Exactly. That is what Google is avoiding. Did you even read the whole thing? It's Google that is using the Double Irish tax trickery to funnel money out of the countries they generate income in.

To be frank, middle class is really the best one to tax. The wealthy have the means and ways to avoid taxes. If someone gets in the way, they will rather pack their packs and leave. It's no problem - doing that is a lot cheaper than even the existing taxes they're paying. On top of that by taxing the wealthy you're removing the incentive from people to try and get there, and in turn you will be removing all the good that incentive does. Yes, there are industries and people that get rich by not really contributing to the common good, but overall it works out pretty good.

Nobody said there was something illegal going on. It is a legal practice. However, it is really shady practice that Google is purposely doing. They know it, we know it, everyone knows it. Legally speaking they can continue doing it if they so choose. However, it is still morally wrong.

Actually, the whole Apple/Microsoft thing looks like deflecting attention away from Google's practices. Their tax dodging has been discussed since 2010. Maybe it's even Google themselves who started this bullshit spreading about other companies cos they got too much heat for it and wanted to be all "don't blame us! look these guys do it too! that makes it ok!"

Google was one of the first companies to appear on Slashdot on these shady tax practices. I find it pretty funny that Slashdotters don't remember it and now there's been several stories about Apple and Microsoft doing it.

Seriously, http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/10/21/1627220/how-google-avoided-paying-60-billion-in-taxes . Back in 2010.

I think it would be time for law enforcement agencies to step in and do something about Google's constant abuse. They have shown their constant blatant abuse of the law for a long while already. Google has also got one of the largest fines government has put on any company when they were allowing rogue pharma ads on AdWords (500$ million fine).

The next step is to break up the company. Leave Google as search engine and remove their advertising business as separate one. Do the same for YouTube, Chrome and other parts. Monitor that they actually work independently and that they also work with other advertisers than the old Google advertising arm. Make it clear that if this shit continues, their whole operation will be shut down and the owners and CEO's jailed.

This is the only way that works and how we can stop Google's abuse.