French finance officials have raided the Paris offices of US internet giant Google as part of a tax fraud investigation.
Reports say about 100 tax officials entered Google’s offices in central Paris early in the morning.
Police sources confirmed the raid, but Google itself has so far made no comment.
Google is accused of owing the French state US$1.8bn in unpaid taxes.
The tax arrangements of international companies have come under close scrutiny recently.
Several have been accused of using legal methods to minimise their tax bills.
In Google’s case, its tax structure allows it to pay tax in the Republic of Ireland, even when sales appear to relate to the UK.
