Focus on tax ignores Google's role in creating UK jobs, says chairman Eric Schmidt He said the £6m the company paid in corporation tax in 2011 complied with the law and Google was acting no differently to other firms, including British multinationals. Multinationals have been under pressure over the amount of tax they pay in Britain. MPs on the Public Accounts Committee have accused companies, including Google, Starbucks and Amazon, of "using the letter of tax laws" to "immorally minimise their tax obligations." Mr Schmidt is to tell BBC Radio 4's World at One that the focus on its tax bill omitted "the fact that we also hire more than 2,000 employees and are investing heavily in Britain." We empower literally billions of pounds of start-ups through our advertising network and so forth. And we're a key part of the electronic commerce expansion of Britain which is driving a lot of economic growth for the country," he said. He urged critics to consider the "totality" of the Internet giant's contribution to the economy. The fact of the matter is these are the way taxes are done globally. The same is true for British firms operating in the US, for example. I think the most important thing to say about our taxes is that we fully comply with the law and we'll obviously, should the law change, we'll comply with that as well. Cash-strapped European government have been looking to clamp down on tax avoidance as they struggle to shore up their public finances following the 2008 financial crisis.