Reply to: Does the Google case set a precedent for negotiation regarding APN's?

[LandRover]

We have no choice but try and turn it on its head and use it as an attempt to strengthen our position, if at all possible !!

Utterly agree...if Google can get away with paying 3% then why can't the many contractors getting hammered with APNs that are retrospective plead, why are we being treated differently?

Could be good PR if the media take it up.

[regron]

And how does this play out to many who want to negotiate a settlement on fairer terms?

Dirty tax avoidance is how all are perceived who don't pay the equivalent of PAYE.

Will HMRC be petrified of doing any sensible deals? Has Osborne the idiot played a PR blinder to scuttle any reasonable efforts of negotiating tax disputes?

We have no choice but try and turn it on its head and use it as an attempt to strengthen our position, if at all possible !!

[regron]

It's going to be investigated apparently

HMRC and Google bosses set to be investigated by MPs and the EU over 'sweetheart' tax deal - Telegraph

......David Cameron blames Labour for the bill, telling MPs at Prime Minister's Questions: We're talking about tax that should have been collected under a Labour government, raised by a Conservative government.".....

And now they are back in government, they Royally ****** up the chance of making it right !!!!

[DonkeyRhubarb]

And how does this play out to many who want to negotiate a settlement on fairer terms?

Dirty tax avoidance is how all are perceived who don't pay the equivalent of PAYE.

Will HMRC be petrified of doing any sensible deals? Has Osborne the idiot played a PR blinder to scuttle any reasonable efforts of negotiating tax disputes?

That's what happened after the Hartnett deals with Goldman Sachs & Vodafone.

[LandRover]

Google may end up regretting not sticking to their guns that they'd already paid all the tax that was due under international tax law.

In a perverse way, paying 3% tax is perceived as worse than paying no tax at all.

HMRC will probably try and hide behind "taxpayer confidentiality" to avoid close scrutiny.

And how does this play out to many who want to negotiate a settlement on fairer terms?

Dirty tax avoidance is how all are perceived who don't pay the equivalent of PAYE.

Will HMRC be petrified of doing any sensible deals? Has Osborne the idiot played a PR blinder to scuttle any reasonable efforts of negotiating tax disputes?

[DonkeyRhubarb]

Google may end up regretting not sticking to their guns that they'd already paid all the tax that was due under international tax law.

In a perverse way, paying 3% tax is perceived as worse than paying no tax at all.

HMRC will probably try and hide behind "taxpayer confidentiality" to avoid close scrutiny.

[meanttobeworking]

It's going to be investigated apparently

HMRC and Google bosses set to be investigated by MPs and the EU over 'sweetheart' tax deal - Telegraph

[webberg]

FYI:

PM Forced To Defend Google Tax Deal

And called it "fair".

Unbelievable hypocrisy.

[fielder]

FYI:

PM Forced To Defend Google Tax Deal

[centurian]

Unfortunately a tax haven that has to rob citizens to allow multinationals to stay.

There was a programme on BBC2 about the Cayman Islands.

Although they have "no tax", what they mean is "no income/profit tax" - they have huge consumption taxes, which are very regressive as even basic foodstuffs cost many times more what it would cost in London.

[nad76]

[QUOTE=SimonMac;2200991 you evaded tax you just didn't know it at the time![/QUOTE]

Don't think thats quite right is it?

[jamesbrown]

Not legally nor morally.

The Google money is a political bribe to be allowed to stay in the UK and continue to pay tax at less than 2% of profits.

It makes my heart glad though to see Osbourne's cocky declaration of "his triumph" run so quickly to condemnation from all sides, the French being the latest to accuse him of setting up the UK as a tax haven.

Unfortunately a tax haven that has to rob citizens to allow multinationals to stay.

Osborne.

[SimonMac]

No, Google are using legal loopholes that have not been retrospectively changed, you evaded tax you just didn't know it at the time!

[webberg]

Not legally nor morally.

The Google money is a political bribe to be allowed to stay in the UK and continue to pay tax at less than 2% of profits.

It makes my heart glad though to see Osbourne's cocky declaration of "his triumph" run so quickly to condemnation from all sides, the French being the latest to accuse him of setting up the UK as a tax haven.

Unfortunately a tax haven that has to rob citizens to allow multinationals to stay.

[Unix]

This got me thinking that if Google are able to negotiate their payment down from £2billion to £135 Million should these rules not be applied to contractors in exactly the same situation?

Is there a legal case to be made here?

Yes if you can generate hundreds of millions in taxes.