European Commission investigation into tax tricks in all Member States – Spiegel Online

European Commission investigation into tax tricks in all Member States – Spiegel Online

Brussels – The European Commission wants to consider possible illegal tax advantages for companies in all 28 Member States. The member countries were asked to provide information on their tax decisions, the authorities in Brussels said.

This is based on the suspicion that states allow multinational companies to cut with aggressive tax planning their burden. The European Commission investigates whether such practices with European rules are for state aid rules. Responsible therefore EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager

Vestager explained what was needed was a complete overview of the practice of mandatory control decisions in the EU. This should be determined whether competition is distorted by selective tax breaks in the internal market. A number of states seem multinational companies to grant tax benefits, the European Commission was.

If necessary, the national offices would hand over a list of all the companies that have received a tax ruling from 2010 to 2013. It’ll go in particular on whether binding decisions were issued.

During the investigation it comes to the so-called tax preliminary decisions (“tax rulings”). Those agreements with the authorities allow companies to make their transactions between different parts of the Group tax as advantageously as possible.

With the step, the Commission under President Jean-Claude Juncker goes on the offensive. The former Luxembourg Prime Minister is due to massive tax arrangements of companies in his home country under pressure.

Last week, new allegations of dubious tax practices in Luxembourg were heard. Documents charge for information of the search composite ICIJ companies such as Disney and Skype

In June the European Commission had formal investigations against Ireland initiated, Luxembourg and the Netherlands: The accusation was that the company Apple, Starbucks and Fiat Finance and Trade benefit from unlawful benefit by these countries. The UK, Malta, Belgium and Cyprus are already targeted by EU investigators. From other countries, it requires information to shell companies.