Bezos to be challenged on Amazon tax payments

BORIS JOHNSON will challenge Amazon chief Jeff Bezos on his company’s low tax payments in the UK as they meet in New York today.

The Prime Minister will see the billionaire as well as scores of world leaders as he attends the UN General Assembly this week.

The exact reason why the Bezos meeting has been scheduled remains unclear but it is not unusual for leading businessmen to attend world gatherings like the UN General Assembly.

It reflects in part the influence such tech titans have in 21st-century political, economic and diplomatic debates.

The relative low figures Amazon pays in tax in the UK has for years been a bone of contention in Westminster.

Asked if the Prime Minister would raise Amazon’s tax record with Mr Bezos, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “You can expect the Prime Minister to raise this important issue.

“We have been an advocate for an international solution to the tax challenges posed by digitalisation of the economy… we will very much be looking to raising that.”

Mr Johnson’s Government has long championed a new digital tax which would see Amazon and other tech giants pay more tax outside of America.

The changes were adopted by the nations with the biggest economies, though campaigners still want further reforms.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman would not be drawn on whether Mr Johnson would bring up concerns about Amazon’s pay to staff – an issue on which campaigners have tried to shine the spotlight.

One-on-one talks will also be held between Mr Johnson and the leaders of Spain, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Ukraine and Columbia.