European Tax Evasion (Annual)

EU – €1-2 trillion (evasion and avoidance)

Belgium – up to €30 billion

France – €45 billion

Germany – €50 billion+

Greece – €42 billion

Italy – €120 billion+

Portugal – €14 billion

Spain – €240 billion

Sources: Greece  Portugal Spain  Belgium Italy Germany/France EU-wide

Related news

Italian tax police have visited Facebook’s Milan offices to check the books of the social networking site, part of the country’s crackdown on tax evasion that has targeted Google’s Italian operations as well. Seattle Times 7.12.2012

Technology giants, taxpaying dwarfs: Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, eBay and Amazon all see billions in revenue in Spain. But these companies have paid just 25 million in taxes over the past three years El Pais 3.12.2012

Google failed to declare £195m, say Italian police as they launch tax probe Complex arrangements involving Italy, Ireland, Bermuda and the Netherlands under review but company says it respects tax rules. The Guardian 30.11.2012

France’s Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac said he was confident the government would be backed by French courts if its dispute with the Internet giant Google over a reported €1.7 billion in unpaid taxes could not be settled amicably. France24.  21.11.2012

Internet retailer Amazon said it had received a $252 million demand from the French tax authorities for back taxes, interest and penalties in relation to “the allocation of income between foreign jurisdictions”. The claim comes as European countries step up efforts to clamp down on U.S. companies which minimize their tax bills in the continent by channeling profits through low-tax regimes. Reuters 12.11.2012

Ryanair boss faces investigation into alleged tax evasion in Italy. Prosecutor launches investigation after 220 staff hired in Bergamo, Italy, were put on books in Dublin where taxes are lower The Guardian 16.10.2012