Fair Tax Mark

The aim of our campaign is to encourage consumers to buy from companies that pay a fairer rate of tax thereby putting pressure on tax avoiders to instigate more socially aware tax policies and more transparent tax reporting.

Fair tax is at the heart of a fair society

The Fair Tax Mark is about businesses demonstrating that they have an open and responsible tax policy.

We want to reward businesses that pay a fair amount of tax and encourage consumers to use those businesses.

Why is it needed?

When it comes to tax businesses have a choice. They can choose to act responsibly or they can choose to minimize their tax bill regardless of the cost to society.

Tax is needed to pay for public services like schools and hospitals and also for infrastructure like roads and sanitation.

When companies pay less tax ordinary people either pay more or public projects get cut.

More than just an accreditation scheme

In the current climate of austerity and slashed public spending, corporate tax abuse continues to make headline news in the UK and around the world. It is an issue that is not going to go away anytime soon.

Whilst pensioners and other vulnerable people brace themselves for a winter of choosing between heating and food, many of our major high street retailers still refuse to make a reasonable contribution to our society, lowering their tax bills and hiding what they are up to in their accounts.

Coupled with this, big business is gaining an unfair advantage over the competition.

With 1 in 4 consumers wanting to boycott tax dodgers, it's time to show them which businesses they can trust and to help them spend their money where it counts.

The Fair Tax Mark aims to offer businesses that know they are good taxpayers - or want to work towards becoming one - the opportunity to proudly display this to their customers.

The companies that have signed up so far:

• SSE is the UK’s broadest-based energy company and the first FTSE100 company to achieve the Fair Tax Mark (UK multinational version).
• GO ahead is a FTSE250 UK company that operates train and bus services under several franchises and brand names.
• Unity Trust Bank is a specialist bank for social economy organisations and the wider civil society in the UK and the first bank to achieve the Fair Tax Mark
• The Midcounties Co-operative is the largest independent co-operative society in the UK, operating a range of businesses in Food, Travel, Pharmacy, Funeral, Childcare, Energy, Post Offices and Flexible Benefits.
• URBAN IT Support is an example of a small firm that has achieved the Fair Tax Mark. They provide easy-to-understand computer, network and mobile device support to homes and businesses.
• The PhoneCoop is an independent consumer co-operative based in Manchester, Chipping Norton and London. It is the only telecoms provider in the UK that is owned and run by its customers and the first to achieve the Fair Tax Mar
• Co-ops UK is a network for thousands of co-operatives that operate across the country. Co-ops UK received their Fair Tax Mark award in September 2015. 
• The Radstock Co-operative Society is a South West-based retailer which is owned and run by its customers. It currently owns 15 different stores including a post office and a dairy farm.
• The Co-operative Group is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, with interests across food, funerals, insurance, electrical and legal services.
• Ecology Building Society offers sustainable mortgages for properties and projects that respect the environment, funded through our range of simple, transparent savings accounts.