Plastics packaging tax ignored?

The government’s new plastics packaging tax may be being largely ignored by firms, it seems.

The Times reports that only one in 20, or 5%, of 20,000 firms that HMRC believes will be subject to the tax have registered.  The figure was revealed after a Freedom of Information request to HMRC from legal firm Pinsent Masons.

Pinsent Masons commented that HMRC was unlikely to impose heavy penalties for non-compliance at first but that will not stop it investigating non-payment, recovering taxes and imposing penalties.

The plastics packaging tax came into force in April.  It is due form firms that manufactured or imported plastic packaging components which contain less than 30% recycled plastic.  The tax has been criticised for being complexity and a lack of clarity.

Links: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-to-register-for-plastic-packaging-tax#:~:text=Packaging should only contain recycled,of £200 per tonne.

(Behind paywall): https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nasty-surprise-awaits-firms-ignoring-plastic-tax-ln75qc7rx#:~:text=Fewer than one in twenty,by fines for non-payment.