Google Wins Tax Case in France, Avoiding $1.3 Billion Bill
Last August, the European Union ordered Apple to pay $14.5 billion in taxes in Ireland, contending
that its deals with the Irish government had allowed the technology giant to pay virtually nothing on its European business in some years.
By MICAH MAIDENBERG and AURELIEN BREEDENJULY 12, 2017
Google emerged on Wednesday as the victor in its latest legal battle in Europe, after a French
court said the technology behemoth did not have to pay $1.3 billion in back taxes.
Google employs 700 people in France through its subsidiary there,
but the company used a division based in Ireland to sell French customers digital services like its well-known advertising platform AdWords, according to court filings.
European Union officials also brought charges against Android, Google’s mobile operating system, saying the
company had forced cellphone manufacturers to install Google services, like mobile search, on the phones.
The case hinged on whether Google owed various taxes in France, even though it sold services from Ireland