Uber files: Tax authorities in the arms of the American taxi giant

Tax officials did their best to please Uber. It is possible that criminal offenses have been committed, both devotion if Financial Times. The two newspapers gained access to a mountain of leaked documents from the company through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the Guardian.

Transfer of confidential information

For example, it took the tax authorities a long time to send the company information requested by other member states of the Netherlands so that they could crack down in their own country against the billion-dollar US company. A tax official also passed on confidential information to Uber from conversations the tax authorities had with these other member states.

And the tech giant’s help didn’t stop there. For example, the French lobbied for a moderate corporate tax system. With this, the tax authorities “unlawfully undermine cooperation with other tax authorities,” according to tax law professor Jan van der Strick. in newspaper. A problematic picture.

other countries problem

The Head of Tax Affairs at Uber’s European headquarters is happy to help. If Sweden and the UK wanted data on Uber drivers from the Dutch tax authorities, those requests would come at the bottom of the pile, the tax specialist emailed in July 2015.

Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs are also assisting. An interview report showed that the director of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency is also involved in delaying the provision of data requested by other countries.

important battle

And if the French tax authorities want the company to pay sales tax and profit tax in the country because of the branch office, this will be stopped with the help of the Dutch tax authorities. An Uber employee emailed: “This is an important battle the Dutch have to fight for us.” If that doesn’t work, other countries will likely follow France’s lead.