French authorities have demanded that Google pays €1.6bn ($1.8bn; £1.3bn) in unpaid taxes, reports the BBC.
The figure is substantially more than the £130m the search engine agreed to pay in back taxes to UK authorities.
However, France's AFP news agency reported that Google might be able to negotiate and may not pay the full sum.
The company's chief executive, Sundar Pichai, is visiting Paris and was due to meet the France's economy minister Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday night.
It is not clear if they will discuss the tax issue.
Earlier this month, French finance minister Michel Sapin ruled out striking a deal with the US company.
Google would not comment on reports of the tax demand and French officials said the matter was confidential.
The tax arrangements of international companies have come under close scrutiny recently.
Several have been accused of using legal methods to minimise their tax bills.