Amazon lands £3.2m tax rebate in warehouse space spat

Amazon is set to receive a £3.2 million tax rebate after emerging victorious from a legal row over the size of its warehouse in Gazeley Park, Rugeley, near Staffordshire. 

Cannock Chase Council said the refund, back-dated to the opening of the site in 2011, would ”severely deplete" its funds. Business rates on the facility were revised after Amazon argued its mezzanine floors did not count as floor space. 

Stuart Richards of the union GMB West Midlands, commented: "It looks like Amazon is happy to rely on our vital public services, but then pay as little as possible to actually support them."

An Amazon spokesperson said: "Business rates are part of our broader £18 billion investment in the UK since 2010”. They added that payments contributed to a total tax contribution of £793 million during 2018.”

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