Google has settled a tax dispute with Italy’s tax authorities by paying EUR 326 million for alleged unpaid taxes from 2015 to 2019.

The payment includes sanctions,  penalties, and interest. Italian prosecutors had investigated Google for not paying taxes on revenue earned in Italy, focusing on advertising revenue and its digital operations. By paying the EUR 326 million, Google avoids further legal action.

In 2017, Google settled a similar case for EUR 306 million.

Meanwhile, Italian tax authorities have accused another US company, Amazon, of VAT evasion. Italy’s prosecutors claim Amazon evaded EUR 1.2 billion in VAT on sales from non-EU countries, including China, between 2019 and 2021.

The investigation targets Amazon’s Luxembourg-based unit and three managers. It focuses on its algorithm, which allegedly helps non-EU sellers evade VAT in Italy by hiding their identities. Under Italian law, platforms like Amazon can be held jointly responsible for unpaid VAT by non-EU sellers.

The investigation could lead to penalties of up to EUR 3 billion in addition to the unpaid VAT.