About: tax avoidance
EU anti-tax fraud quest goes up a notch
The EU's anti-tax fraud programme, Fiscalis, got a shot in the arm from MEPs on Wednesday (17 April), when the European Parliament approved a revised version with a bigger budget. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU tells Britain to reclaim illegal tax breaks offered to multinationals
A preferential UK tax scheme designed to attract multinational companies partially violated EU state aid rules, the European Commission concluded on Tuesday (2 April), calling on British authorities to recover the undue tax breaks, only a few days away from Brexit.
French finance chief wants to tax expatriate business leaders
French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire wants to introduce legislation to ensure that heads of large French businesses living abroad pay more taxes in France. EURACTIV France’s partner La Tribune reports.
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.
Drug industry reacts to Oxfam’s allegations of tax-dodging
Four of the world’s biggest pharma companies appear to hide their profits in tax havens, according to a report published by Oxfam on Tuesday (18 September). Businesses said they are in the clear.
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.
No more excuses: The EIB needs a responsible policy against tax abuses
The EIB is a public institution and supports projects in the name of EU policies. Therefore it is high time for the EU bank to ask for more than what commercial banks do for the sake of justice and broader public interest, write Xavier Sol andAntonio Tricarico.
Vestager: EU will act if OECD fails on taxing internet giants
The European Union will take measures to tax US tech giants if the international community doesn't agree to a new system early next year, Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said on Tuesday (21 November).
Commission launches probe into UK tax exemption for multinationals
The European Commission decided on Thursday (26 October) to open an in-depth investigation into the UK exemptions granted to multinationals to protect them from tax avoidance rules.
Jourova: EU rules on company seat transfers means savings for business
European firms could save millions in start-up and merger costs if they could use EU rules on cross-border transfer of registered office, says Věra Jourová, adding the saved money would be better invested in jobs, innovation and growth.
Estonia pushes fair taxation plan for web giants in Europe
A precondition for making online companies such as Amazon and Google pay taxes where they are due is to affirm the principle of "virtual permanent establishment", whereby digital firms pay taxes in countries where they have a "significant digital presence", said EU presidency holder Estonia.
Cake and taxes
The European Parliament has the opportunity on Monday (12 June) to vote for real public country-by-country tax reporting. Anything short of real transparency will allow large companies to keep hiding crucial information and avoiding their fair share of taxes, writes Elena Gaita.
Multinationals should say what they pay
From an investor’s perspective, planned transparency is far preferable to surprise leaks or investigations into corporate tax avoidance strategies which lead to reputational risk and government crackdown, writes Morris Pearl.
Juncker promises EU law to protect whistleblowers
At his hearing with MEPs investigating the Panama Papers scandal on Tuesday (30 May), the European Commission president promised to present a bill to improve and harmonise the protection of whistleblowers across the EU, a subject on which the block is divided. EURACTIV France reports.
Fat rent excesses at McDonald’s should raise EU attention
The European Commission is currently investigating McDonald’s sweetheart tax deals with Luxembourg and other tax arrangements across Europe. It should now also look into how McDonald’s uses its real estate rents to abuse its franchisees and its consumers, writes Harald Wiedenhofer.
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.
Malta denounced as tax haven as it assumes EU presidency
Malta was today (11 January) accused of being a tax haven as it took over the rotating presidency of the EU. Some companies in the EU's smallest country pay as little as 5% tax on their profits.
Juncker accused of blocking EU efforts against tax avoidance
Jean-Claude Juncker deliberately blocked the EU's efforts to fight tax avoidance while in office as prime minister of Luxembourg, according to documents revealed by British daily The Guardian and the International Consortium of Journalists. EURACTIV France reports.
Brussels reprimands ex-commissioner Kroes, recoups cash
The EU handed an unprecedented public reprimand to a former commissioner on Wednesday (21 December) for taking allowances she was not entitled to but stopped short of legal action after recouping the money.
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.
Zara under EU scrutiny following reports of aggressive tax planning
The European Commission will examine a scheme set up by Inditex, the parent firm of Zara, that could have helped the clothing retailer avoid at least €585 million in taxes, according to a report published on Thursday (8 December) by the Greens group, in the European Parliament.
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.
Under pressure from national governments, Commission lowers VAT rates for e-books
Booksellers will be able to sell e-books with low VAT rates to match the discounts already applied to paper books under a change to EU tax law announced today (1 December).