

Independent cycling retailer and ACT member Velo Fit has become the first to stock a new brand of bikes focused on combining quality and affordability.
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Bira cautiously welcomes new crime and policing bill to tackle retail crime across high street businesses

26 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has cautiously welcomed Labour's Crime and Policing Bill but is calling for urgent action and immediate funding to address the surge in retail crime affecting independent... Read more…

Bira warns of 'troubled times ahead' despite interest rate cut

7 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that retailers across Britain face troubled times ahead despite today's Bank of England interest rate cut to 4.5%, as the Bank halves its growth forecast for... Read more…

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Bira calls for level playing field as Amazon UK Services pays zero corporation tax again

Posted on in Business News

Bira, the British Independent Retailers Association, has expressed its concern and frustration after it was revealed that Amazon UK Services had, for the second consecutive year, paid zero corporation tax in the UK.

Amazon page

This news has once again raised questions about the fairness of the tax system and the advantage it provides to large international corporations compared to small independent retailers.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said:

“It is disheartening to see yet another large international company, making millions of pounds in revenue, avoiding paying tax in the UK. These companies have access to tax experts and can exploit significant tax credits, which places them in a distinct advantage over the small independent retail sector. This glaring example further strengthens Bira’s resolve to advocate for a fairer tax system, ensuring that the tax burden for UK PLC is distributed more equitably among these large corporations.”

The revelation that Amazon UK Services has avoided paying corporation tax for two consecutive years highlights a growing concern among small independent retailers who face the challenges of high taxes and increasing competition from online giants.

Bira believes that a level playing field is essential for the survival and growth of independent retailers, who contribute significantly to the local economy and provide unique products and services to communities across the UK.

Bira continues to lobby for reforms that address the disparity between the tax obligations of large corporations and those of small independent businesses. The association aims to ensure that the tax system fosters fairness and supports the growth of the UK retail sector as a whole.

“We call on the government to review and reform the tax regulations to create a more balanced playing field for all businesses. It is imperative that we address the issue of tax avoidance by large corporations and strive for a system that encourages fair competition and supports the growth of independent retailers,” added Mr Goodacre.

Bira remains committed to representing the interests of independent retailers across the country and will continue to advocate for changes that promote fairness, sustainability, and a thriving retail landscape.

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