Thursday, September 21, 2017

"Hi Facebook, Google, we think we might tax your ads instead – lots of love, Europe x"

"Or maybe hold money from online transactions. Either way, we're getting our damn cash"

That's The Register.
Here's more:
More details have emerged on the various plans being considered by European governments to force internet giants like Facebook, Google and Amazon to pay more in taxes, including a levy on internet ads and even withholding money for online transactions.

Following a letter earlier this month from the finance ministers of Europe's largest economies – that argued for a tax on turnover rather than profits – a meeting of all the European Union's 28 finance ministers last week resulted in them agreeing to push the proposal forward, but with additional options.

Next week, those proposals will be formally put to the EU and in a press conference at the European Commission on Thursday, vice president Valdis Dombrovskis launched the "new EU agenda for fair taxation of the digital economy."

"The European Union needs a common and coherent approach when taxing the digital economy," he argued today, adding that the issue is "becoming even more urgent, as a number of EU countries have already introduced unilateral measures."

In a pointed reference to Ireland and the highly favorable tax deal it offers tech companies – which results in them paying tiny amounts of tax in other European countries – Dombrovskis said: "Divergent national approaches can fragment the Single Market and increase tax uncertainty. They can also destabilize the level playing field and open new loopholes for tax abuse and corporate tax avoidance."...MORE