Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

U.K. To Impose "Temporary, Targeted" 25% Windfall Tax on Oil & Gas Profits

Published 26/05/2022, 12:58
Updated 26/05/2022, 12:58
© Reuters

© Reuters

By Geoffrey Smith 

Investing.com -- The U.K. government is to impose a "temporary and targeted" windfall tax of 25% on the profits of oil and gas companies, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said on Thursday.

Sunak said the tax scheme would raise over £5 billion in revenue. The money will go in part to funding a broader package of income subsidies for lower-income families, aimed at relieving a growing cost-of-living crisis. 

Setting out his proposals in the House of Commons, Sunak said the government will send a one-time £650 ($820) cost of living payment directly to around 8 million of the lowest-income households in the U.K. He also laid out plans for further handouts to pensioners and disabled people in the autumn, when regulated household energy prices are expected to show another steep increase. In addition, the government is doubling a £200 rebate promised to all households irrespective of income level.

"Millions of the most vulnerable households in the country will in total receive £1,200 of support - roughly the same as the entire energy bills increase," Sunak said. 

The pound hit its highest in nearly three weeks on the news, rising 0.3% to $1.2605.

The shares of the two biggest U.K.-based oil and gas producers, BP (LON:BP) and Shell (LON:SHEL), shrugged off the news. BP stock rose 0.4% to its highest since February 2020, while Shell stock hit a three-year high with a gain of 0.6%.

Sunak's announcement, which had been largely anticipated, is a much-needed diversion of the news agenda from a damaging scandal around illegal partying during lockdown by senior government figures including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The news comes a day after the publication of a damning report into the parties, which repeatedly violated the government's own rules on social gatherings. The report was accompanied by pictures of Johnson standing at tables well stacked with food and alcohol, and included testimony of repeated drunkenness at 10 Downing St. 

The report's author, a senior civil servant named Sue Gray, said the Prime Minister and Head of the Civil Service must take responsibility. Boris Johnson countered that the report exonerated him of lying to parliament about the parties, and said he wouldn't resign. A number of Conservative lawmakers have published letters withdrawing their support for him since.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.