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Google tax: European Commission 'willing to probe deal' Google tax: European Commission 'willing to probe deal'
(35 minutes later)
The European Competition Commissioner says she is willing to investigate Google's tax arrangements should someone complain about them.The European Competition Commissioner says she is willing to investigate Google's tax arrangements should someone complain about them.
Her comments come as the SNP's economy spokesman, Stewart Hosie, says it has sent a letter calling for such a probe.Her comments come as the SNP's economy spokesman, Stewart Hosie, says it has sent a letter calling for such a probe.
The development comes as the row over Google's tax affairs in the UK and elsewhere intensifies.The development comes as the row over Google's tax affairs in the UK and elsewhere intensifies.
Meanwhile, Google has written to the Financial Times defending its £130m, saying it complies with the law. Meanwhile, Google has written to the Financial Times defending its £130m deal, saying it complies with the law.
"After a six-year audit we are paying the full amount of tax that HM Revenue and Customs agrees we should pay... Governments make tax law and tax authorities independently enforce the law, and Google complies with the law," Peter Barron, the company's European public affairs chief wrote.
The EU's Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said that, at this stage, she would not be drawn on whether Google's tax settlement with Britain amounted to a so-called sweetheart deal.The EU's Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said that, at this stage, she would not be drawn on whether Google's tax settlement with Britain amounted to a so-called sweetheart deal.
But she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we find that there is something to be concerned about if someone writes to us and says, well, this is maybe not as it should be then we will take a look." But she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we find that there is something to be concerned about if someone writes to us and says, well, this is maybe not as it should be then we will take a look.
New proposals
Yesterday, 31 countries signed an international agreement designed to stop multinational companies using complex tax arrangements to avoid paying corporate tax. The agreement, signed at the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, will mean that those countries all share tax information.
Under its terms, multi-national companies will have to tell the country they operate in what they make in that nation and how much tax they pay. Critics say the deal doesn't go far enough, and that such information should be made public, rather than held confidentially by the tax authorities.
Today the European Commission will reveal proposals to stop tax avoidance by multi-national companies.
"Hopefully, we will end up in a situation where companies pay taxes in the countries where they also make their profits and these new proposals will take us another step down that road," said Ms Verstager.
David Cameron on Wednesday defended the deal UK authorities struck with Google over tax, saying the Conservatives have done more than any other government.David Cameron on Wednesday defended the deal UK authorities struck with Google over tax, saying the Conservatives have done more than any other government.
The PM told the Commons the tax "should have been collected under [the last] Labour government".The PM told the Commons the tax "should have been collected under [the last] Labour government".
Google agreed to pay £130m of tax dating back to 2005 to HMRC, which said it was the "full tax due in law".Google agreed to pay £130m of tax dating back to 2005 to HMRC, which said it was the "full tax due in law".
European MPs have described it as a "very bad deal", and Labour said it amounted to a 3% tax rate.European MPs have described it as a "very bad deal", and Labour said it amounted to a 3% tax rate.