Eric Schmidt: Google Will Continue Investing In UK Even If Taxes Raised 122
DavidGilbert99 writes "Eric Schmidt hasn't changed his stance on Google's tax policies in the UK but has said that even if the tax legislation changes in the UK it will continue to invest in the country because 'we love the UK.' Gushing about its relationship with the UK, Schmidt said: 'Google will invest in the UK no matter what you guys do, because the UK is just too important for us. The citizens are too important for us and in our view we provide too much good.'"
(Beware the auto-playing video advertisements). This after writing an Op-Ed lamenting the complexity of international taxes.
Re:Principles (Score:2, Interesting)
Google has no chance in China, because they're not Chinese.
Either via corruption through access to local govts, or outright protectionism from the national govt, Google will never get a far chance in China. Google has no incentive to keep up the nice, polite coating of public lies required to do business in PRC controlled territory. They just told the world how it really is, what it really is like to do business in China. (Which should be of no surprise to anyone who's had an even passing business relationship in China)
Re:Apple interview (Score:5, Interesting)
Some people have what is called "Enlightened Self Interest". For that reason I do not lie when I say I am fine with paying taxes. I derive direct benefit from them. Not a month after I paid my property tax the county used that money to fix the roads I travel on to my home. I have no trouble paying for the civilization I enjoy.
You are projecting your short sighted greed onto others.
Re:When did CEOs get to dictate tax policy? (Score:3, Interesting)
CEO's don't dictate taxes, politicians dictate taxes. This isn't a new problem, it has always been a problem, its just that now, the governments are going broke from lower tax revenues, and they are squawking for more money.
Corporations do not pay taxes at any level. Raise taxes on a corp, and they raise their prices. That is why countries should get rid of income taxes, corporate taxes and the like. Go to a universal sales tax. Don't tax food and other necessities (what constitutes a necessity can be debated). Figure out what your GDP is, make an amendment that the nation budget can only be X% of the GDP, and that should be the sales tax rate nationally.
Don't want to pay taxes, don't buy shit. A company buys $1,000,000 worth of servers in the US, they pay US sales tax. A company buys same servers in the UK, they UK sales tax. No more (at least in the US, sorry I'm too lazy to look up the relevant European tax divisions) IRS. This should help avoid some of the tax haven problems.