A SMALL band of protesters gathered outside the newly opened Starbucks at Bournemouth’s Triangle to object to the chain’s tax arrangements.
Activist group Anonymous referred to the tax avoidance controversy that came to light last year when it was revealed Starbucks had paid only £8.6million in corporation tax in 14 years of trading despite sales of over £400m in 2011.
In December last year, Starbucks said it would voluntarily pay extra tax in the next two years.
One protester said: “We just want them to pay their tax like everyone else.
A Starbucks spokesman said: “We have listened to our customers and are making a number of changes to ensure we pay corporation tax in the UK. We have made a commitment to pay tax in the UK over and above what we are required to, so that the UK Exchequer will be £10m better off in each of the next two years.”
