Google has agreed to pay 306 million Euros in taxes in Italy. The payment marks the end of a bitter legal battle that has been raging between Google and Italian tax authorities for over 10 years. Google had been accused of booking around 1 billion Euros worth of revenues generated in Italy in Ireland, thereby avoiding paying Italian taxes in favour of the much lower tax rates found in Ireland. It has finally paid the amount the Italians had been demanding, thereby putting an end to various criminal investigations that stretch back to 2002. The Italian tax authorities are pleased with the outcome, adding that they: “have also begun the process of drawing up an agreement that will ensure Google pays the correct taxes in Italy in the future”.
