Antitrust regulators for the European Union are set to publish a report on Friday highlighting Amazon’s efforts to minimise the tax it pays.
The detailed study will focus on allegations that Luxembourg was in breach of European state aid rules in a deal with the online retail giant, as reported by Reuters.
The deal in particular has allowed Amazon to operate nearly tax-free across the continent, much to the chagrin of pretty much everyone.
The Commission is also looking into other deals, specifically regarding arrangements between Apple and Ireland, as well as Starbucks and the Netherlands.
Luxembourg is widely regarded as a tax haven thanks to its very lax taxation, meaning it’s a hot-bed for companies looking to short their local taxman.
Related: Amazon reveals 5bn items sold in 2015, breaks sales record
Last November, the country faced criticism over leaked documents that revealed how it was helping companies re-route profits for tax-reduction purposes.
This saw questions raised against European Commission President and former prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker.
Juncker maintains that the country’s taxation arrangements are all above board, but says their needs to be more transparency in regards to tax information across the continent.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
