DutchNews.nl - 80 of the world's biggest 100 firms use Dutch trust offices: FD

By last year, there were 13,000 of these companies registered in the Netherlands, handling financial transactions to the value of over €10,000bn. This is 17 times Dutch gross domestic product, the paper says.

The rise in foreign companies setting up special vehicles in the Netherlands is due to a combination of generous tax breaks on participations and advance tax treaties.

The paper says it is not clear how much tax companies have avoided by locating themselves on paper in the Netherlands, nor how much the Dutch state earns from the practice.

In 2009, the US removed the Netherlands from a list of official tax havens following an official protest.
Central bank figures from 2007 say the Netherlands earns €1.5bn from its status as a tax haven. Of this, €1bn was raised in taxes and €500m is in the form of 'added value' to the economy.

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Readers' comments

Shame they can't give us the little people a tax break.No doubt our taxes help the rich get richer while our small business go under.

By Jason | September 12, 2011 8:59 AM

1.5 billion raised over 10.000! But the worst is the kind of compagnies like IKEA that are registred here in the NL as non profit organization in order to not pay a single dime of tax ... look on wikipedia for IKEA, it's explained how the NL law allows them to not pay taxes over more than 30 Billions!

By bird | September 12, 2011 12:52 PM

Very true. Just another example of ingenious Dutch economics wizardry. No wonder finance sector still has the highest paying jobs here.

By Peter | September 12, 2011 4:30 PM

Well, they mention that the Dutch state earns from these practices.
Why is this a bad thing?
Other companies registering in the Netherlands still brings in extra money for the government. That's great!
It's not costing the Dutch any movie, it's generating!

By kaileron | September 12, 2011 6:58 PM

So the Dutch Government sets up a system so Companies can 'cheat' on their taxes, which is OK because it benefits The NL? How would the Dutch government like it if their citizens act in a similar manner? It borders on being unethical. (IMHO)

By DH | September 13, 2011 8:38 AM

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