Being a responsible taxpayer


SSE remains the only FTSE 100 company with the Fair Tax Mark – an independent accreditation for businesses that proactively demonstrate they pay the right tax, in the right place at the right time. Since 2014, SSE has worked closely with the Fair Tax Mark to improve the quality and quantity of the information is discloses about its tax liabilities and policies.


SSE seeks to take a responsible approach to tax and does not use artificial tax avoidance schemes or tax havens. SSE’s profits are taxed in the locations where it has substance. SSE considers paying tax in the locations where profits arise as the fair and right thing to do.


SSE also aims to be transparent in its tax affairs. In changing its tax reporting to comply with the Fair Tax Mark criteria, SSE is providing information that moves its disclosure well beyond the current requirements of UK company law to ensure that it provides all its stakeholders with the information they need to properly appraise its tax affairs.


‘Fair tax’ is about your attitude not just how much you pay. Why we worked with the Fair Tax Mark


SSE’s starting point on tax is the recognition that, as a provider of an essential service that every member of society depends on, we have a responsibility to contribute to the societies in which we operate. For SSE, gaining the Fair Tax Mark accreditation was the next logical step in helping people see our commitment to being a responsible taxpayer.


SSE has tried to strike the right balance, in providing analysis and commentary as to how the tax charges in our accounts are arrived at, and what factors impact upon them. That detailed analysis, however, only goes part way towards confirming whether the amount of tax payable on our profits seems to be “fair”.


SSE judged that consumers are unlikely to ever be entirely reassured by the claims that companies make themselves – the results from the YouGov survey back this up. They want an independent third party to provide this reassurance. This is why SSE sought to work with the Fair Tax Mark on our corporation tax practises and reporting.


The Fair Tax Mark accreditation has certainly helped us raise our standards and provided the credible third party accreditation we were looking for.


Martin McEwen Head of Tax, SSE


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