Italian tax police raid Facebook offices
Italian police today raided the Milan offices of US social media giant Facebook over possible violations of tax laws, Italian media reported.
Italian police on Friday raided the Milan offices of US social media giant Facebook over possible violations of tax laws, Italian media reported.
Facebook Italia is based in Milan and is associated with Facebook Inc in the United States and Facebook Ireland.
"Facebook pays taxes in Italy as part of its activity in the country and takes its obligations in terms of Italian tax law very seriously," the company said in a statement.
Facebook Italia said it had "cooperated fully".
The Italian-registered company, according to its official document, has social capital of 10,000 euros ($13,000) and 11 employees and therefore pays very low taxes, Italian media reported.
Facebook Italia had gross revenues of 2.0 million euros in 2011, which counted as "services" for promotion on the Italian market.
A probe by Italian tax police against Google Italy last month found that the company failed to declare income of 240 million euros ($310 million) and pay value added tax of 96 million euros.
