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The European Commission yesterday launched a public consultation on how the EU can ensure that the digital economy is taxed in a fair and growth-friendly way. Taxing the digital economy has become an issue of pressing importance – politically and economically.

The current tax framework does not fit with modern realities. It was designed in a pre-computer age and cannot capture activities which are increasingly based on intangible assets and data. As a result, there is the risk of shrinking tax bases for Member States, competitive distortions for businesses and obstacles for innovative companies.

Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: "Nobody can deny it: our tax framework does not fit anymore with the development of the digital economy or with new business models. Member States want to tax the huge profits generated by digital economic activity in their country. We need a solution at EU level, bringing robust solutions for businesses and investors in the Single Market."

As set out in the Commission's Communication on Digital Taxation, solutions to taxing the digital economy should ideally be found at international level, given the global nature of the problem. However, the EU also needs to develop its own coherent approach to this challenge, to ensure the fair and effective taxation of all companies and to support the Digital Single Market. As requested by leaders at the European Council on 19 October 2017, the Commission is working on new proposals on digital taxation, which it will present in early 2018.

The Commission is particularly interested in gathering views on the main problems related to taxing the digital economy, for Member States and business. It also asks for feedback on possible solutions to these problems - both targeted, temporary measures and comprehensive long-term solutions. This public consultation will feed into the work underway on the digital taxation proposals for next year and runs until 3 January 2018.

For more information:

Public consultation on the fair taxation of the digital economy

Commission Communication on digital taxation

Press release on the Communication on digital taxation

MEMO

Factsheet on Digital Taxation

Press contacts:

• Annika BREIDTHARDT (+ 32 2 295 61 53)
• Patrick McCullough (+32 229 87183)

General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email