taxes

The French subsidiary of Facebook, which employs 208 people, is to pay the French tax authorities 106 million euros in back taxes and penalties following an audit of its activities over the period 2009-20018, and which appears to be centred on a dispute over where the company declared local sales revenue.

The dispute which began last year with France's planned levy of up to three percent on revenues earned by US tech companies in France, and which Washington  threatened to retaliate against with higher tariffs on imports of French goods, de-escalated this week with both sides agreeing on negotiations that may continue throughoiut the year.

Economy minister Bruno Le Maire said France and Germany would join forces to tackle what he called 'digital platforms' escaping taxes on their business activities in France, notably citing Airbnb as a target.

News came as US company's boss Sundar Pichai arrived in Paris where he was due to meet France's economy minister Emmanuel Macron.

The French president said tax cuts 'will depend on the growth rate' France achieves in 2016, while pledging growth 'will be stronger' next year.

The period of reform is not over yet but there is an economic turnaround, insists the French president as he marks two years in office. 

Embattled Jean-Marc Ayrault, while not promising tax cuts, launches a plan of national consultations to improve the just application of taxes.

Unpopular eco-tax will be implemented next July after local and European elections, says newspaper, as protests against green measure continue.

Qatar now owns an estimated 6.3bln euros-worth of property in France, encouraged by a controversial deal that offered it tax-free profits from sales.

PM Jean-Marc Ayrault has ruled out raising the minimum retirement age and left the door open to tax rises in order to trim the annual shortfall.

French finance minister Pierre Moscovici said most of the additional tax revenue will come from higher value-added and corporate taxes.

The French budget minister says an extra 6 billion euros in taxes will be raised next year to make up for a shortfall in government finances.

French cinema icon and animal rights campaigner says she will apply for Russian citizenship unless slaughter of two sick circus elephants is stopped.

The actor, who recently announced he was moving to Belgium to flee French taxes, is offered Russian citizenship in a decree by President Putin.

French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault announces "a combat budget" of tax increases and spending cuts for 2013, with new tax levies on high earners.