On 16 February 2013 Platform released: Making a Killing: Oil Companies, Tax Avoidance and Subsidies.  This report alleges that some UK based oil companies are benefiting from considerable support from the UK Government including, subsidies and military and diplomatic services, but pay very small amounts of tax in the UK on their profits.  The report says “mega-profits are being made at the expense of the public purse as youth centres shut, hospitals struggle and the queues at food banks grow.”

The report also alleges that some oil companies are exploiting international legal mechanisms to avoid tax internationally including in developing countries such as Uganda and Nigeria.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies criticised to respond to the concerns raised in the report and press release by Platform:

• “Making a Killing: Oil Companies, Tax Avoidance and Subsidies”, Platform press release, 16 Feb 2013
•  “Making a Killing: Oil Companies Tax Avoidance & Subsidies” [PDF], Platform briefing, 16 Feb 2013

Company responses:

BP response[PDF]
Heritage Oil response [PDF]
Shell response [DOC]
Tullow Oil response [DOC]

See also "Tax avoidance - an introduction" by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.