The UK’s digital services tax: what’s changed

As we are all forced into confinement by the coronavirus pandemic the ability of digital businesses to keep us connected entertained and provisioned has seen a sharp spike in their usage. The government’s implementation of its digital services tax (DST) could therefore perhaps be considered fortuitous timing. Commentators in the early part of the year queried whether the government might postpone the DST to see what progress the OECD makes on reaching an international consensus. It did not hold off though and the DST is now to come into force on royal assent of the Finance Bill 2019/20 and with effect from 1 April 2020. Accordingly businesses with online revenues must assess the changes made in the revised legislation...