Google Paris headquarters raided as part of tax payment probe

Google is being investigated for the way it pays its taxes in France

French newspaper Le Parisien said that around 100 tax officials entered the building with legal backing (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Google's Paris headquarters have been raided as part of an ongoing tax probe.

The headquarters in the ninth arrondissement were raided from 5am this morning, according to reports.

French newspaper Le Parisien said that around 100 tax officials entered the building.

Google is being investigated for the way it pays its taxes in France. It is accused of owing €1.6bn in unpaid taxes.

The latest raid follows searches at the Paris headquarters in June 2011.

Google pays taxes in Ireland, where it is charged at a lower rate than in France.

The raid comes after the European Commission tabled draft legislation to force major multinationals including Google opening up their books to disclose exactly where they are paying tax.

Google said: “We comply with French law and are co-operating fully with the authorities to answer their questions.”

In January, Google agreed to pay back 3 per cent in tax or £130 million, to the UK tax authorities in a deal slammed by MEPs as “not fair competition” even as the Chancellor George Osborne heralded the deal as a “major success”.

According to analysis by the Independent, Google could owe the UK six times more than it has agreed to pay, or £800 million.