OREANDA-NEWS. Reuters agency reports, citing sources, that Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom is discussing with banks the possibility of increasing taxes on the country’s richest citizens.

Negotiations are ongoing in order to decide how to replenish the state budget that suffered during the coronavirus pandemic. Measures for support of the population and spending associated with COVID-19 will cost 133 billion pounds sterling, the agency informs.

According to journalists’ interlocutors, the Treasury admits the attraction of wealthy Britons to liquidate the budget deficit. Economists interviewed by Reuters consider that the government may increase the savings tax, capital gains tax, value added tax, or property tax.

In the UK, 293 thousand cases of coronavirus infection have been diagnosed. 41.4 thousand patients died. The higher mortality is registered only in the USA.