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France have gotten bored of waiting for the EU to crack down on tech companies dodging national tax laws and have implemented their own idea - 3% tax on sales generated in France, regardless of where the tech companies have based their HQ's to avoid higher tax rates.

Well done to France, hopefully other countries follow their lead.

Just waiting to see what the US does to retaliate, because they don't like this idea

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48947922

France have gotten bored of waiting for the EU to crack down on tech companies dodging national tax laws and have implemented their own idea - 3% tax on sales generated in France, regardless of where the tech companies have based their HQ's to avoid higher tax rates.

Well done to France, hopefully other countries follow their lead.

Just waiting to see what the US does to retaliate, because they don't like this idea

Yes, it might backfire. Undoubtedly the right thing to do but doing this kind of thing with that moron Trump in charge is like poking a stupid, aggressive dog with a stick.

Not a cat in hells chance of Boris doing this.

How would they collect it. Would it be like the sales tax in some U.S. states where the consumer pays?

Claret-On-A-T-Rex wrote:Yes, it might backfire. Undoubtedly the right thing to do but doing this kind of thing with that moron Trump in charge is like poking a stupid, aggressive dog with a stick.

It's not like Trump is a big fan of either Bezos or Zuckerberg... he might do nothing. Countries should be able to tax what they like, if the companies object enough they'll simply stop doing business there or apply extra charges to customers from that country. Besides, maybe they'll use the money to fund that European army Macron is so excited about.

Elbarad wrote:It's not like Trump is a big fan of either Bezos or Zuckerberg... he might do nothing. Countries should be able to tax what they like, if the companies object enough they'll simply stop doing business there or apply extra charges to customers from that country. Besides, maybe they'll use the money to fund that European army Macron is so excited about.

Or even pay their fair share to NATO - whilst waiting for this 'army' to be assembled.

These very wealthy large Multi - National Companies get away with murder tax wise as we all know so I applaud any Country making them pay a lot more then they have and do at present.

And for all those who say that they will go to another Country then call their bluff and or let them go as it's their loss and not ours.

Elbarad wrote:It's not like Trump is a big fan of either Bezos or Zuckerberg... he might do nothing. Countries should be able to tax what they like, if the companies object enough they'll simply stop doing business there or apply extra charges to customers from that country. Besides, maybe they'll use the money to fund that European army Macron is so excited about.

The US is very anti this. If we expect to sign a trade deal with the US one of the conditions would be that we don't introduce such a tax.

aggi wrote:The US is very anti this. If we expect to sign a trade deal with the US one of the conditions would be that we don't introduce such a tax.

Now France have announced theirs, I read an article yesterday that we have plans for our own 2% tax.

The UK is bringing in a version of this tax, as announced in the last budget and confirmed as draft legislation this week.

aggi wrote:The US is very anti this. If we expect to sign a trade deal with the US one of the conditions would be that we don't introduce such a tax.

Several States in the US already have their own internet sales taxes. I was chatting to a friend from Illinois yesterday who said he would have to pay 4% tax to buy something online for his mom and that Amazon automatically add the tax to his purchase at the checkout!

You can almost guarantee it won't be Amazon that pays the tax!

bfcmik wrote:Several States in the US already have their own internet sales taxes. I was chatting to a friend from Illinois yesterday who said he would have to pay 4% tax to buy something online for his mom and that Amazon automatically add the tax to his purchase at the checkout!

You can almost guarantee it won't be Amazon that pays the tax!

That's state tax though isn't it on actual sale of goods.

Google is a search engine and wouldn’t be missed at all, there are plenty out there.
Amazon is online shopping, if they pulled out the gap would soon be filled.
Feck em. This is right. Pay the tax where the profit is generated.

aggi wrote:That's state tax though isn't it on actual sale of goods.

The French tax is exactly the same - adding a 3% sales tax onto every order. Amazon, BooHoo and their ilk will just charge it directly to customers based on their location when purchasing. I wonder if it will on goods purchased elsewhere for delivery to France? In which case I can see lots of orders being placed using VPNs

bfcmik wrote:The French tax is exactly the same - adding a 3% sales tax onto every order. Amazon, BooHoo and their ilk will just charge it directly to customers based on their location when purchasing. I wonder if it will on goods purchased elsewhere for delivery to France? In which case I can see lots of orders being placed using VPNs

I thought the US one was brought in as they were avoiding state taxes (the equivalent of VAT). It's not really an extra tax, it's putting it in line with the bricks and mortar retailers whereas in France it is extra to the tax that is already being paid.

The US tax is based on a recent court decision that has determined that sales made by a retailer based out of state now have to charge sales tax, when previously they did not. This is having a huge impact on online retailers who are having to find several years worth of back taxes to stump up, as the tax is retrospective.

aggi wrote:I thought the US one was brought in as they were avoiding state taxes (the equivalent of VAT). It's not really an extra tax, it's putting it in line with the bricks and mortar retailers whereas in France it is extra to the tax that is already being paid.

It has been brought in to put online sales in line with the French bricks and mortar retailers. The French government's point is that the online retailers were not paying any taxes and that their customers were effectively getting stuff duty free which is anti-competitive.