Thousands of UK businesses urged to check and register for Plastic Packaging Tax
There is growing concern that there are a significant number of businesses which should be registered for the recently-introduced Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), but have not yet done so.
As many as 20,000 manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging are estimated to be affected by the tax. However only about 3,500 such businesses registered to pay the PPT in the first 11 months of it coming into force.
Andrew Pearson, AIC's Environmental Policy Manager, said: "With numbers registered for the tax significantly lower than expected and the anniversary of its launch approaching, it is thought likely that HMRC’s initial light-touch approach to the enforcement of the tax will diminish in the not-too-distant future."
AIC is urging its Members to review the amount of plastic packaging that they manufacture or import to ensure they are in compliance with the requirements of the tax.
Eligible businesses must register for the tax
If a business manufactures or imports 10 tonnes or more of plastic packaging within a 12-month period, it must register for PPT on the GOV.UK website even if the packaging contains 30% or more recycled plastic.
Businesses must register for PPT if:
- they expect to manufacture or import 10 tonnes or more over the course of the year in the next 30 days (the ‘forward look’ test) or;
- they have manufactured or imported 10 tonnes or more of plastic packaging over the course of the year since 1 April 2022 (the ‘backward look’ test)
Use the eligibility checker on the GOV.UK website to find out if your business should register for the PPT.
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