British retailers issue warning over potential online sales tax

Shoppers will pay more if chancellor goes ahead with digital levy in England and Wales, says lobby group

An online sales tax would push up prices for consumers, the British retail industry lobby group has warned, after it emerged that Rishi Sunak is exploring plans for a levy to protect high street shops from mounting competition.

Against a backdrop of rising retail job losses and store closures triggered by the coronavirus crisis, the chancellor is looking at taxing internet shopping for England and Wales as a potential replacement for business rates, the levy on companies based on the premises they occupy.

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