Category: Amazon

Tax panel compels companies to testify

HSBC, Google, Facebook are among firms that will now appear after threat from MEPs on access to Parliament. Several multinational companies have now dropped their opposition to appearing before a special European Parliament panel investigating allegations of tax avoidance in Europe. HSBC said Tuesday it would participate in a hearing… – Continue reading

EU Lawmakers Set to Vote on Tax Avoidance in Split Europe

Lawmakers at the European Parliament are set to vote on a controversial series of proposals to harmonize the corporate tax system in Europe in a move that will put them on a collision course with some member states which favor sovereignty over taxation. The EU lawmakers on the TAXE committee… – Continue reading

Is Europe Honest Enough To Deal With Tax-Dodgers?

The EU tax rulings against Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler are but trifles compared to the ones extant against Apple and Amazon. Everyone lies about tax. Holland said it followed international tax standards when everyone knows it’s a corporate tax haven. That’s why ST has its HQ there. Ireland and Luxembourg… – Continue reading

European Commission adopts first two decisions in EU tax probe in push for corporate tax reform

On 21 October, the European Commission (“EC”) adopted its first decisions in its investigation into Member States’ tax rulings. The investigation, which began in June 2013, has also targeted tax rulings given to Apple and Amazon as well as Belgium’s so-called “excess profits regime”. Although the investigation is conducted under… – Continue reading

Facebook, HSBC, Coca-Cola blacklisted by Socialist MEPs

Center-left MEPs turn up the heat on multinationals refusing to exchange views on tax policy. Google, Facebook, HSBC and AB Inbev are among a group of multinationals that have been “banned” from meeting MEPs from the European Parliament’s center-left grouping unless the companies agree to appear before a special committee… – Continue reading

Tax Justice for Social Justice

By Martina Neuwirth and Thomas Kattnig [This blog article published on July 9, 2015 is translated from the German on the Internet, http://blog.arbeit-wirtschaft.at.] June 23 was the international day of public services. Did you know that? Provision of these services – water, hospitals, schools, culture, energy, streets, public transportation and… – Continue reading

After Blow to Europe Tax Havens, Some Promise More Staying Power

Luxembourg and the Netherlands lost a bit of luster as tax havens for some of the world’s biggest companies this week, as the European Union fired its latest salvo aimed at multinational tax dodging. Yet the Netherlands is on pace to maintain its attractiveness as a tax-friendly address for multinationals,… – Continue reading

Apple Stakes Raised as EU Orders Starbucks, Fiat Tax Repayments

Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. got a preview of what the European Union may have in store for them after regulators ordered Starbucks Corp. and a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV unit to repay millions of euros in back taxes. The EU said the coffee company and the Italian carmaker were… – Continue reading

OECD crack down on corporate tax shelters is a risky double edged sword

Companies who have been accused of shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions or those seeking tax shelters need to beware—these practices are coming under fire, and could possibly come to an end. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) just released details of their far-reaching plan that would require companies… – Continue reading

Record View: Amazon morally obliged to pay up their share of tax

WHEN public spending is being slashed in a way that punishes the poor, every firm have a moral obligation to pay their fair share. AMAZON are taking an ever bigger share of the shopping market. Technological advances mean you can order something from their website late at night from your… – Continue reading

Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler’s tax avoidance deals to be ruled illegal

Companies face multimillion-euro repayment bills after EC’s 15-month investigation. Rulings on Amazon and Apple will follow Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler are expected to be billed for tens of millions of euros in additional taxes as the European commission prepares to rule that they had unlawful deals with the Netherlands and… – Continue reading

Korea seeks to adopt ‘Google tax’

South Korea is seeking ways to levy a corporate tax on profits of global technology companies and other multinationals as early as next year in response to growing criticism of their tax avoidance structures. The diverted profits tax is more widely called the “Google tax,” as U.S. tech giants such… – Continue reading

EU tax: Brussels set for multinational crackdown

Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition commissioner, looks set to launch the international community’s most punitive attack on corporate tax avoidance as early as next Wednesday, with rulings that could impose heavy costs on multinationals, reports the Financial Times. Ms Vestager is understood to have postponed her first trip to China… – Continue reading

Karnataka’s e-commerce tax will fall flat in court: Experts

BENGALURU: The Karnataka tax department’s recent proposal to e-commerce firms, considered a face-saver, may not be legally tenable, tax experts said citing High Court and apex court rulings. The Karnataka commercial taxes department, last week, asked e-commerce firms including Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal to deduct 1% of the money payable… – Continue reading

Starbucks, Fiat Decisions Seen in First Wave of EU Tax Cases

Starbucks Corp. and a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV unit are set to be first in the firing line as European Union regulators issue a series of rulings over tax breaks for global companies, including Apple Inc. The EU may issue decisions against Starbucks and Fiat as soon as next week… – Continue reading

Big tech companies continue cutting profits to pay less tax in Spain

In 2014, seven major tech groups in Spain Declared collective profits of € 48.2 million, on Which They paid € 18.3 million in taxes. These online giants Real Their reduced corporate profits-through complex legal structures and accounting techniques That allowed them to shift part of the profits from Spain to… – Continue reading

Ireland, accused of giving tax breaks to multinationals, plans an even lower rate

Ireland, whose corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent is already one of the lowest in the developed world, said it would cut that rate in half for a new tax category — one covering revenue pegged to companies’ patents and other intellectual property. The Irish government, long criticized by other… – Continue reading

Govt amends ‘Netflix’ tax bill for GST on digital goods

Multinationals selling more than $75k into Australia asked to comply. The Australian government has released its revised exposure draft of legislation that would see GST added to all locally-bought digital products and services sold by overseas vendors by July 2017. In May this year former Treasurer Joe Hockey revealed plans… – Continue reading

ATO widens its multinational tax avoidance net to 80 companies

The Australian Tax Office will open negotiations with 80 multinational companies to encourage them to “restructure” in order to pay more tax on profits generated in Australia. The move represents a near tripling of the ATO’s multinational watch list after it embedded staff inside 30 companies to learn more about… – Continue reading

OECD proposals could save countries US$240bn in lost taxes

With the bulk of the OECD’s work on the BEPS project complete, attention will now turn to the implementation of the recommendations by member countries and others. Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan said that he welcomed the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps) report, and that the OECD’s proposals would… – Continue reading

CORRECT: NZ’s biggest companies may face ‘enormous compliance burden’ from OECD tax dragnet

Oct. 6 (BusinessDesk) – Fonterra Cooperative Group is likely to be among some 20 New Zealand companies left dealing with increased red tape to comply with wide-ranging reforms to corporate tax rules proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and expected to be endorsed by the world’s 20… – Continue reading

Ireland tweaks tax regime to divert avoidance criticism

The Irish government is set to make further changes to the country’s corporate tax regime as it seeks to align itself with a global initiative to clamp down on corporate tax avoidance, reports the Financial Times. The change being considered will oblige companies that have global headquarters in Ireland to… – Continue reading

Gaming the System: Underlying Problems of the U.S. Tax Code Must be Addressed

Last year at this time, news about “tax inversions” was grabbing headlines – cases where large U.S. multinationals would buy a foreign company in a tax-friendly jurisdiction, and then relocate its headquarters to reap the tax arbitrage benefits. The Obama administration responded to the rash of high-profile inversions with new… – Continue reading

Global Tech Firms Brace for Tax Rules Which Could Create New Disputes

PARIS–Global tech firms such as Amazon.com Inc. are already preparing for new tax rules that could force them to pay corporate taxes in more countries where they operate, but are also girding for what some say will be more fights with–and between–national tax authorities. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and… – Continue reading

OECD Beps: Biggest corporate tax reform plan since 1920s

On Monday (5 Oct) the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will present its final Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps) project corporate tax reform proposals and on Tuesday the Ecofin council of EU finance ministers, is expected to agree on the exchange of tax rulings between member… – Continue reading

Osborne to net billions as huge global crackdown on multinational tax avoidance begins

The world’s richest nations will launch a huge crackdown on multinational tax avoidance on Monday as part of the biggest shake-up of international tax rules for decades. The move could lead to a multi- billion pound gain for Chancellor George Osborne and higher tax bills for a raft of blue-chip… – Continue reading

Corporate tax regime to face renewed scrutiny

EU member states to reveal information on tax rulings offered to companies Ireland’s corporate tax regime is to come under renewed scrutiny next week as EU finance ministers sign off on a proposal obliging member states to reveal information on tax rulings offered to companies. EU finance ministers meeting in… – Continue reading

US$7.6tn hidden in tax havens – almost half annual US GDP

Gabriel Zucman, one of 3 French economists who in recent times have published extensive research on wealth and equality, in a book, ‘The Hidden Wealth of Nations: The Scourge of Tax Havens,’ published this month, estimates that 8% of the world’s financial wealth — some US$7.6tn — is hidden in… – Continue reading

Shadow chancellor announces radical idea of making big businesses ‘pay their fair share of tax’

Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow chancellor has caused a stir with his idea that big businesses should pay their taxes. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, John McDonnell named and shamed big companies over their tax arrangements. ‘Labour’s plan to balance the books will be aggressive,’ he said. ‘We will… – Continue reading

Eurozone heavyweights resume tax offensive on multinational companies

Finance ministers of euro zone’s major economies renewed on Tuesday their commitment to curb multinational corporations’ tax avoidance and called for more consistent rules to reduce “harmful” tax competition. Multinational companies have long been in the sights of European Union authorities because of the way they can legally reduce their… – Continue reading

Jean-Claude Juncker denies link to Luxembourg tax deals

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has denied involvement in sweetheart deals that allowed hundreds of multinationals to slash their tax bills by locating to Luxembourg, despite being prime minister of the country for almost 20 years, reports the Financial Times. Facing questions from a committee of EU lawmakers set up… – Continue reading

Changing attitudes to tax reputation risk

Changing Attitudes to Tax Reputation Risk In recent years, it seems that any discussion of tax includes mention of the moral obligation taxpayers have to “pay their fair share.” Many believe this theme began to get traction in 2011 when Warren Buffett realized that he was paying proportionately less taxes… – Continue reading

Tax trouble brews for Starbucks, Apple as Europe takes aim at taxes

Multinationals have come under fire yet again over their tax arrangements in some European countries, as the continent moves closer to a pan-European regime to combat tax avoidance. On Friday, European economy and finance ministers and central bankers (known as an ECOFIN meeting) gathered in Luxembourg to discuss what the… – Continue reading

How captive IT offshore centers are driving IT innovation

Companies like Amazon, Tesco and Honeywell are looking to offshore IT subsidiaries to deliver digital transformation. New launches of captive centers offshore continued to increase in the first half of 2015, according to research from outsourcing consultancy Everest Group. Companies in the manufacturing, telecommunications and technology industries, in particular, expanded… – Continue reading

MEPs approve draft report on corporate tax avoidance

This week, MEPs discussed a draft report on tax rulings, with a view to a vote in the next plenary session in Strasbourg. The report proposes a comprehensive overhaul of corporate tax practices as part of the EU’s battle to tackle tax avoidance. Parliament’s special committee on tax rulings (TAXE)… – Continue reading

Tax scandal probe hit by setback as EU refuses to hand over documents to MEPs

The European Commission is refusing to hand over documents to MEPs investigating whether EU member states are using special tax regimes that favour large multinational corporations such as Facebook and Amazon. EU economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici wrote to the European Parliament’s special committee on tax rulings (TAXE) this week claiming… – Continue reading

Businesses seek cross-border tax clarity, but would they really pay more?

Would businesses really be willing to pay more tax if they had more certainty on what is acceptable for cross-border tax planning? According to a recent Grant Thornton International Business Report, three quarters of business leaders would in fact be ready to pony up more taxes in exchange for greater… – Continue reading

Luxembourg’s Euro Note Love Affair Raises Eyebrows Over Taxes

While the European single currency’s existential crisis drags on in Athens, it turns out Luxembourg likes its euros — a lot — as foreigners with accounts in the Grand Duchy try to stay one step ahead of the taxman. Luxembourg’s central bank issued 15 percent more euro notes in 2013,… – Continue reading

CRA targeting mining-sector tax havens

Tax evasion by Canadian companies using offshore havens promises to become election issue Canadian corporations that use tax havens like Switzerland and the Cayman Islands to reduce the taxes they pay at home have good reason to worry. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been stepping up its scrutiny of… – Continue reading

Lux Leaks panel banks on voter rage : New draft report calls on national governments to ‘eliminate mismatches’ in policy.

Anticipating a tough legislative fight, the European Parliament’s special committee investigating tax shelters plans to play its trump card: citizen outrage. The committee’s co-rapporteur Michael Theurer, a German MEP from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, told POLITICO’s German podcast that he expected “objections, difficulties and political resistance”… – Continue reading

EU Urged to Ban Windfalls for Nations Giving Illegal Tax Aid

Governments that dole out tax subsidies to big companies shouldn’t be allowed to reap multibillion-euro windfalls if the European Union orders them to claw back the aid, lawmakers probing tax loopholes said. Instead, the EU should consider changing the law so that money is shared among neighboring nations that played… – Continue reading

Britain’s favourite retailer is… Amazon! Poll reveals how much shoppers love online giant branded a tax avoider

Amazon has topped a poll to find Britain’s favourite retailer – despite being dogged by allegations of tax avoidance and not paying staff well. The online retailer, which is also embroiled in a row over authors’ rights, came first in a huge survey of British consumers carried out by media… – Continue reading

European Parliament mulls lobby ban for big companies

The European Parliament’s special tax committee is seeking to punish multinationals for refusing to send representatives to a hearing in June by revoking lobbyist passes and preventing access to senior European Commission officials. AB InBev, AmazonEU, Barclays Group, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Google, HSBC Bank, Ikea, McDonalds and The Coca-Cola Company… – Continue reading

‘Google tax’ – a step into the unknown

Special Business News article by Rob Rotherham, KPMG tax division senior manager, on the effects of the UK Budget. With effect from April 1, 2015, the UK Government introduced a new tax: the Diverted Profits Tax. (DPT). The DPT is aimed at countering the use of aggressive tax planning techniques… – Continue reading