Blimp outside Google’s Tel Aviv office reads, ‘Google Must Pay Tax’

By Lulu Chang April 3, 2016

google tel aviv screen shot 2016 04 03 at 2 27 06 pm — Image used with permission by copyright holder

When protesting one of the world’s most creative companies, you’ve gotta get pretty inventive yourself. And that appears to be precisely what Israeli pilot and politician Yoav Kisch has done with his giant blimp, which currently floats alongside Google’s Tel Aviv office. Emblazoned on the blimp are the words “Google Must Pay Taxes,” a message that speaks to an ongoing debate throughout much of the international community regarding how foreign companies should be taxed by the local governments of their satellite offices. Kisch is one of many activists working to close a loophole (this one specific to in Israel) that allows companies not to register as a business in Israel, which in turn permits them to avoid a value-added tax (VAT).

Kisch is currently in the process of drafting a bill that would address this issue, and as such, it’s not yet clear whether Israeli consumers would have to pay VAT on products that they buy from foreign companies that do not have offices in the country. But regardless, Kisch says, “the law should not differentiate between major companies and small businesses.”

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, the politician asserted that, “International corporations, which earn massive sums from Israelis, must pay VAT like any other company in Israel. A free market does not mean anarchy. This is a matter of hundreds of millions of shekels that could be used for welfare, health, and education, money that is currently flowing out of Israel.”

A number of tech companies (including Google) have previously been accused of avoiding taxes in foreign offices (or really, basing the location of their multinational offices based on the respective tax codes). But Google insists that it has always paid taxes as per local government rules. In response to Kisch’s most recent proposal, a Google spokesperson said, “Governments make tax law, the tax authorities independently enforce the law, and Google complies with the law in every country in which we operate, including in Israel.”

And if they don’t, Google may wind up seeing a lot more blimps asking them to cough up money.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Mobile

Apple Pay, Google Pay will work with MTA’s tap-and-pay system for NYC transit

New Yorkers can soon pay for Subway tickets with phones, Fitbits, and more

google pay

New York City is often called the greatest city in the world, but it's a step behind when it comes to adopting new technologies. Take contactless pay for public transit, as an example. Commuters in quite a few cities around the world -- such as London and Japan -- have had the ability to tap and pay with a smartphone or contactless card to access public transit for years. Well, tap and pay for transit is finally coming to New York City, though it’s a bit limited at the moment.

Starting May 31, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is launching OMNY, a new fare payment system. It allows commuters to use near-field communication (NFC) in contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid cards, or a smartphone or wearable to board public transit.

Business

Best Salesforce alternatives 2023: 7 other CRM tools worth trying

A customer relationship management diagram.

In the realm of sales management, finding the right customer relationship management software (or CRM) is crucial for streamlining your sales funnel, nurturing customer relationships, and boosting your conversion rate. While Salesforce has long been a dominant player in the CRM market, there are a number of compelling alternatives that offer comparable functionalities and features.

This roundup explores seven powerful Salesforce alternatives, analyzing their unique strengths, customizable interfaces, and integration capabilities. Whether you're a small startup, a growing medium-sized business, or an established enterprise, these CRM systems provide diverse solutions to your specific sales management needs. From advanced AI-driven lead prioritization to intuitive visual pipelines, each alternative offers its own benefits that can transform how you approach sales. Ready to level up your sales game? Let's dive in:
Freshsales

Business

Squarespace Courses: Empowering the next-generation of creative entrepreneurs

Squarespace Courses will allow entrepreneurs to create online learning solutions

This content was produced in partnership with Squarespace.
It's been clear from the very start that Squarespace was building and planning something truly special. If you don't already know, you can build professional-quality and beautiful websites through the platform with a remarkably easy tool set. You don't need any knowledge of web design or programming to get started, and you can have a site up in minutes. But thanks to how convenient it all is, it's become something of a go-to platform for digital and online creation. Now, Squarespace is elevating its all-in-one platform even more, offering something new to the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives, who want to build their brands and monetize their audience. It's called Squarespace Courses, and like its website builder, the tool will allow customers to design and sell beautiful, multimedia courses to their customers.

Course designers will be able to create expansive programs across sequential lessons, using videos, and chapters, all while also offering progress tracking. As is customary for online courses, entrepreneurs can then create an overview of each course, set the prices for admission, and then allow potential students to preview content before making a purchase. Launching August 21st, 2023 this feature is simply not available through other easy-website-building platforms -- it's exclusive to Squarespace.