Going forward alone leads you to the inevitable “revenge”. In digital taxation, it is better to work together between the European Union and the US partners, without any hesitation. Analysis by Rosario Serra, President, Digital Economy Center

The main attraction of Big Tech’s tax system, which produces digital services in the open economy, is that capital moves freely between different countries, and it is much easier for these companies to choose the location of offices that will significantly reduce their tax burden. The rooster is coming down.

This is happening under the pressure of the pandemic that has accelerated digital processes, highlighting the need to regulate their dynamics between states.

France and Italy moved independently to create a digital service tax.
It is clear that going it alone will be subject to “revenge” and that revenge is a major risk to our economy, even if the estimated returns are lower than expected. Therefore, coordination is needed at the European level, but above all it is at the international level.

From a discussion perspective, the fact that some important European countries, France and Italy, have moved individually seems to me to be the best incentive to seek a European integration, which will allow us to engage more with the United States and China. Systematically and effectively.

In fact, Europe must be able to impose a dialogue through its leadership in the regulatory sector, for example at the WTO level, while at the same time confronting and overcoming the problem of favorable legislation in some of its member states, especially Ireland and Luxembourg. Holland.

The reason for this need for Italy is not immediately stated and is not recommended to be done by yourself: the definition of the tax base is complex, and for Gaffa (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon), an attempt does not seem to be entirely successful.

Not to mention the obvious contradictions that affect the competitiveness of local businesses, the digital transformation of the economy, and the risk of transferring the burden almost entirely to consumers.

Different theories can be studied and studied, such as the distribution of profits between countries engaged in business-related activities, but also within the broader discussion in the OECD.

It should be the role of Italy today to highlight the need for deregulation of international digital services and to expedite international agreements everywhere.