VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Social Media: Taxation

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeTreasuryTabled Answered 17 June 2025UIN 58152

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment has she made of the potential merits of increasing the level of taxation on social media firms.

Answered by James Murray

The UK is already levying the Digital Services Tax (DST), a 2 per cent tax to ensure that providers of search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces pay UK tax on digital services that reflects the value they derive from UK users.

The DST is an interim solution to widely held concerns with international corporate tax, and the UK remains committed to remove it once a global solution on the taxation of the digital economy through Pillar 1 of the G20-OECD Inclusive Framework project is in place.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim