Almost nine out of 10 (89 per cent) British adults say tax avoidance by large companies is morally wrong even if it is legal, according to a ComRes poll for Christian Aid.
The research was released by the charity ahead of the UK Budget, which is expected to include new measures against tax avoidance following further revelations made in the recently released Paradise Papers, which came after similar revelations in the Panama Papers last year.
The survey also found that more than four in five Britons (85 per cent) agree that large companies in the UK can too easily avoid tax.
The public is also concerned about tax avoidance in the world's poorer countries, the poll found. Four out of five British adults (78 per cent) say it is important that large companies pay their fair share of tax in developing countries, and three-quarters (75 per cent) say the next UK government should legislate to discourage UK companies from avoiding tax in these countries.
The poll was conducted on November 15-16 by the research agency ComRes who surveyed 2,051 British adults aged 18 and over. It found just under one in four people (23 per cent) believe political parties have gone far enough in their promises to tackle tax avoidance by large companies.
The Christian Aid UK parliamentary and political adviser, Simon Kirkland, said: 'This poll clearly shows massive public opposition to tax avoidance by large companies, both in the UK and in developing countries.
'Tax havens cost the UK economy billions of pounds in lost revenue each year. They also cost developing countries hundreds of billions of pounds that could instead be used to tackle poverty.
'But government appears to have developed a tin ear to overwhelming public opinion. It appears to be complacent on the issue and has introduced measures that are often too little too late.
'We need proper action now and there is much the government could do. For example, ministers should insist that UK companies publish the taxes they pay and other key indicators, in every country in which they work. They took the power to do this in June 2016, but have done very little to make it a reality.
'In addition, given the scale of tax avoidance linked with the UK's tax havens, the Prime Minister should set a deadline for the UK's Overseas Territories to adopt the same transparency on true company ownership as the UK.
'We also want to see the UK committing to further leadership at the global level to ensure stronger global coordination and action to ensure that the poorest, most vulnerable, countries do not continue to be hit the hardest by tax avoidance.'
