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GOOGLE IS NOT liable for €1.115 billion in unpaid taxes claimed by the French state, a French court ruled today, saying the internet giant’s Irish subsidiary is not taxable in France.
“The French company Google Ireland Limited (GIL) is not taxable in France for the 2005 to 2010 period,” the court ruled.
Google paid just €6.7 million in corporate taxes in 2015 in France by booking revenues for its online empire at its European subsidiary in Ireland, which has a lower tax rate.
The group employs 700 people in France but advertising contracts for its search engine or video-sharing website YouTube are signed with its Irish subsidiary.
The French claim was the latest in a series against the California-based group, which faces mounting legal problems in the EU.
European action has become increasingly aggressive against US technology giants Amazon, Facebook and Apple as well as Google.
The EU hit Google with a record €2.4 billion fine on 27 June for abusing its dominant position in the search engine business and illegally favouring its own shopping service over rivals.
In 2016, European competition chief Margrethe Vestager shocked Washington and the world by ordering iPhone manufacturer Apple to repay €13 billion in back taxes in Ireland after paying a near-zero rate of tax some years.
Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron promised to get tough on US internet giants during his campaign, seeing their low tax rates as a source of resentment about globalisation and unfair on European companies.
The government’s public accounts ministry said later today that it was weighing an appeal.
“The administration has two months to appeal these rulings and is already working to this end,” it said in a statement.
Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire had said Sunday: “It is time Europe got a grip and defended its interests, making Google, Amazon and Facebook pay the taxes they owe European taxpayers.”
The French claim was significantly higher than the amount Google agreed to pay Italian and British tax authorities over its tax arrangements with its Irish subsidiary.
In May, the group agreed to pay €306 million to Italian authorities. Last year, it struck a deal with Britain to pay £130 million (€170 million) for a decade of business, which was criticised at the time by opposition MPs as being too low.
The French claim was a fraction of the company’s annual profits: In April, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, declared a 29 percent jump in profit to $5.4 billion in the first quarter of 2017.
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Not surprised, he was never becoming a millionaire with that music
If he thinks, they are getting votes for a song? He can go, whistle Dixie!
One of the best mounts on “Celebrity Bainisteoir” was the reaction of the team that Paul Gogarty was sent to. You could almost see the thought bubbles ” Who the F*** is he anyway?”
“Fu!k you Deputy Stagg! Fu!k you! I apologise for my unparliamentary language Ceann Comhairle.”
Gobsh1te of the highest order
Go away Goarty your a bore.
Paul F”ck you, another useless failed Politician,why in Gods name would anyone want to have anything to do with him?
This is the last thing we need happening in Irish politics at the moment.
A trained journalist? He makes most of the writers around here look like Joseph Pulitzer!
A deranged and self absorbed fellow.
He thinks the greens are too concerned with environmental issues? Isn’t that what the greens are for? Dope…..
Is this a joke?
No he’s super serial this time guys
Yes. The truth is he is a teacher on sabbatical looking for an inflated pension and a speech writer to wipe his arse for him.
I for one would like to welcome Mr Gogarty to the free ride that is and shall always be Irish politics.
Every election has these local crackerpots who run just to get attention when everything else they touch turns to dirt! He would be better off and have more success with the singing! Does he honestly expect to get any votes??? It will be Irish people voting and any that vote for green party traitors should be deported!
The Green party should have done the decent thing and disbanded.
No no no no no…..not him again.
All these Green’s in here today hasn’t done my hangover any good.
What’s the point in running a low key campaign? Either you put the effort in, in hope to win a seat or you don’t bother. What a waste
Amadán.
The “Fist Candidate”? Takes all sorts.
Indeed, good sir.
Given that Gogo has in the past made a very poor hand of engagement on sites like this ( worth a Google, might I add), his preference for one to one contact is hardly surprising.
No doubt he thinks we’re all wrong and he’s an unappreciated svengali.
A Trojan Horse?
A horses arse !!
No….the stuff that comes out of a horses arse!
Actually called at my door as few weeks ago, missed him but he put through a small photocopied outlining that he was running for local elections! I did appreciate him telling Stagg to F@@@ You! Looks like the music career didn’t really take off!
A useless one?
Fcuk you mister Gogerty Fcuk you.
What a tosser :-)
This deluded fool again ,wonder will he be dragging his child around the streets with him while canvassing,he is an absolute moron ,why do we have such asses in Irish politics
F**k you deputy Gogarty.
Is this the pr1ck who could not get a baby sitter so he had to bring his child to work,
The only reason he’s going back, is because of the money; nothing more.
What’s a media who*e …????
Paul your music is crap but I would quite happily buy it if I thought it would keep you out of politics for good.
I’s will miss his emotion provoking music ..lol lol always brought tears to my eyes ..lol lol
I used to canvass for him. Really nice guy. I’m not happy with him claiming “People can’t afford to think green at the moment”. That’s just cowardly and defeatist. Thinking Green is never convenient, but it’s cheaper in the long run.
*moments
Don’t call us….we’ll call you
have your say