Google's headquarters in Paris raided over tax payment

Google's Paris headquarters have been raided as part of an investigation into the U.S. company's tax payments, reports said.

Around 100 tax officials and investigators from financial police are involved in the raid, which started at 5 a.m. local time, according to Le Parisien. 

"These searches are in the framework of a preliminary inquiry opened on 16 June 2015 on aggravated tax fraud and money-laundering charges following a complaint from the French fiscal authorities," a court statement said. 

The probe wants to verify if Google Ireland "is permanently established in France and whether by not declaring a part of activities carried out in the French territory, it has lacked its tax obligation" under French law. 

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A Google spokesperson told Mashable: “We comply with French law and are cooperating fully with the authorities to answer their questions." 

Google is accused of owing France €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion; £1.3 billion) in unpaid taxes.

The UK struck a £130 million settlement with Google earlier this year. 

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