Amazon, Facebook and Google hit back at tax on digital companies’ sales, warn of trade wars

Nassim Khadem, ABC News, Tuesday 3rd September, 2019, 03 September 2019
Tech giants Amazon, Facebook and Google are the targets of a suggested tax on sales as the Australian Government discusses an OECD and G20 plan to resolve tax avoidance in the digital economy. Europe are already acting, with the French Senate recently passing a three per cent turnover levy that will apply to companies with more than 25 million euros in French revenue and 750 million euros worldwide. In a hearing called by the US Trade Representative Office, the tech giants argued that the French tax is not just discriminatory but also that it harms global tax reform. Google’s trade policy counsel said, "It's a sharp departure from long-established rules, and uniquely targets a subset of businesses." Amazon also warned that the costs associated with increased tax burdens may be passed onto consumers. The matter is not expected to be resolved until the OECD and G20 release the plan in 2020.

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