Tax Strategy
This strategy is published under paragraph 19(2) schedule 19 of FA 2016 and applies to Smurfit Kappa Packaging UK Limited (now Smurfit Westrock UK Limited) and it’s UK subsidiaries. This document outlines the tax strategy for the legacy Smurfit Kappa UK group for the year ended 31st December 2024.
References to ‘UK Taxation’ are to the taxes and duties set out in paragraph 15(1) of the Schedule which include Income Tax, Corporation Tax, PAYE, NIC, VAT, Insurance Premium Tax, and Stamp Duty Land Tax. References to ‘tax’, ‘taxes’ or ‘taxation’ are to UK taxation and to all corresponding worldwide taxes and similar duties in respect of which the Group has legal responsibilities.
OUR GLOBAL BUSINESS
Smurfit Westrock was created in July 2024 as a strategic combination between Smurfit Kappa Group plc (“Smurfit Kappa”), one of the leading integrated corrugated packaging manufacturers in Europe, with a large-scale pan-regional presence in Latin America, and WestRock Company (“WestRock”), one of the leaders in North America in corrugated and consumer packaging solutions and a multinational provider of sustainable fiber-based paper and packaging solutions.
We are a global leader in sustainable, paper-based packaging with extensive scale, quality products and geographic reach and diversity.
OUR UK BUSINESS
This document outlines the tax strategy for the legacy Smurfit Kappa UK group for the year ended 31st December 2024.
Our UK business operations include 2 paper mills in our Paper division, 6 recycling plants in our Recycling division, 30 manufacturing operations and various office locations in our Corrugated division. Our external supplier network is predominantly based in the UK and Europe. Our Global Sourcing Category Management team coordinate the sourcing of each main category within SK, ensuring consistent oversight of our suppliers and their compliance with our expectations. They are assisted by a team of Project Managers for Group tenders and sourcing Cost-Take-Out and Best Practice projects. They work in partnership with all operations and in close cooperation with Country/ Business Sourcing Coordinators.
OUR TAX STRATEGY
Our business activities generate a significant amount and a variety of taxes including corporate income taxes, value added taxes, employment taxes, wealth taxes and other transfer taxes. Smurfit Kappa is committed to complying with tax laws in a fair and responsible manner and to having open and constructive relationships with tax authorities in the countries in which it is present. We understand our responsibility to pay an appropriate amount of taxes and we engage with initiatives to improve and simplify tax regimes to promote greater transparency and certainty.
Smurfit Kappa has a responsibility to our shareholders to be financially efficient and to deliver returns on their investments and this includes managing and maintaining an appropriate tax rate. As part of this strategy we seek to fully use tax incentives and exemptions offered by governments in support of their own employment and economic development objectives.