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What is the windfall tax on oil and gas companies? What is the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and how much do they pay?
(3 months later)
Critics want the windfall tax on oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea to be extended after BP and Shell reported record profits for 2022. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for changes to the windfall tax on oil and gas companies after they announced another set of big profits.
The Energy Profits Levy was introduced in May 2022.The Energy Profits Levy was introduced in May 2022.
What is a windfall tax?What is a windfall tax?
A windfall tax is an extra levy imposed by a government on a company. A windfall tax is a levy imposed by a government on companies that have benefited from something they were not responsible for - in other words, a windfall.
It targets firms which benefit from something they were not responsible for - in other words, a windfall. Energy firm profits have soared in recent years, initially due to rising demand after Covid restrictions were lifted, and then because Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised energy prices.
Energy firm profits have soared recently, initially due to rising demand after Covid restrictions were lifted, and then because Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised energy prices. The levy applies to profits made from extracting UK oil and gas, but not from other activities, such as refining oil and selling petrol and diesel on forecourts.
How high could my energy bills go?How high could my energy bills go?
How much money have energy firms been making?How much money have energy firms been making?
Shell reported profits of $39.9bn (£32.2bn) in 2022, the highest in its 115-year history. BP reported profits of $5bn (£4bn) for the first three months of 2023, down from $6.2bn in the same period last year. For the whole of 2022 it made $27.2bn (£21.8bn).
BP made profits of $27.7bn (£23bn) in the same year, up from $12.8bn in 2021. Shell reported profits of $39.9bn (£32.2bn) in 2022, the highest in its 115-year history. It will release results for the first quarter of 2023 on Thursday 4 May.
BP said that its UK businesses account for less than 10% of its global profits, while Shell makes about 5% of its revenue in the UK. BP says its UK businesses account for less than 10% of its global profits, while Shell makes about 5% of its revenue in the UK.
Both firms argue they have also lost a lot of money as a result of stopping investments in Russian oil firms. Both firms argue they lost a lot of money after stopping investments in Russian oil firms.
British Gas owner Centrica reported full year profits of £3.3bn for 2022, more than triple the £948m it made in 2021. British Gas owner Centrica made £3.3bn for 2022, more than triple the £948m total for 2021.
The majority of the £3.3bn came from its nuclear and oil and gas business, rather than from the British Gas retail energy supply business, which contributed £72m out of the £3.3bn profit. Most came from its nuclear and oil and gas business, rather than the British Gas retail energy supply business, which contributed £72m.
All three firms have increased their dividend payments - the money they give directly to shareholders.All three firms have increased their dividend payments - the money they give directly to shareholders.
They are also spending billions (£300m in Centrica's case) buying back their own shares from the market, in order to increase their value.They are also spending billions (£300m in Centrica's case) buying back their own shares from the market, in order to increase their value.
Why are BP and Shell making so much money right now?Why are BP and Shell making so much money right now?
How does the new windfall tax work?How does the new windfall tax work?
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced the 25% Energy Profits Levy when chancellor.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced the 25% Energy Profits Levy when chancellor.
In the 2022 Autumn Statement, the current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced it would increase to 35% from January 2023, and run until March 2028. It was previously due to finish at the end of 2025. In the 2022 Autumn Statement, the current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the levy would increase to 35% from January 2023, and run until March 2028. It was previously due to finish in 2025.
The levy applies to profits made from extracting UK oil and gas, but not from other activities - such as refining oil and selling petrol and diesel on forecourts.
Labour criticised the scheme because it also lets firms claim tax savings worth 91p of every £1 invested in fossil fuel extraction in the UK. That allowance continues.
Mr Hunt said the tax would raise £40bn over six years.Mr Hunt said the tax would raise £40bn over six years.
The government also introduced a temporary 45% levy on what it calls "extraordinary returns" from low-carbon electricity generators in the UK.The government also introduced a temporary 45% levy on what it calls "extraordinary returns" from low-carbon electricity generators in the UK.
Larger operators started paying the Electricity Generator Levy on 1 January. The government hopes it will raise about £14bn over six years.Larger operators started paying the Electricity Generator Levy on 1 January. The government hopes it will raise about £14bn over six years.
How much are companies paying under the levy?How much are companies paying under the levy?
Shell initially said it did not expect to pay any windfall tax for 2022, as its North Sea investments meant was not considered to have made any UK profits. In the first three months of 2023, BP paid $650m (£521m) of tax in the UK - with about $300m (£241m) due to the EPL. It says it has now paid an extra $1bn (£800m) in tax since the EPL was introduced.
Shell initially said it did not expect to pay any windfall tax for 2022, as its North Sea investments meant it was not considered to have made any UK profits.
But on 2 February it announced that it would pay $134m (£108m) for 2022, and expected to pay more than $500m (£400m) for 2023.But on 2 February it announced that it would pay $134m (£108m) for 2022, and expected to pay more than $500m (£400m) for 2023.
BP said it would pay $700m (£583m) in windfall tax for 2022. Centrica said it was paying about £1bn in tax from its £3.3bn 2022 profits, which includes about £54m under the levy.
Centrica said it was paying about £1bn in tax from its £3.3bn 2022 profits, which includes about £54m under the Energy Profits Levy.
How much tax do oil companies usually pay?How much tax do oil companies usually pay?
Oil and gas firms operating in the North Sea are taxed differently.Oil and gas firms operating in the North Sea are taxed differently.
They pay 30% corporation tax on their profits and a supplementary 10% rate on top of that. Other firms currently pay corporation tax at 19%. They pay 30% corporation tax on their profits and a supplementary 10% rate on top of that. Other firms with profits over £250,000 a year currently pay 25% corporation tax.
But oil and gas firms have been able to reduce the amount of tax they pay by factoring in losses or spending on things like decommissioning North Sea oil platforms.But oil and gas firms have been able to reduce the amount of tax they pay by factoring in losses or spending on things like decommissioning North Sea oil platforms.
In recent years, such methods have meant that BP and Shell have paid almost no tax in the UK. In recent years, such methods have meant that BP and Shell have paid almost no UK tax.
BP and Shell both received more money back from the UK government than they paid every year from 2015 to 2020 (except 2017, when Shell paid more than it received). Both firms received more money back from the UK government than they paid every year from 2015 to 2020 (except Shell in 2017).
Shell also paid a negative amount of tax in 2021, taking its 2015 to 2021 total to -£685m of tax in the UK. Shell also paid a negative amount of tax in 2021, taking its 2015 to 2021 UK tax total to -£685m.
BP paid more money in tax than it received back in 2021, taking its total between 2015 and 2021 to -£107m. BP paid more money in tax than it received back in 2021, taking its total for the same period to -£107m.
Will the windfall tax affect investment in oil and gas?Will the windfall tax affect investment in oil and gas?
In March 2022, Shell said that it planned to spend between £20bn and £25bn on UK energy over the next decade. In March 2022, Shell said it would spend between £20bn and £25bn on UK energy over the next decade.
But in November, UK boss David Bunch told the CBI conference that the company would now "have to evaluate each project on a case-by-case basis", because the windfall tax meant it had "less to invest". But in November, UK boss David Bunch said the company would "have to evaluate each project on a case-by-case basis", because the windfall tax meant it had "less to invest".
BP plans to spend a maximum of £18bn on the UK's energy system by the end of 2030. BP plans to spend up to £18bn on the UK's energy system by 2030.
In May 2022, BP chief executive Bernard Looney told the Times newspaper that all of the company's planned UK investments would carry on regardless of any windfall tax. In May 2022, chief executive Bernard Looney said all planned UK investments would continue.
In July, UK boss Louise Kingham told a committee of MPs that the company had initially been concerned about the windfall tax being a "multi-year proposal", but that the December 2025 deadline had been "helpful". But in December 2022, French oil company TotalEnergies said it would cut its planned 2023 North Sea investment by a quarter - £100m - because of the extension to the windfall tax.
BP has not commented publicly since the 2028 extension was announced.
In December 2022, French oil company TotalEnergies said it would cut its planned 2023 investment in the North Sea by a quarter - or £100m - as a result of the extension to the windfall tax.
It wants the government to review the levy if oil and gas prices fall below a certain level before 2028.
What's happening in the EU?
The European Union (EU) has also imposed a windfall tax on energy companies, with a 33% levy on fossil fuel firms' profits, and another on the revenues made from rising electricity costs.
EU ministers estimate that they can raise €140bn (£123bn) from the levies.
The US energy company ExxonMobil is suing the EU to try to stop them.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
TaxTax
ShellShell
Energy industryEnergy industry
North Sea oil and gasNorth Sea oil and gas
Cost of livingCost of living
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