UK financial sector makes record tax contribution

Britain's financial services paid a record amount in taxes last year, new figures revealed Tuesday, emphasising the sector's importance as the country prepares to withdraw from the European Union. The sector's total tax contribution reached £71.4 billion (84.7 billion euros, $90.9 billion) in the year to March 31, up 7.4 percent on the previous year, the study by consultancy PwC for the City of London Corporation showed.
The figures represent 11.5 percent of the British government's total tax receipts over the 12-month period and the equivalent of almost a quarter (23.3 percent) of financial services' turnover. The study, which covers the final full year before the June vote for Brexit, was published as the sector lobbies the government to maintain access to the European single market after Britain leaves the EU. The powerful British Bankers Association warned recently that international banks based in Britain were ready to move some of their activities elsewhere starting early next year.