EU mulls probe of UK Google tax deal as Italy investigates (Update)

Google is gearing up for a new round in its European tax fight after the EU said it could investigate its 130 million-pound ($186 million) deal for back taxes in Britain and Italy alleged Google owed it some 300 million euros.

Britain's Scottish National Party had asked Wednesday for an investigation of the tax deal the U.K. government struck with Google, with deputy party leader Stewart Hosie arguing there was a lack of transparency.

"It is my view that an independent verification of this settlement would establish confidence that the settlement is within the boundaries of state aid regulations and is a fair deal for the taxpayers of the United Kingdom," he wrote.

Ricardo Cardoso, spokesman for EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, said that "we will look into it and then decide where to move from there."

Writing in the Financial Times, Google's vice president of communications, Peter Barron, insisted the company paid tax at the standard corporate rate of 20 percent.

"Governments make tax law, the tax authorities independently enforce the law, and Google complies with the law," he wrote.

The anger of lawmakers has been stoked by reports that France and Italy were in talks to squeeze more out of the company.

In Italy, the financial police confirmed reports Thursday that Google was under investigation for allegedly avoiding up to around 300 million euros ($326 million) in taxes. Italian daily La Repubblica reported that the investigation stems from Google activities in Italy from 2008-2013, when Google allegedly declared its fiscal headquarters in Ireland.

Google repeated Barron's line and said it is working with the relevant authorities.

Italy has brought several cases against global technology companies that have headquarters in low-tax nations like Ireland to avoid paying higher taxes in other countries, like Italy. In December, Apple agreed to pay Italy 318 million euros in back taxes covering the same time period now contested against Google.

At the time of Apple's settlement, Google said it was working with Italian tax authorities.

Google Inc. is based in Mountain View, California.

© 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.