Meta, Apple, Netflix, and three other major tech companies have been accused of evading $278 billion in taxes over the past decade.

Amazon, Meta,Alphabet, Netflix, Apple, and Microsoft have been accused of engaging in large-scale tax avoidance, according to a new report by the UK-based nonprofit Fair Tax Foundation (FTF). The report alleges that the so-called “Silicon Six”—a group of major tech companies—avoided nearly $278 billion in U.S. corporate income taxes over the past decade.

Released today, the analysis claims these companies paid an average corporate tax rate of just 18.8%, significantly lower than the U.S. average of 29.7% for similarly profitable firms. When excluding one-time repatriation tax payments related to past tax avoidance, the report says the effective tax rate drops even further to 16.1%.

Between 2014 and 2023, the Silicon Six reportedly earned $11 trillion in revenue and $2.5 trillion in profits. Despite these enormous figures, the FTF argues that tax avoidance is built into their corporate frameworks, with strategies including profit-shifting to low-tax jurisdictions and taking advantage of tax provisions like the U.S. foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction.

The report also contends that these companies overstated their tax contributions by $82 billion over the decade by factoring in potential tax liabilities they did not expect to pay.

Paul Monaghan, chief executive of the Fair Tax Foundation (FTF), criticized the tech giants for what he described as “aggressive tax practices” and emphasized their vast political influence.

“The Silicon Six’s corporate tax payments, as a percentage of their profits, are significantly lower than those made by industries like banking and energy in many parts of the world,” Monaghan said.

He also pointed to the companies’ extensive lobbying efforts, noting they spend millions each year to influence tax policy in their favor. The report’s release comes amid growing scrutiny of Big Tech’s power, highlighted by the recent attendance of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.

Among the six companies, Netflix posted the lowest effective tax rate over the decade at 14.7%, followed by Meta at 15.4%. Apple paid 18.4%, Amazon 19.6%, Alphabet 20.1%, and Microsoft 20.4%. The FTF specifically called out Amazon for having the “worst tax conduct,” citing its practice of routing a large share of its U.K. income through low-tax Luxembourg. The report notes that such profit-shifting strategies are widespread across the group, helping them reduce their global tax bills.

Amazon strongly disputed the FTF’s findings. A company spokesperson emphasised that Amazon complies with all tax laws and invests heavily in job creation and infrastructure.

“Since 2010, we have invested more than $1.2 trillion in the U.S. and over €250 billion in Europe,” the spokesperson said. “Coupled with low margins, this investment will naturally result in a lower cash tax rate.”

They added that Amazon’s U.K. revenues, expenses, profits, and taxes are fully reported to HM Revenue and Customs.

Meta and Netflix also defended their practices. A Meta spokesperson stated, “We follow international and local tax rules, ensuring that we pay all taxes required in each of the countries where we operate.”

Similarly, Netflix said it “complies with the relevant tax rules and regulations in every country in which we operate”.

Microsoft, Alphabet, and Apple did not respond to requests for comment by the FTF.

The report has sparked broader debate about corporate tax fairness, particularly as governments grapple with budget deficits and public demand for equitable tax systems.

The FTF’s conclusions echo longstanding concerns about Big Tech’s tax strategies. A 2021 study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, for example, revealed that numerous U.S. corporations paid effective tax rates significantly below the statutory 21% federal corporate rate, largely due to legal loopholes and cross-border tax planning.

In response to such practices, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has advocated for international tax reform, including a 15% global minimum corporate tax for large multinational companies, which is expected to be implemented in many countries by 2025.

Still, proponents of the so-called Silicon Six maintain that these companies operate within the bounds of the law and that their tax behavior reflects the realities of conducting business globally. Tax analysts highlight that U.S. incentives—such as the Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII) deduction—aim to boost domestic economic activity, while low-tax nations actively vie for corporate income by offering favorable tax regimes.

“These companies are operating within the legal frameworks established by governments,” said Jane Ellis, a tax policy analyst at the Centre for Global Tax Studies. “If lawmakers want to see greater tax contributions, the system itself needs to be reformed,” she added.

The FTF report also casts a spotlight on the potential influence the Silicon Six wield over U.S. trade and tax policy. It further hints that tax breaks for major tech firms may have been part of broader discussions aimed at reducing tariffs on U.K. exports to the U.S., underscoring the companies’ significant economic leverage.