Dutch MPs shocked by tax office rulings, warnings to minister

MPs, who had been clamouring in vain for details of tax deals made with multinational companies for several years, were shocked when revelations about these rulings were made public earlier this week, Trouw reported on Thursday.

The memorandum by senior officials, detailed how the Dutch tax office adjusted rulings to suit the needs of the multinationals. It also shows that officials warned the government that many of the Dutch rulings were coming under the scrutiny of the EU and the OECD.

A majority of MPs have asked junior finance minister Eric Wiebes for clarity about the rulings, Trouw said.

Socialist party SP’s Renske Leijten has called for a debate, claiming the Netherlands rolls out the red carpet for companies wanting to avoid tax. The Labour party PvdA said the international reputation of the Netherlands is at stake.

But the Financieele Dagblad feels the tax office has opened a can of worms as details of its tax rulings with multinational companies emerge.

The tax office’s rulings with multinationals are certain to increase tensions abroad when they are disclosed because other countries may have lost tax revenues because of the Dutch ‘deals’, the FD said.

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