Google, Facebook and tax: the search for conscience

For multi-national companies, will paying tax ever be much more than a matter of choice?

Tue, 08 Jun 2021

It’s a fair bet that neither Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg nor anyone at Google HQ in Mountain View, California, wakes up in a sweat worrying about their social licence to operate in New Zealand.Both globe-wrapping digital behemoths do business here in the same sort of split-screen world as banks and electricity companies.On one hand, nobody really likes them much.On the other, almost everybody with access to the internet uses one or both platforms most days of the week without a second thought.Unlike banks and power companies, however,...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Economy

Penk announces compulsory building warranties

Under the proposed change, those responsible pay their share only.

Staff reporters 12:20pm

Markets

Gentrack in the hunt for 10 new customers

Shares climb more than 14% on hopes of at least three or four new customers.

Rebecca Stevenson 12:20pm

Gentrack in the hunt for 10 new customers

Markets

Another solar farm gets the nod from Genesis

Genesis Energy has approved the construction of the Edgecumbe Solar Farm in the Bay of Plenty, marking its second major solar commitment in as many months.The company made a final investment decision (FID) on the 136 megawatt peak (MWp) farm, clearing the way for work to begin sh...

Ian Llewellyn 9:40am