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Three companies linked to the Internet search giant Google have been investigated for alleged tax fraud in China, Economic Daily reported on Thursday, citing sources with China's taxation authorities.

The companies have allegedly been found using fake invoices and have had accounting and business tax irregularities involving more than 40 million yuan ($6.06 million), the report said.

The taxation authorities are understood to have asked the companies to correct the problems and have retrieved the money.

The report also said tax authorities are further investigating Google businesses in China on suspicion of tax evasion.

Google, the world's largest Internet search company, responded to China Daily on Thursday in a statement saying: "We believe we are, and always have been, in full compliance with Chinese tax law."

It was also not immediately clear whether the three companies are businesses solely owned by Google or if they are joint ventures or separate entities that may do business with Google. They included two that did not use the Chinese name for Google in their names and one that is called the Google Information Technology (China) Company Ltd.

One of them, located in Raffles City, a downtown office building in Shanghai, bears the "Google" sign in its reception although its Chinese name did not suggest it is part of the company. Visitors were barred from entering or asking any questions on Thursday.

Both the State Administration of Taxation and Shanghai Local Taxation Bureau declined to comment on the allegations.

It is not the first time that Google-connected businesses in China have been investigated for tax fraud.

In October 2007, two Google-affiliated companies registered in Beijing were investigated for tax evasion allegedly involving more than 20 million yuan.

Questions:

1. How much money is involved in the accounting and business tax irregularities?

2. Who is the world’s largest Internet search company?

3. How much money was involved in the 2007 case?

Answers:

1. 40 million yuan.

2. Google.

3. 20 million yuan.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.