EU widens tax probe into multinationals

Reuters :
The European Commission is widening its probe into how multinationals use countries such as Luxembourg to cut their tax bill, an official with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.
Last month, the Commission warned Ireland, another EU country that offers companies offshore tax status, that it could investigate more companies beyond Apple Inc as part of its probe into European tax practices.
“The Commission continues to gather information on the tax practices of member states … and this might lead to new formal investigations,” said the official, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
“It would be premature to speculate on whether … formal investigations could be opened about any specific company.”
Luxembourg is used by many multinationals including online retailer Amazon, building equipment maker Caterpillar and UK mobile telecoms group Vodafone.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was asked by journalists on Friday whether the country had been requested to provide information about Amazon, but declined to comment.
“We cooperate closely with the Commission and talk directly to the Commission representatives … and we are absolutely confident that rules we apply are in line with European rules,” he said.
Pushed by France and Germany, Brussels is keen to clamp down on what it sees as unfair tax competition across the bloc.