Unite Corporate Fair Tax Policy Statement

Unite supports measures aimed at enhancing tax transparency and confirms that this tax policy was effectively complied with for the 2021 year-end. The tax policy applies to all the companies that form part of the Unite Group. We don’t just work within the letter of the laws that apply to our operations, we also work within the spirit of these laws, too, and claim reliefs in the way they were intended.

We’re committed to providing regular information on tax affairs in a clear and straightforward way that enhances our stakeholders’ understanding and provides them with the confidence that we’re paying our fair share of tax. To this end, we provide transparent disclosure of our tax affairs, the amounts and types of taxes we pay, and where we pay it. Unite would never take advantage of the secrecies afforded by tax haven jurisdictions.

The Fair Tax Mark recognises that we’re a company that does the right thing – paying the right amount of corporation tax, in the right place and at the right time. Most importantly, this accreditation shows our partners that we are a responsible business, taking a great deal of pride in being open and transparent in how we do things.

Our pledge

• We will manage our tax affairs responsibly.

• We will not undertake aggressive tax planning or any planning that is not aligned with the economic and commercial activities of our business.

• We will maintain an open, transparent, and collaborative relationship with HMRC and all other international tax authorities.

• We will pay the right amount of tax in accordance with relevant statutes and case law.

• We will pay taxes and make tax returns on a timely basis.

• We will seek to declare profits in the place where their economic substance arises.

• We will not use tax havens for tax avoidance purposes or inappropriately shift profits between tax jurisdictions.

Tax reconciliation

Unite doesn’t have any Uncertain Tax Positions, which means that there is no uncertainty over the acceptability of items in Unite’s tax returns.

In 2021, the Unite Holding SE and its subsidiaries paid €109,000 in corporate income taxes and didn’t opt for tax relief or utilise other instruments to avoid or reduce the effective tax. In each jurisdiction where a profit occurred, the current and legal tax rate has been applied to calculate the appropriate tax charge. Taxes are generally paid by Unite in the subsequent fiscal year or, if applicable, offset with advance payments.

We pay corporation tax on our profits in several European jurisdictions and in accordance with the current rate in each country. Our total effective tax rate this year is 19.9% outside Germany. In Germany we still have losses carried forward.

Low-tax jurisdictions

Unite has limited trading activity in jurisdictions considered to be tax havens (according to their ranking in the Tax Justice Network’s Corporate Tax Haven Index), nevertheless we include a list of all legal entities, in all countries, in our annual report. We don’t enter into artificial arrangements which would divert profits to tax haven jurisdictions. Any presence Unite has in a low-tax jurisdiction is for commercial reasons.

Unite doesn’t operate in any of the jurisdictions deemed to be ‘non-cooperative’ by the European Commission. As a result, there is little activity in low-tax jurisdictions in our Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting data.

Tax compliance at Unite

Unite’s tax strategy is subject to regular review by Unite’s Head of Tax & Audit, Oliver Endert, reporting directly to Executive Board Member Peter Ledermann, who has overall responsibility for this policy and its implementation within the group. Oliver Endert leads the Group Tax team, responsible for setting and implementing the strategy, and reviews the strategy periodically. Any amendments they recommend to the strategy are considered and approved by the board of directors.

The Unite Tax Strategy is published each fiscal year and publicly available on the company website. In addition, Unite has a whistleblowing system in place, through which also tax avoidance and violations of tax legislation can be reported.

Applying the appropriate tax controls across all Unite businesses is a core part of managing growth.

The Group risk management framework and governance arrangements apply with respect to the management of all tax matters, both in the UK and overseas.

Financial, operations, and key risk reporting are part and parcel of monthly reviews, which report upwards from each business unit, and ultimately to the board of directors.

Processes are in place for identifying tax risks and will be reported, where appropriate, to the Group Audit and Risk management.

Unite head office address:

Unite Holding SE
Neumarkt 9
04109 Leipzig, Germany