EU digital tax on verge of collapse
November 6, 2018
The European Union's ambitious plan to impose bloc-wide tax regulations on digital companies was on the verge of failure on Tuesday.
Tech giants such as Facebook and Google pay remarkably little tax by shifting profits to low-tax member states, but plans to fix that have been deeply divisive in the EU.
Latest developments
EU finance ministers presented widely differing views on a plan to charge tech firms a 3 percent levy on digital revenues in all EU states:
- Key proponent France agreed to postpone implementation to 2020 if it meant saving the plan, but insisted on signing it by December.
- Ireland and Sweden remain skeptical, especially if the deal is not anchored in a global tax framework.
- Germany wants an OECD-backed global deal, but supports a 2020 EU backup plan, if it doesn't affect car makers.
- Spain and the UK reiterated their plans for national schemes.
- Italy said it would impose a national plan if no EU plan was signed by December.
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Possible US retaliation
"It is very difficult to see an agreement on the digital tax because so many technical issues are not solved yet," Danish Finance Minister Kristian Jensen said, warning that the US could retaliate given it targets mostly American firms.
Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, who fears reduced tax revenue in his country, said the tax would set a negative precedent for Europe, as it would be imposed in states where consumers are located rather than where services are produced.
"We are net exporters. What kind of reaction would we have if this model was imposed on us?" he asked ministers.
EU Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici warned: "If we do nothing, the EU will be split up like a puzzle and our European businesses will be the first to suffer."
How does it work now? Tech firms earn significant revenue in the EU, but pay far less tax than traditional firms. The European Commission estimates traditional companies pay 23 percent tax on profits - compared to just 8 to 9 percent for internet firms, with some paying effectively none. Nations such as Ireland woo tech firms with extra-low tax rates. The new plan aims to present a unified front to these firms.
Why is it so difficult? EU tax proposals require unanimity among the 28 members to pass. Nations such as Ireland stand to lose out in such a deal. Others are staking their bets on an OECD solution, bringing in China, India and the US, but negotiations have been particularly slow. France hopes an EU solution would pressure OECD members to pick up the pace.
Where do we go from here? Current EU presidency holder Austria said it would lead a final push in December but was pessimistic about members' appetite for compromise.