{"id":3043,"date":"2016-09-06T12:11:46","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.huddlestontaxcpas.com\/?p=1622"},"modified":"2016-09-06T12:11:46","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:11:46","slug":"the-basics-of-the-google-tax-quandary-in-the-u-k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huddlestontaxcpas.com\/blog\/the-basics-of-the-google-tax-quandary-in-the-u-k\/","title":{"rendered":"The Basics of the Google Tax Quandary in the U.K."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Google<\/a>
Google Logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With total earnings<\/a> of approximately $74.5 billion for 2015, Google is truly a multinational corporate juggernaut. International sales constitute a substantial portion of Google\u2019s overall revenue source. Presently, sales in the United Kingdom make up about a tenth of Google\u2019s entire income. In recent years, a controversy has developed over Google\u2019s supposed attempts to divert profits in an effort to avoid paying the typical corporate tax rate for U.K. sales. The standard corporate tax rate in the United Kingdom is 20 percent. By way of a host of creative strategies, Google has historically paid nothing close to this rate. Two recent developments — a settlement regarding Google\u2019s back tax debt and a law passed by the British parliament — have helped create a measure of progress, but the matter remains far from fully resolved.<\/p>\n

In the last three years, Google has managed to keep its effective tax rate on foreign (i.e. non-U.S.) profits at 6.6 percent. There appears to be some uncertainty<\/a> over the exact rate paid by Google in the United Kingdom: some allege the rate is as low as 2.5 percent, although Matt Brittin, Google\u2019s president in Europe, states that the rate is much higher.<\/p>\n

Back Tax Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n

In January of 2015, a settlement<\/a> was reached regarding Google\u2019s past tax liability stretching back to 2005. Google agreed to a sum of $130 million (approximately \u00a3190 million). While many cite the deal as a clear triumph for the British government, many others see it as overly gentle on Google. Though the issue of profit shifting still lingers, this settlement brought at least some degree of satisfaction for the U.K.<\/p>\n

Diverted Profits Tax<\/strong><\/p>\n

In its Finance Act of 2015, the British government included a provision called the Diverted Profits Tax — informally referred to as the Google Tax — which attempts to shut down the improper shifting of profits to offshore tax havens. In the past, Google has avoided paying the standard corporate tax rate on most of its U.K. profits due to its practice of shifting these profits to other venues, primarily Bermuda. The Diverted Profits Tax will attempt to halt this practice and implement a 25 percent tax rate on funds being shifted in this fashion.<\/p>\n

There is uncertainty whether Google will comply with the law as Google contends that it already pays its fair share of taxes in the U.K. Only time will reveal precisely how the matter will be settled.<\/p>\n

Image credit: Marcin Wichary<\/a><\/p>\n

Selecting the right type of entity is one of the most important decisions a business owner can make. To learn all about entity selection view this presentation<\/a> by our founder John Huddleston<\/p>\n