About: tax rulings
Amazon wins court fight against €250 million EU tax order
Amazon won on Wednesday (12 May) its fight against an EU order to pay about €250 million euros in back taxes to Luxembourg, as Europe's second-highest court dealt a blow to the bloc's efforts to make multinational corporations pay more taxes.
Commission investigates if Netherlands benefited Nike with tax bill
The European Commission decided on Thursday (10 January) to open an in-depth investigation to determine whether the Netherlands had breached EU rules by allowing Nike to cut its tax bill through complex financial schemes.
McDonald’s tax deal with Luxembourg ‘not illegal’, Commission says
The European Commission concluded on Wednesday (19 September) that Luxembourg’s tax deal with McDonald’s was not illegal state aid as it did not give the company an unfair advantage, but instead was due to the “mismatch” of US and Luxembourgish tax laws.
Apple, Ireland strike deal on €13bn tax payment
Ireland's government on Tuesday (24 April) said it was signing a deal with Apple for the US tech giant to pay €13 billion in back taxes as ordered by the European Commission.
‘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.
Commission launches investigation into IKEA’s tax rulings
The European Commission announced on Monday (18 December) that it is investigating Ikea’s tax bills as it suspects that the Swedish furniture maker may have benefited from illegal aid offered by the Netherlands, worth around €1 billion according to some reports.
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).
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.
Ireland cries foul over competition for Brexit moves
Ireland has complained to the European Commission that it is being undercut by rival centres competing to host financial firms looking for a European Union base outside London after Brexit.
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.
Apple CEO: Britain will be ‘just fine’ after Brexit
Britain will be "just fine" after it leaves the European Union, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook said in an interview broadcast on Friday (10 February).
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 discloses full decision on Apple’s tax schemes
The European Commission released yesterday (19 December) its full decision on Apple's tax arrangements in Ireland. The document reveals the details of the tech giant's tax scheme for the first time in Europe.
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.
Apple ruling indicates EU, US must solve tax jungle
The EU and US administrations have to work, with others, to find an equitable, effective and mutually acceptable solution for taxing the corporate profits of multinational companies, writes Philippe de Schoutheete.
Vestager’s poisoned Apple
Kicking the big guy in the shins is always a popular political diversion – particularly when the big guy in question is an American multinational, writes Dick Roche.
Vestager: ‘We have Amazon and McDonald’s in the pipeline’
EXCLUSIVE / Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition Commissioner, has drawn praise and criticism regarding the Ireland-Apple case. In an interview with EURACTIV.fr, she says Ireland’s appeal will actually strengthen the Commission’s case and says more tax rulings are in the pipeline, with Amazon and McDonald's coming next.
Irish cabinet decides to fight EU on Apple tax
Ireland's cabinet agreed today (2 September) to join Apple in appealing against a multi-billion-euro back tax demand that the European Commission has slapped on the iPhone maker, despite misgivings among independents who back the fragile coalition.
Vestager under fire from predecessor Kroes over Apple ruling
Ex-Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes slammed the EU for concluding that Apple owes Ireland €13 billion, calling the decision “fundamentally unfair”. The European Commission replied that Kroes was wrong, and that she was speaking on behalf of Silicon Valley.
Apple ruling divides Irish cabinet
Ireland's fragile minority government meets today (2 September) for crunch talks to resolve a stalemate after the EU ruling on Apple that has divided the country. In the meantime, the European Socialists slammed the critics of the ruling.
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.
Commission’s Apple tax clawback violates Irish sovereignty, claims Dublin
The European Commission today (30 August) hit Apple with a €13 billion clawback of unpaid taxes in Ireland, but Dublin branded the move a violation of its sovereignty and both the country and the US tech giant immediately said they would appeal the decision.
EU says Apple must repay €13 billion over ‘illegal’ Irish tax deal
The European Commission said on Tuesday (30 August) that US tech company Apple must repay €13 billion in back taxes after ruling that a series of Irish tax deals were illegal.