A senior Google executive has told MPs that he understands public anger over reports of the internet giant's tax payments, but insisted it paid tax at 20% like any other company operating in the UK.
But Matt Brittin came under attack from the chairwoman of an influential House of Commons committee after he told her he did not know how much he was paid.
Google bosses were today accused of "living on a different planet" as they were grilled by MPs over their controversial UK tax deal.
Committee chair Meg Hillier asked Google UK boss Matt Brittin: "You're British, you're a British taxpayer. So don't you feel a bit embarrassed by this?
"The fact that you don't even know what you're paid? You're living on a different planet.
"Frankly, you are taxing my patience and the patience of the hard-working taxpayer out there."
Mr Brittin said: "I'm proud to be British. I appear here because I believe in the process of democracy."
But he insisted Google were paying the right tax in the UK: "It's not 3%, it is 20%."
Google's finance boss Tom Hutchinson added the £130 million deal was "fair" and said it was the biggest settlement they had agreed outside the US.
Google says it plays by the rules, HM Revenue & Customs seems satisfied, the trouble is MPs don't seem to believe that HMRC is competent.
Concerns about the way Google and other multinationals pay tax have been around for at least three years.