HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Pays $27 Million Tax Settlement in New Zealand

Microsoft Pays $27 Million Tax Settlement in New Zealand

Microsoft has settled with New Zealand for $27 million following an audit into its internal tax system in the country.

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Tech companies have been adept at avoiding paying taxes, using loopholes to exploit the system to cut down on payouts. However, there is an increasing level of scrutiny on companies as regulators clamp down on tax avoidance practices.

While arguably not the worst offender, has run into its fair share of tax problems following seeking to pay less through loopholes. In New Zealand, the company has had to pay $24,748,658 to the country's Inland Revenue.

The amount is a settlement following an investigation into Microsoft's tax business before June 2018. New Zealand's Inland Revenue audited the company over its transfer pricing. These are fees Microsoft pays to other brand divisions for services.

While Microsoft has settled the case, the details of the company's irregularities have not been disclosed. One loophole many companies use to avoid taxes in countries like New Zealand is to overcharge for internal transactions between subsidiaries. This allows companies to under-report profits and pay less taxes.

Microsoft New Zealand confirmed the settlement payment and called it s “tax adjustment”. The company says the dispute is now closed.

Microsoft Tax Problems

This episode goes alongside the company's other tax avoidance issues. The United Kingdom has accused the company of moving £8 billion from the UK to Ireland to avoid paying £100 million in corporate tax.

In 2017, Microsoft was amongst major companies that were investigated by France and Germany. France and Germany believe companies are taking advantage and stealing market share. While Apple is the focus of the new rules, companies like and Microsoft are also in the crosshairs.

SourceStuff
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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