Category: International Developments

Allegations of tax avoidance in Dutch Pharma Group Qiagen
/ European Union, Financial Transactions, Hearings and Investigations, Interest free loan, International Developments, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Qiagen, Tax Avoidance Schemes, Tax Havens and Harmful Tax Practices, Transfer Pricing News
According to investigations by SOMO – an independent center for Research on Multinational Corporations – the annual accounts of Pharma Group Qiagen shows that the group has avoided tax on profits by passing internal loans through an elaborate network of letterbox companies in European tax havens including Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta. It is estimated that, since 2010, the group has avoided at least €93 million in taxes and has accumulated tax deduction in an amount of €49 million ... Continue to full case

European Commission vs. Ireland and Apple, September 2020, Appeal of the Judgement of the General Court on the Apple tax State aid case in Ireland
/ Apple, Digital Economy, EU State Aid, EU state aid rules, European Union, Illegal tax benefit, International Developments, Ireland, State aid, Tax Avoidance Schemes, Transfer Pricing News
The European Commission has decided to appeal the decision of the EU General Court in the State Aid case of Apple and Ireland. According to the European Commission Ireland gave illegal tax benefits to Apple worth up to €13 billion, because it allowed Apple to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. In a decision issued july 2020 the General Court held in favor of Apple and Ireland. This decision will now be reviewed by the European Court of Justice. “Statement by Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager on the Commission’s decision to appeal the General Court’s judgment on the Apple tax State aid case in Ireland Brussels, 25 September 2020 “The Commission has decided to appeal before the European Court of Justice the General Court’s judgment of July 2020 on the Apple State aid case in Ireland, which annulled the Commission’s decision of August 2016 finding ... Continue to full case

US response to OECDs Unified Approach
/ Digital Economy, Digital Economy, International Developments, Pillar I, Pillar II, Transfer Pricing News, Unified Approach, United States, US Treasury
Letter from the US treasury to the OECD concerning the proposed Unified Approach on taxation of the Digital Economy, and the reply to the letter from the OECD. treasury-letter-oecd-digital-services-tax Letter-from-OECD-Secretary-General-Angel-Gurria-for-the-attention-of-The-Honorable-Steven-T-Mnuchin-Secretary-of-the-Treasury-United-States ... Continue to full case