Is South Korean Government Launching Tax Probe on Google and Facebook to Suppress Free Speech?
Could you imagine the precedent this would set for the tech companies if they have to pay taxes to every country where citizens use its services? Users are already paying a fee to the Internet provider in the country that is being taxed:
South Korea is considering launching probes into global tech companies that have come under suspicion for not paying their dues, the government here said Wednesday.
The move comes amid growing criticism that global tech giants, including Google Inc. and Facebook Inc., have not properly paid their taxes to local authorities while generating profits every year.
“The government is aware that it is a problem that needs to be more actively addressed,” ICT Minister Yoo Young-min said during an annual audit with lawmakers. “The ministry is mulling over the launch of a joint investigation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Financial Services Commission and the Fair Trade Commission.”
The lawmakers at the gathering argued that the government should come up with countermeasures to properly deal with alleged wrongdoings by the multinationals if they do not follow local regulations.
“It is vital that an organization should be set up to come up with joint countermeasures against global companies that may not be paying their taxes here,” said Rep. Kim Kyung-jin, adding that it’s important to find out how much foreign companies make. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but I think Dr. Tara O may be on to why the ROK government is looking at going after the tech companies:
Park Kwang-on, Deoburreo Minju Party, “asked” Google to remove 104 YouTube cases. When Google didn’t, he called Google Korea head for questioning re alleged tax evasion& alleged fake YouTube. High pressure tactics to suppress voices for freedom, rule of law, pro-ROK-US alliance https://t.co/QKZcsRkRaY
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) November 6, 2018
You can read more about the Moon administrations’ attempt to suppress conservative critics in South Korea at the below link.
https://www.rokdrop.net/2018/10/gordon-change-gives-address-to-the-national-press-club-on-south-korean-governments-attacks-on-freedom-of-speech/
Of course they are. Anyone surprised?
The ROK is becoming more Commie by the day. Dear Moonie just using the levers of government to crush dissent.
“Could you imagine the precedent this would set for the tech companies if they have to pay taxes to every country where citizens use its services?” Yes we can. Tell me then why Google pay tax to Singapore ? They use their own Internet provider but Google pay tax to Singapore government. I know your blog is mostly about excuses about American goverment and Army laced with hate toward Korea but sometimes you really make weird argument. Oh and EU also started demanding “unfair” tax too so imagine away.https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45813754
Wow. Fitty-cent army woke up, eh?
I’d never defend Google after how they stood up to the US and kow-towed to Beijing; but it’s obvious that Socialists are running out of money and trying to invent new taxes that avoid their leaders winding up like Mussolini or Ceaușescu for skipping payments to non-workers or taxing their power base…
Pretty soon commie moon will be skipping all pretense and send goon squads around to round up his opposition (ie the anti-communists).
Well Moon Pie has to invent a reason to throw Google and Facebook out of Korea after all he needs to install Kim Fatty the Thirds version of the Fatman Internet since his Daddy invented the Internet. Of course all the sites encourage you to ray out unpatriotic neighbors and be loyal to Kim Fatty the Third the juche regime.
“J’Accuse…!” but in Hangul, eh?
“Tell me then why Google pay tax to Singapore ?”
Because they have a headquarters physically located in Singapore. That’s how it works. From the article you linked, “At present, firms like Google, Amazon and Facebook avoid taxes on profits paid by more traditional companies because they do not have a large physical presence in many countries.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/google-moves-to-new-office-in-singapore-to-house-growing-team-7686728