HMRC and Google (Settlement) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

HMRC and Google (Settlement)

Matt Warman Excerpts
Monday 25th January 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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First, on customer service, the hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. Taxpayers are understandably exasperated when customer service is not good enough, although I am pleased to say that at the moment the service is performing better than in any January in recent years. I stress to the hon. Gentleman and the House as a whole that it is very important that we have one tax system and fairness applied to every taxpayer. We must also recognise, however, in relation to some of the accusations, that some of the calculations that are used do not reflect the reality for particular companies. It is absolutely right that HMRC pursues all companies, even over many years, to make sure that the right amount of tax is paid.

Matt Warman Portrait Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)
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As a journalist, I had the dubious privilege for a couple of years of breaking the story of how much tax Google had paid. With that in mind, I had to look at the international arrangements that Google also makes. Is the Minister aware of any country outside of America—other than Britain—that has a deal with Google that is as good as this one?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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Not as yet, but we wait to see future developments.