Taxing the digital economy Internet giants face tax-hike It has been confirmed that from April 2020, the government will introduce a new 2% Digital Services Tax (DST) on the revenues of search engines, social media platforms and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users. Would a digital services tax do more bad than good? In the autumn budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond proposed the UK implement a ‘digital services tax’ on sales by technology giants. Would a digital services tax do more bad than good? In the autumn budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond proposed the UK implement a ‘digital services tax’ on sales by technology giants. Would a digital services tax do more bad than good? In the autumn budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond proposed the UK implement a ‘digital services tax’ on sales by technology giants.