With the aim of encouraging the use of recycled plastic instead of new plastic within the packaging, the UK introduced its so-called ‘’plastic tax’’ with effect from 1 April 2022. After one year of implementation, the rate will be amended from £200 per tonne to £210.82 per tonne starting from 1 April 2023. Manufacturers, importers, business customers of manufacturers and importers and consumers of plastic packaging in the UK will be under the scope at the applicable rate. However, HMRC set a threshold of 10 tonnes for registering for the tax. Taxpayers manufacturing or importing plastic under the threshold are to be expected from the mandate to mitigate against heavy administrative burdens. On the other hand, companies must develop procedures to quickly comply with tax requirements related to plastic packaging.
