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Why does Facebook have an empty office in Amsterdam?Friday 17 February 2012 Social networking site Facebook has a Dutch limited company based on Amsterdam's Herengracht, De Pers reports on Friday. But the office appears to be empty, giving rise to suggestions the company has set up a letterbox company to avoid taxes, the paper says. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Facebook Netherlands BV is registered at Herengracht 282, a complex of temporary offices owned by the Regus group. But Facebook does not appear on the list of companies at reception, nor does it have a phone number, the paper says. Initially, the Dutch registration said Facebook Netherlands would focus on selling advertising space, but that has now expanded into a 'financial holding company'. This would indicate the Dutch operation is part of Facebook's fiscal strategy, the paper says. No workers Some 20,000 letterbox companies are currently registered in the Netherlands. Google also has a 'zero employee' base here, De Pers says. Facebook Netherlands is owned by Facebook Global Holdings from Delaware. According to charity ActionAid last year, the Netherlands is second only to the US state of Delaware in terms of being a tax haven for large London-listed multinationals. The Netherlands is popular because, for example, it does not levy tax on royalties earned outside the country, making it a popular base for international music groups like the Rolling Stones and U2. The Netherlands is also used as an intermediary between the company and 'real tax havens' because of its no-questions asked policy, ActionAid said.
© DutchNews.nl
Similarly IKEA has a single small office next to the railway station in Leiden which is the worldwide HQ for the parent group. If I remember correctly, IKEA is a limited company owned by a stichting, owned in turn by a holding company, owned by another stichting. Swedish? I think not! A few years ago IKEA won some award for being the best tax avoiding company in the world. No co-incidence that their HQ is in NL. By Simplastic | February 17, 2012 11:12 AM "Google also has a 'zero employee' base here, De Pers says" - I'm really surprising to see unchecked facts: By mt | February 17, 2012 12:16 PM And this is NEWS. Everyone already knows how wealthy corporations use Netherlands and other countries for tax havens. By realnews | February 17, 2012 1:20 PM As if anyone didn't already know - 'Why does Facebook have an empty office in Amsterdam?' Because they are corrupt and greedy like every other corporation that uses countries abroad as 'tax havens'. Seems to be the new trend in finding profitable ways not to pay taxes owed in the country they reside in. Who uses Facebook anyway? Pedophiles, rapists, children who shouldn't be on there. Educated people realize the FBI in the US uses FaceBook to investigate persons of interest. By Seshat | February 17, 2012 1:35 PM A couple of Reasons -> By :D | February 17, 2012 5:45 PM I think Hyves is doing pretty crap, considering that every Dutch person I know is now on Facebook and my monthly Hyves update shows no activity from anybody since last August... By CW | February 17, 2012 7:13 PM @D The next 'Big' earthquake in California might make Facebook move back to their Amsterdam office. Geologists say the Big One is coming. ;) And here we all thought the quality of life and entertainment was so great in the NL. The grass always seems greener on the other side but most times its not. Don't fool yourself. By Victor | February 17, 2012 7:27 PM @D Doesn't look like too many people are moving away from Amsterdam despite higher rents. The city rocks. By M | February 17, 2012 7:31 PM I am a happy employee of Google Netherlands BV & we have VERY many nice colleagues, a multi cultural happy family across 3 floors in the Zuidas near the VU #poor_research By Speed 1755 | February 17, 2012 8:19 PM Facebook is evil. I'm greatly looking forward to the day when it is a thing of the past. Has '1984' stopped being required reading or something? Why are teenagers so into that crap? By Stupid | February 18, 2012 10:43 AM Google does have a fairly big office in the Netherlands. Probably between 100-200 people By Bob | February 18, 2012 10:46 AM |
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Facebook also has an office at Herengracht 124-128. ( Spaces). I have not seen an employee there yet. The slogan " Dont be evil" was originally coined by the founders of Google, not Facebook.
By Anne Frank of Green Gables | February 17, 2012 11:00 AM