Google boss defends UK tax bill

Google paid only £3.4 million ($5.4 million, 4.2 million euros) in British tax in 2011 on revenues of about £2.5 billion
A top Google executive on Monday insisted that the company's "key" role in developing Britain's electronic commerce sector should be taken into account in the row over its controversial tax arrangements.

A top Google executive on Monday insisted that the company's "key" role in developing Britain's electronic commerce sector should be taken into account in the row over its controversial tax arrangements.

According to figures cited by Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, Google paid only £3.4 million ($5.4 million, 4.2 million euros) in British corporation tax in 2011 on revenues totalling about £2.5 billion, sparking fury in austerity-hit Britain.

But Google's executive chairman told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme the company had not acted illegally and had contributed significantly to Britain's .

Defending the company's tax bill, he said: "Of course that omits the fact that we also hire more than 2,000 employees and are investing heavily in Britain.

"We empower literally billions of pounds of start-ups through our and so forth. And we're a key part of the electronic commerce expansion of Britain which is driving a lot of economic growth for the country," he added.

Schmidt urged critics to consider the "totality" of the 's contribution to the economy.

"The fact of the matter is these are the way taxes are done globally," he added.

"I think the most important thing to say about our taxes is that we fully comply with the law."

Google has come under closer scrutiny in several European nations where cash-strapped governments are increasingly wary of being shortchanged on tax revenue.

British lawmakers last year accused the company of being "immoral" during a committee grilling of Matt Brittin, chief executive of UK.

(c) 2013 AFP

Citation: Google boss defends UK tax bill (2013, April 22) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2013-04-google-boss-defends-uk-tax.html
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