2018年托福写作题库：欧洲的电子税

2018年托福写作题库：欧洲的电子税

　　Big technology firms(科技公司) face paying more tax under plans announced by the European Commission(欧盟委员会).

　　It said companies with significant online revenues(收益) should pay a 3% tax on turnover(营业额) for various online services, bringing in an estimated ?bn (£4.4bn).

　　The proposal(提案) would affect firms such as Facebook and Google with global annual revenues above ?50m and taxable(达到征税水平的) EU revenue above ?0m.

　　The move follows criticism that tech giants(科技巨头) pay too little tax in Europe.

　　EU economics affairs commissioner(专员) Pierre Moscovici said the "current legal vacuum(法律真空) is creating a serious shortfall(缺失) in the public revenue of our member states".

　　He stressed(强调) it was not a move against(针对) the US or "GAFA" - the acronym(首字母缩略词) for Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

　　According to the Commission, top digital firms pay an average tax rate of just 9.5% in the EU - far less than the 23.3% paid by traditional companies.

　　Its figures are disputed by(被反驳) the big tech firms, which have called the tax proposal "populist(平民主义的) and flawed(有缺陷的/有漏洞的)".

　　Countries including the UK and France have accused firms of(指责) routing some profits(谋利) through low-tax EU member states such as Ireland and Luxembourg.

　　Big US tech companies have argued they are complying with(遵守) national and international tax laws(税务法).

　　However, the Commission said it wanted to tax(对......征税) companies according to where their digital users are based.

　　The tax would only apply to(适用于) certain online revenue streams(营收渠道), such as online advertising in search engines(搜索引擎的在线广告) or social media, online trading, or the sale of user data.

　　The proposals require backing from the European Parliament and the 28 EU countries, but they are divided on the issue(对此意见不一致).

　　EU tax reforms need the backing of all member states to become law.

　　Ireland has warned that the proposals may not yield(产生) more tax, while some countries believe smaller companies should also face a bill(支付费用).

　　The business practices(商业行为) of big tech firms are facing growing scrutiny(面临越来越多/严厉的审查) in Europe.

　　Competition regulators have fined(罚款) Apple and Amazon, while Google is appealing against(上诉) a record ?.4bn fine for abusing(滥用) its dominance(主导地位) to favour(偏袒) its own shopping services.

　　EU agencies are also set to tighten(加强) rules on data privacy, while Germany has introduced big fines for social media firms who fail to take down extreme content(下架过激的内容) quickly enough.

　　写作题目：

　　1. The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming wider. What are the possible reasons and what can be done to improve the situation?

　　2、Some people think developing countries should invite foreign companies to open branches, offices and factories to promote their economies. Others say that they should keep the foreign companies out and depend more on their own local companies. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

　　本文还可以适用于企业的社会责任这个话题

　　3、As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?