We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Alphabet's Tax Woes Mount, Indonesian Unit Faces Allegation
Read MoreHide Full Article
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) is already a major subject of scrutiny in Europe and it appears that the matter has started to spread across Asia as well. Indonesia’s tax agency is reportedly planning to bill the company for five years of back taxes and associated fines.
What’s the Probe All About?
The local tax office believes that PT Google Indonesia has paid less than 0.1% of the total accumulated taxes as of 2015. It decided to raid the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore, Google Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. after it refused to be audited in June.
According to the head of the tax office’s special cases unit, Muhammad Haniv, a team of four tax investigators went to Google's office in Indonesia on Monday and discussed the alleged back taxes and audit of tax compliance records.
Haniv said that if Google is found to have broken the rules, it might have to pay four times the tax it owes. In response, a Google Indonesia spokesman stated that the company cooperates with the government and has paid all applicable taxes in Indonesia.
Google Out of Favor with European Authorities over Taxes
In January, Google reached an agreement with U.K. tax officials to pay nearly $190 million in British back taxes and make changes in the style of calculating its UK tax bill.
The UK settlement was followed by further investigation. Officials raided Google’s French headquarters in May searching for evidence of "aggravated tax fraud" and money laundering as Google paid just $1.76 billion as back taxes there.
Google is embroiled in a legal battle across practically all continents. Apart from being a huge drain on resources, these have earned for it a bad name on privacy concerns, anti-competitive concerns, patent infringements and what have you.
The good news is that the company has had extraordinary success in the courtroom and with government officials around the world. Its streak of “good luck” can change at any time and so investors remain wary.
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
Currently, Alphabet is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company. Better-ranked stocks in the in the broader technology sector include Facebook, Inc. , Yirendai Ltd. (YRD - Free Report) and LinkedIn Corporation , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Confidential from Zacks
Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>
Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker
Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time
Image: Bigstock
Alphabet's Tax Woes Mount, Indonesian Unit Faces Allegation
Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) is already a major subject of scrutiny in Europe and it appears that the matter has started to spread across Asia as well. Indonesia’s tax agency is reportedly planning to bill the company for five years of back taxes and associated fines.
What’s the Probe All About?
The local tax office believes that PT Google Indonesia has paid less than 0.1% of the total accumulated taxes as of 2015. It decided to raid the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore, Google Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. after it refused to be audited in June.
According to the head of the tax office’s special cases unit, Muhammad Haniv, a team of four tax investigators went to Google's office in Indonesia on Monday and discussed the alleged back taxes and audit of tax compliance records.
Haniv said that if Google is found to have broken the rules, it might have to pay four times the tax it owes. In response, a Google Indonesia spokesman stated that the company cooperates with the government and has paid all applicable taxes in Indonesia.
Google Out of Favor with European Authorities over Taxes
In January, Google reached an agreement with U.K. tax officials to pay nearly $190 million in British back taxes and make changes in the style of calculating its UK tax bill.
The UK settlement was followed by further investigation. Officials raided Google’s French headquarters in May searching for evidence of "aggravated tax fraud" and money laundering as Google paid just $1.76 billion as back taxes there.
ALPHABET INC-A Price
ALPHABET INC-A Price | ALPHABET INC-A Quote
Our Take
Google is embroiled in a legal battle across practically all continents. Apart from being a huge drain on resources, these have earned for it a bad name on privacy concerns, anti-competitive concerns, patent infringements and what have you.
The good news is that the company has had extraordinary success in the courtroom and with government officials around the world. Its streak of “good luck” can change at any time and so investors remain wary.
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
Currently, Alphabet is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company. Better-ranked stocks in the in the broader technology sector include Facebook, Inc. , Yirendai Ltd. (YRD - Free Report) and LinkedIn Corporation , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Confidential from Zacks
Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>