By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
LurkerJ on 02 May 2023
Edit Thread
LurkerJ said:
The Fury said:

I expected it to go through but earlier in the year (or late last) an Activision spokesperson said something that sounded basically like an ultimatum, as in approve it and we'll invest in the UK, don't and we won't.

"The CMA's report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses. We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal.

"The report's conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that - despite all its rhetoric - the UK is clearly closed for business."

Sorry but Activision can bugger off. First, the CMA has nothing to do with the UK governmental policy on business development in the UK, their job isn't that, but Activision maybe should take note that in the recent budget, UK government were increasing tax breaks for games development, to become an attractive country to build technology businesses, in this case specifically games development. At least MS has the decency to seemingly address the concerns and not just cry.

Crying because you didn't get your pay day.

Ikr? Megacoporations concerned for the regular people well-being. How about you close that Puerto Rico subsidiary through which you avoided paying taxes on 40 billion dollars and stop lobbying to defund the IRS and answer to them the way regular people do. Just pay your taxes like we do and then pretend to show concern. 

Activision’s UK division faces HMRC investigation over diverted profits

Story by Matthew Field • 1st of May 2023

Adivision of US gaming giant Activision Blizzard, which last week accused Britain of being “closed for business”, is facing an investigation by the taxman that has already forced it to cough up tens of millions of pounds.

A UK subsidiary of the Call of Duty developer disclosed in its most recent accounts that it had “settled tax liabilities” worth $31m (£25m) with HMRC and was facing further questions over diverted profits and “transfer pricing” arrangements.

Activision’s UK mobile gaming company paid £25m in settlements in 2020, while discussions over further tax matters dating from 2016 to 2020 were ongoing as of the signing of its accounts in September last year. 

The business reported profits of $469m in the year ending December 2021, paying $11.7m in total taxes.

According to Blizzard’s US filings, the company is engaged in a “collaborative multilateral process with tax authorities” in the UK and Sweden over its King division.

In February this year, HMRC disclosed it was “currently carrying out around 100 reviews into multinationals with arrangements to divert profits… the total amount of tax under consideration in these cases was £2.4bn at the end of March 2022”.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/activisions-uk-division-faces-hmrc-investigation-over-diverted-profits/ar-AA1aAE8q

Oh the so very concerned about the consumers. A shame the hilarity of MS/ABK statements is not being challenged, named or shamed as they should be.