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.
HMRC has told MPs it wanted to fine Google over their tax affairs - but could not prove their accounts were assembled with "insufficient care".
Earlier Google finance boss Tom Hutchinson said HMRC determined they had a "reasonable argument" for the amount of UK profit they declared.
"And that's why there was no penalty," he added.
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.