Google shifts almost €10bn in royalties through the Netherlands

American internet giant Google shifted nearly €10bn in royalties to the tax haven of Bermuda via the Netherlands in 2013, the Telegraaf says on Saturday. That is almost €1bn up on 2012, the paper says. It bases its claims on an analysis of the annual reports of Dutch-registered Google Netherlands Holdings BV. Over €9bn came from Google Ireland Ltd, the Irish company which sells Google advertising worldwide. That company pays a royalty for the use of the name and technology to its parent company. The money is pumped through the Netherlands to Google Ireland Holdings, the Bermuda-based company which owns Google’s intellectual property outside the US. Royalties are not taxed in the Netherlands. The rest of the money – €767m – comes from an Asian Google company, the Telegraaf says. Google is liable for tax on its foreign income but only has to pay once the money reaches America. In total, Google has some €35bn offshore, the Telegraaf says. Google is currently building a €600m data centre and server farm in Eemshaven in northern Groningen.