“Amazon Tax” more crucial than ever to help small businesses stay afloat, say Scottish Greens
The Scottish Greens are urging the Scottish Government to introduce an “Amazon Tax” to shift the balance of power from online-based businesses.
The tax would ensure large predominantly online-based retail businesses pay more towards the communities and local economies that host them.
Under the bold plans, a surcharge would be added through the Non-Domestic Rates system. This would apply to large online-based operations such as distribution centres, to offset the economic damage caused by falling footfall numbers across high streets in Scotland.
Billionaire companies like Amazon are continuing to expand and make obscene profits, while small independent businesses in towns and cities struggle to survive.
Introducing the “Amazon Tax” would allow smaller Scotland-based businesses to compete on a level playing field with giants like Amazon.
Scottish Green South Scotland MSP Laura Moodie said:
“Huge global online retailers are making obscene profits while Scotland’s small businesses are struggling and our high streets are being hollowed out.
“Scotland should be building a tax system that is fair, progressive, and fit for the future, and one crucial way to do this is to level the playing field by making giants like Amazon pay to offset the damage their online businesses have done to local high streets.
“Companies like Amazon have taken more and more from our communities while giving far too little back and sucking huge amounts of wealth out of Scotland’s communities.
“We need to rebalance this and give small and independent businesses a level playing field with billionaire firms to help rejuvenate our local communities and make our neighbourhoods into thriving and better places to be.
“A simple and effective way to do this is to make companies like Amazon pay for the economic damage they have caused.”
Laura added:
“The Scottish Greens will always stand up for small local businesses that provide vital local jobs and keep wealth in our communities.
“The Scottish Government must stand up to the global giants who are dominating the market without paying their fair share, and a simple way to do this is to introduce the ‘Amazon Tax’."