Reports: Facebook to pay more tax in Britain

LONDON — Facebook is to pay millions of dollars more tax in Britain following years of criticism of its contribution, according to media reports Friday.

Profits from some of Facebook's biggest advertisers, including British supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s, will now be taxed in the U.K, rather than sending the sales through the firm’s international headquarters in Ireland, the BBC reported. It said the changes will take effect in April and Facebook will pay its first bigger tax bill in 2017.

Smaller advertising sales made online will continue to be routed through Ireland, the BBC reported.

In 2014, Facebook paid $6,643 in corporation — or business — tax in the U.K, less than the nearly $8,000 in tax that the average British worker paid. Corporation tax in the U.K. is 20% of a firm's profits.

Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a request from USA TODAY for comment.

A spokesperson for the firm told The Independent that the changes are aimed at increasing “transparency” and fall in line with changes made by the government.