Google Wins Tax Case in France, Avoiding $1.3 Billion Bill<br />Last August, the European Union ordered Apple to pay $14.5 billion in taxes in Ireland, contending<br />that its deals with the Irish government had allowed the technology giant to pay virtually nothing on its European business in some years.<br />By MICAH MAIDENBERG and AURELIEN BREEDENJULY 12, 2017<br />Google emerged on Wednesday as the victor in its latest legal battle in Europe, after a French<br />court said the technology behemoth did not have to pay $1.3 billion in back taxes.<br />Google employs 700 people in France through its subsidiary there,<br />but the company used a division based in Ireland to sell French customers digital services like its well-known advertising platform AdWords, according to court filings.<br />European Union officials also brought charges against Android, Google’s mobile operating system, saying the<br />company had forced cellphone manufacturers to install Google services, like mobile search, on the phones.<br />The case hinged on whether Google owed various taxes in France, even though it sold services from Ireland
