Low wages make Manchester Europe’s top tax-attractive city for businesses

Article published: Thursday, September 27th 2012

Multi-billion pound auditing firm KPMG has praised Manchester for being the most tax-attractive city in Europe thanks to its low wages and cheap property values.

The multinational company’s comparison of tax costs in 113 cities in 14 countries around the world saw the city ranking ninth overall, ahead of London in 15^th place.

The top cities were Chennai in India, Vancouver, and Chengdu in China, according to the firm’s special report on tax.

The “Total Tax Index” measures property taxes, corporate income taxes, capital taxes, sales taxes,  and statutory labour costs to calculate a total tax cost which is then compared between different cities and countries.

KPMG’s North West head of tax Christine Hewson told the Business Desk that the dubious honour was down to “very attractive” tax breaks for businesses in the UK, combined with Manchester’s cheaper labour and property markets in comparison to the capital.

“The difference between the two is largely due to Manchester having lower rates for ‘other corporate taxes’ and ‘statutory labour costs’ which are both based on actual business costs that are incurred by businesses in the city”, she said.

Thankfully clarifying that remark she added, “So essentially, a reflection of the relative costs of labour and property values between Manchester and London”.

Economic analysts have identified the city as existing in what the 2009 Manchester Independent Economic Review termed as a “low wage equilibrium”, where companies in the region rely on cheap, “flexible” workforces to protect profits.

Manchester also has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK, at 42 per cent, and more millionaires than any other city in the UK outside of London.

A total of 374 people in the region are worth over £19m including local Bruntwood property magnates the Oglesby family and Peel Holdings owner and tax exile John Whittaker, according to a recent survey by WealthInsight.

 

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Comments

1. I think the phrase “374 people in the region are worth over £19m” is unfortunate, although common English. Is the value of one person higher than another? Some might demur and some might say that the rich are all to often valueless.

   Having had a reassessment of my Jobseekers agreement as I sign back on (for JSA at £0.00 + NI Credits) having had a week’s work (yet too see contract, payment or P45) last week and having decided that the sought income of £15k (half what I was getting as a teacher) was unrealistic, I know the Nat. Min. Wage culture is dominant. As the Advisor said “They pay as little as they can get away with”.

   Pay peanuts, get….. !

   Comment by Steph. Pennells on September 27, 2012 at 3:13 pm

2. We’re not having the Bastard-Exploiters minimum wage and zero-hour contract bullshit any longer .

   Revolution is in the air , and is an inevitable consequence of treating ordinary people with contempt and disdain .

   Build the Guillotines !
   We have work tto do .

   Comment by Dean on May 30, 2014 at 1:23 pm

3. Yes we need REVOLUTION .

   Comment by Anne on June 23, 2014 at 3:22 pm

The comments are closed.