Rishi Sunak is considering a new tax on goods sold online amid mounting concern about the collapse of the high street as Britain emerges from the coronavirus crisis.
The chancellor is examining proposals for an online sales tax to provide a “sustainable and meaningful revenue source for the government” and help bricks-and-mortar retailers to compete.
In a call for evidence published last week, the Treasury highlighted concerns that business rates were effectively penalising the high street because online rivals did not need to rent “high-value” properties.
It said that the coronavirus crisis “has had a significant impact on how business is done” and that the government must act to make sure that “the tax system raises sufficient revenue”.
The Treasury is also considering radical plans
