Politics

Risky 'interim' digital services tax unlikely to be repealed

Tom McIlroyCanberra Bureau Chief

Updated Nov 29, 2018 – 1.53pm, first published at 8.15am

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A unilateral and temporary tax on digital giants including Google and Facebook in Australia would be unlikely to ever be repealed and might not be worth the trouble.

That's the assessment of EY Oceania tax policy leader tax Alf Capito on the government's proposed moves to tax online advertising and intermediation services from companies such as eBay, Twitter, Uber and LinkedIn, while exempting Australian start-ups.

Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent.