The Belgian tax department has launched a thorough investigation of Swedish furniture chain Ikea’s Belgian finances. Minister of Finance Johan Van Overtveldt divulged that information the Parliamentary Committee.
“Aggressive fiscal strategy”
Apparently, Ikea has tried to lower its profits by moving debts and profits around different countries, depending on each country’s fiscal policies. According to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Ikea tried to lower its taxes significantly this way.
A European Greens’ report in February triggered the investigation, after it revealed that Ikea applies an “aggressive fiscal strategy”, which cost Belgium some 7.5 million euro in taxes in 2014. Ikea said the tax department has not contacted it about this investigation yet and points to the fact that it has always paid taxes in Belgium.
