Launch of the Anti-Tax Avoidance Package: Tackling Tax Avoidance

The Commission has today opened up a new chapter in its campaign for fair, efficient and growth-friendly taxation in the EU with new proposals to tackle corporate tax avoidance, following on from the global standards agreed by the OECD last autumn. The Anti-Tax Avoidance Package calls on Member States to take a stronger and more coordinated stance against companies that seek to avoid paying their fair share of tax and to implement international standards against base erosion and profit shifting.Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue said: “Today we are taking another step to strengthen confidence in the entire tax system, making it fairer and more efficient. People have to trust that the tax rules apply equally to all individuals and businesses. Companies must pay their fair share of taxes, where their actual economic activity is taking place. Europe can be a global leader in tackling tax avoidance.” Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: “Billions of tax euros are lost every year to tax avoidance – money that could be used for public services like schools and hospitals or to boost jobs and growth. Europeans and businesses that play fair end up paying higher taxes as a result. This is unacceptable and we are acting to tackle it. Today we are taking a major step towards creating a level-playing field for all our businesses, for fair and effective taxation for all Europeans.” Commissioner Moscovici presented the package at a press conference today at 11:15 which can be watched on EbS. A press release, a memo and a factsheet are available online.