EU regulators query Luxembourg on McDonald’s tax avoidance claims – source

(Reuters) – European Union antitrust regulators have asked Luxembourg for more information on its tax rulings on McDonald’s after labour unions and a charity accused the U.S. fast food chain of avoiding taxes, a person involved in the issue said on Tuesday.

Umbrella organisations for unions representing millions of workers in the United States and Europe and British-based charity War on Want last month urged the European Commission to investigate what they said involved about 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) in tax between 2009 and 2013.

“The Commission has sent a letter to Luxembourg asking them to clarify the facts,” said the source, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the Luxembourg government said he was not aware of the letter. A Commission spokesman declined comment on whether a letter was sent to Luxembourg about McDonald’s.