Alliance Boots insists its tax arrangements are within law
HEALTHCARE giant Alliance Boots today said that an attack on its tax arrangements is “extraordinary and disappointing”, insisting it complies fully and openly with local tax laws.
A group of trade unions and anti-poverty charity War on Want have today issued a report claiming that Alliance Boots has avoided at least £1.1bn of tax since going private six years ago.
The report accuses the company of saving money through legal means, such as setting off interest payments against tax bills.
Alliance Boots was a member of the FTSE 100 before being bought in a massive private equity deal back in 2007, leaving it saddled with heavy debts.
Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary, directly linked the claims to the firm’s involvement in private healthcare, saying it is “taking work from our NHS”.
Meanwhile, last night The Times claimed Unite has itself been handed a £2.3m unpaid tax bill after HMRC decided the union had calculated its VAT contributions in a “grossly unfair and unreasonable” manner.