Airbnb paid just €70,000 in tax in France in 2015 claims paper

Airbnb paid less than €70,000 in taxes in France in 2015, according to reports in French media.

That would equate to 18 per cent less than the previous year, even though Paris is the company's most popular destination, French newspaper Le Parisien reported on Thursday.

Multinational tech firms, such as Google, have come under increasing pressure in Europe, and in France in particular, from governments angry at the way businesses use their presence around to world to minimise tax.

“Airbnb abides by the fiscal laws of the countries in which it operates,” the Californian company said in a statement. It also said its “office in France provides marketing services and pays all applicable taxes.”

The group also says that the money it redistributes to apartment owners who rent out their homes is liable for tax.

Airbnb began collecting tourist taxes from guests in Paris in 2015 and has since struck similar arrangements with 20 towns in France. According to Airbnb France's 2015 last statutory filing, seen by Reuters, the company declared €4.96 million in revenue in the country and a profit of €97,205. Le Parisien said it paid €69,168 in taxes on that.

A spokeswoman for the French finance ministry declined to comment on Airbnb because of the privacy of such tax matters. Airbnb is currently in talks for a new round of funding that would value it at $30 billion, a source said in June.