Google insider exposes ‘immoral’ tax scam

[Cincinnatus]

If true, these revelations couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys. They want BIG government, they ought pay for it. This also raises the question that if Google is doing this in Great Britain, ought someone take a look at their US returns?

A FORMER Google executive has blown the whistle on a massive and “immoral” tax avoidance scheme that has “cheated” British taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of pounds over the past decade.

Barney Jones, 34, who worked for the internet search giant between 2002 and 2006, has lifted the lid on an elaborate structure which diverts British profits through Ireland to the Bermuda tax haven.

Although Google’s London sales staff would negotiate and sign contracts with British customers, and cash was paid into a UK bank account, deals were technically booked through its Dublin office to minimise its liabilities here. Jones, a devout Christian and father of four, is ready to hand over a cache of more than 100,000 emails and documents to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), detailing the “concocted scheme”.

He has already provided testimony to the Commons public accounts committee (PAC) which led to the combative questioning of Matt Brittin, a Google vice-president, last week.

“The real victims are ordinary taxpayers in Britain who are being cheated by Google,” said Jones. “They don’t have the means to hire accountants to pretend they make their money in Ireland, Bermuda or the British Virgin Islands. What Google is doing is immoral.” ...

The row revolves around Google’s use of its European headquarters in Dublin to all but eliminate its tax bill in Britain. Between 2006 and 2011, Google notched up revenues of $18bn (£11.9bn) in Britain, according to American stock market filings. However, by booking all UK sales through Ireland, it handed HMRC only about £10m in corporation tax over the period. It is able to record the revenues in Ireland because the UK company is deemed to drum up new business, with sales staff in Dublin executing all deals.

more http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/National/article1261720.ece

[Rapunzel]

I thought we had an article that they didn't pay US taxes because they have a bunch of loopholes they were able to use.