French Digital Tax Bill May Offer Reprieve for Ad Exchanges (1)

France’s National Assembly began debate April 8 on a far-reaching bill that would impose a tax on revenue that tech companies make from certain digital services—but could exclude ad exchanges from the tax.

The proposal to exclude such exchange companies—those that help advertisers place targeted ads online—would address industry complaints that the legislation would tax them twice on revenue they earn from certain types of digital advertising. It was included in an amendment to the digital services bill.

France proposed its 3 percent tax on tech companies March 6, which sparked complaints from the U.S. that the tax unfairly targets ...