PARIS (AP) — Tech giant Google says it has paid over one billion dollars to French authorities to settle a years-long dispute over allegations of tax fraud. A Paris court Thursday approved a fine of $551 million from the digital giant over charges of tax evasion, and Google said it paid a further $513 million in "additional taxes."
Since 2015 French investigators have been investigating Google for declaring profits from activities in France in Ireland instead, where taxes are much lower. A statement from Google to the AP said: "We remain convinced that a coordinated reform of the international tax system is the best way to provide a clear framework to companies operating worldwide."