Commentary

AstraZeneca’s stamp duty loophole risks pushing UK share trading to New York

Politicians want to keep hold of a prized listing, but they might have cost the taxpayer in doing so

The pharma giant is one of London's biggest companies, but a tax trick might have slipped through the net
The pharma giant is one of London's biggest companies, but a tax trick might have slipped through the net Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

David Wighton is a columnist for Financial News

Stamp duty is a mess. And it’s about to get messier. There will soon be so many exemptions to the tax charged on UK share purchases that those who do pay it may feel like mugs.  

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