Tax fraud investigators have raided the offices of the United States (US) streaming giant Netflix in France and the Netherlands respectively, as part of a preliminary inquiry into tax fraud and money laundering.
The investigation which was carried out by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), a specialized unit in financial crime and corruption, raided Netflix’s offices in central Paris, France in the early hours of Tuesday, November 5.
Dutch authorities were also conducting searches at Netflix’s European headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands, at the same time.
Netflix representatives in France and the Netherlands did not respond phone calls or email requests for comment.
The Dutch financial crime prosecutor’s office declined to comment and directed inquiries to the PNF.
“Co-operation between the French and Dutch authorities has been underway for many months as part of these proceedings,” an anonymous French judicial source said.
A preliminary investigation in France does not indicate criminal charges and does not automatically result in a trial.
The specific details that prompted the investigation were not immediately known.
Major tech companies providing online services and subscriptions across borders often face challenges with European tax authorities.
Netflix had earlier reached a settlement with Italy over a tax dispute by agreeing to pay €55.8 million in the year 2022.
Comments