European Union ‘investigating up to 300 Google-style tax deals’

As many as 300 “Google-style” tax deals are under investigation across the European Union , it has been claimed.

All 28 EU states are said to be involved in scrutinising a number of agreements struck by countries and multi-national corporations as part of a wider inquiry into unfair tax competition among EU countries, investigative news website Exaro claims.

The investigations are understood to be in the early stages and could lead to findings that specific countries were providing state aid illegally through such deals.

The EC is also examining tax laws in the EU member states, with the intention of closing loopholes that are exploited by multi-national corporates.

A spokesman for Margrethe Vestager, EC competition commissioner, said: “The Commission welcomes the fact that tackling tax evasion and tax avoidance is high on the political agenda on international, EU and national levels.

“We need to keep up this momentum.”

Glyn Fullelove, chairman of the international taxes technical sub-committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, added: “It is essential practice now for companies to ensure that their tax affairs comply with EC rules on state aid.”