About: aggressive tax planning
EU proposes unified corporate tax regime fit for 21st century
The European Union's executive on Tuesday (18 May) adopted a plan for a more unified corporate tax regime across the bloc, whose 27 national systems are struggling to cope in a world where cross-border business, often via the Internet, is commonplace.
EU court to decide on Amazon tax appeal
An EU court will rule Wednesday (12 May) on an appeal by online giant Amazon against an order that Luxembourg recoup €250 million in unpaid taxes.
Brexit backer Dyson moves vacuum giant’s HQ to Singapore
James Dyson, the billionaire Brexit supporter who revolutionised vacuum cleaners with his bagless technology, is moving his head office to Singapore from Britain to be closer to his company's fastest-growing markets.
World’s 26 richest own as much as 3.8 billion poorest: Oxfam
Billionaire fortunes increased by 12% a day in 2018, while the 3.8 billion poorest people saw their wealth decline by 11% a day, according to a report released by Oxfam to mark the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
Third of EU financial secrecy comes from inside its borders, report finds
People or firms in the European Union that wish to keep their financial affairs secret more often find the services they require inside the EU than in one of the tax havens blacklisted by the bloc, the Tax Justice Network (TJN) said on Sunday (23 September).
Campaigners hail ‘significant’ UK move on tax havens
Britain's historic decision to compel its overseas territories to identify the owners of registered companies marks a "significant" moment in the global crackdown on dirty money, campaigners said Wednesday (2 May).
EU clamps down on letter box firms’ tax avoidance, social dumping
The European Commission on Wednesday (25 April) proposed new rules to clamp down on firms that relocate within the EU for the purpose of cutting their tax bills, setting up mere letter box companies.
‘Secret’ tax deals with multinationals soar despite scandals
Despite the uproar following the publication of ‘sweetheart’ deals signed between member states and corporations, countries signed 2053 ‘secret’ unilateral tax agreements with companies in 2016, an increase of 64% compared to the previous year.
EU divided over tax haven blacklist
European Union ministers will haggle on Tuesday to draw up a blacklist of non-EU tax havens, with about 20 countries in danger of being publicly exposed for facilitating tax evasion.
EU eyes corporate rules shake-up with law on seat transfer
The European Commission is preparing a new directive on the cross-border transfer of company seats, a move that could have far-reaching implications for other areas of corporate governance, including tax planning and cross-border mergers, EURACTIV has learned.
Oxfam exposes tax haven habits of big European banks
The 20 biggest banks in the eurozone booked over a quarter of their 2015 profits in tax havens, with Luxembourg and Ireland the favourite destinations, a report by Oxfam said on Monday (27 March). EURACTIV France reports.
US companies would avoid EU state aid rules with Republican tax proposal
A planned reform of the US tax system designed to attract economic activity and jobs to the country could also put US companies beyond the reach of European state aid rules, an EU official told EURACTIV's media partner PaRR.
Ireland set out arguments against EU in Apple tax ruling
Ireland set out its arguments on Monday (19 December) against a European Commission ruling that tech firm Apple should pay billions in back-taxes to Dublin, claiming the EU executive arm has interfered in state sovereignty.
Luxembourg ‘made 172 secret tax deals’ with companies in year after LuxLeaks
Luxembourg struck 172 secret tax deals in the year after the LuxLeaks scandal first exposed the prevalence of agreements made between the government and multinational corporations, new research published today (7 December) has revealed.
Member states play politics with tax havens blacklist
The EU's tax haven blacklist is due to be finalised by the end of 2017. But the inclusion of countries with zero tax rates has divided member states. EURACTIV France reports.
After Apple, EU may focus on companies closer to home
Multinational companies can expect the European Commission to press on with a crack down on sweetheart tax deals after handing Apple a breathtaking demand for €13 billion, officials and experts said on Wednesday (31 August).
Brussels Apple tax ruling reverberates across the Atlantic
The European Commission’s demand for Apple to pay back a record 13 billion euros in back taxes in Ireland has triggered warnings that it could damage transatlantic economic ties. Others in Washington, however, used the case to call for an international tax system to ensure revenues are paid where they are due.
EU’s new tax haven blacklist doomed to failure, warn campaigners
New European Union rules to force multinational companies to publish their tax bills were criticised on Tuesday (12 April) by campaigners for being too weak to stop tax-dodging corporations hiding their profits.
Schäuble urges global push to share information on tax cheats
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble on Sunday (10 April) pleaded for countries to work together in the fight against tax cheats and money launderers by sharing national lists naming the beneficiaries of shell companies.
Germany plans new tax law on back of ‘Panama Leaks’ revelations
Germany is planning a new national transparency register that will oblige offshore companies to disclose the identity of their owners, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Monday (4 April).
EU tax transparency directive ‘insufficient first step’, activists say
An updated directive on the automatic exchange of information between national tax administrations received the green light by the EU’s 28 finance ministers on Tuesday (8 March).
French pork farmers accuse Germany of VAT fraud
The French pork industry has lodged a complaint to the European Commission, accusing German farmers of VAT fraud worth €250 million. EURACTIV France reports.
TAXE committee to fight tax evasion for another six months
The European Parliament yesterday (25 November) adopted the TAXE committee's report on the tax practices of big businesses in Europe. But Europe's work on tax evasion is only just beginning. EURACTIV France reports.