Sýn executive says Daði’s interview conflicts with ministry response

Answers from Iceland’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs conflict with statements by Finance Minister Daði Már Kristófersson, Sýn marketing director Guðmundur Halldór Björnsson says. In an article published by mbl.is, Guðmundur criticises the government for making little progress on possible taxes on foreign technology companies, despite including the issue in its action plan.

Guðmundur points to an interview with Daði on Vísir, in which the minister said the issue was under consideration at the ministry. But in response to Guðmundur’s inquiry, the ministry said the matter had not been examined. It also said no bill on the issue was on the parliamentary agenda and that it could not say whether or when one might be introduced.

The ministry said no analysis had been conducted on the possible taxation of foreign technology companies. Guðmundur questioned how Daði could describe the results of other countries’ measures as “very mixed” if no analysis, memoranda or other documents had been prepared.

In the Vísir interview, Daði said officials had reviewed how other countries had tackled the issue, assessed the varying results of their measures and were looking at which solutions might suit Iceland. He also said the ministry would work on the matter over the winter.

Guðmundur said legislation would need to be carefully drafted, but argued that this should not leave the work stalled for months. He said one potential benefit of taxing foreign technology companies would be to create a more level playing field for domestic media.

He said foreign technology companies currently take about half of Iceland’s advertising spending, or around ISK 15 billion a year, without contributing to Icelandic society on a comparable basis to domestic media. Culture, Innovation and Higher Education Minister Logi Einarsson has previously expressed support for the idea.