Uber and Airbnb have revealed in submissions to a federal inquiry that they route profit through companies in the Netherlands and Ireland, where taxes are lower.
Uber and Airbnb have told a Senate corporate tax avoidance inquiry that while they comply with Australian tax laws, their Australian operations merely provide support services to parent companies based in the Netherlands and Ireland respectively. 
Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who is chairman of the inquiry - before which Uber and Airbnb could both be hauled - said as new sharing economy services emerged it was vital to get tax settings right.
"Australia cannot be a spectator as profits are simply shifted overseas through clever accounting methods."
Uber director of public policy Brad Kitschke said in the submission that because it was "a private company still in the early-investment stage, unlike listed companies [it] does not provide detailed public accounts".
Uber Australia was a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber International Holding BV, which was based in The Netherlands, he said.
And Uber BV was in turn an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Uber Technologies Inc.
The head company, Uber BV, was "responsible for the management of our international operations ..." he said in the submission.
Uber BV's management team set the business objectives for the Australian market, which were then supported by Uber Australia.
But Uber Australia provided only "certain support services, such as local marketing promotions to potential riders and drivers, and to Uber BV".
"Uber BV pays Uber Australia for the performance of those services," he said. "Uber Australia complies with all relevant Australian tax obligations."
Such tax structures, which have been legal under international laws so far, could be changed as governments begin implementing the final Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development plan against profit shifting, known as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, which was released on Monday.
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand manager Sam McDonagh said "Airbnb also complies with all Australian tax laws and pays all required taxes".
But Mr McDonagh also confirmed "Airbnb Australia is a wholly owned entity of Airbnb Ireland".
"Our small team in Sydney performs the marketing and promotional functions relevant to the local market," he said.
"All engineering, customer service, legal, business development, maintenance and other functions are administered by Airbnb Ireland and are physically based outside of Australia."
"Airbnb Ireland develops and manages Airbnb's business operations outside of the United States.
"All transactions relating to users outside of the United States, including guests and hosts in Australia, are handled by Airbnb Ireland, pursuant to applicable laws and regulations."