Luxembourg
A second Luxembourg trial that has focused Europe’s attention on secret tax deals and the protection of whistleblowers has come to close.
Luxembourg’s second trial against two whistleblowers and a journalist will extend into the New Year as the Lux Leaks legal stoush continues.
As a second trial against a reporter and two whistleblowers nears, a new report claims the number of “sweetheart” tax deals has grown.
Two whistleblowers have been handed suspended prison sentences and fined, but have already announced their plans to appeal.
Prosecutors requested jail and fines for whistleblowers and a journalist who helped reveal industrial-scale tax avoidance schemes.
Multinational companies operating in Europe will be required to report profits, taxes and activities on a country-by-country basis.
Belgium has been ordered to recover $765 million in unpaid taxes from 35 multinational companies in the latest ruling against corporate tax breaks.
IKEA, Disney, Google and more faced questions from a committee setup to investigate tax rulings after ICIJ’s Luxembourg Leaks investigation.
Protesters took to the streets to commemorate the launch of ICIJ’s investigation into corporations slashing tax bills by billions.