Milan (Reuters) – Italian justice is investigating the Amazon electronic commerce giant and three of its leaders for alleged tax fraud worth 1.2 billion euros, two sources said on Friday, confirming, confirming Information from the Corriere della will be.
The investigation was revealed last year, but the details only emerged on Friday.
Amazon indicated in a declaration sent by email to Reuters that he would not comment on the current surveys.
“Amazon is committed to respecting all applicable tax laws,” said the group, saying that they are one of the 50 largest contributors in Italy, with more than $ 1.4 billion in taxes in 2023.
Milan prosecutors and the tax police have placed the three managers and the Amazon European unit based in Luxembourg under a survey for tax fraud in online sales in Italy during the period 2019-2021, the sources said on Friday .
The invoice for Amazon could amount to 3 billion euros, taking into account penalties and interest, according to sources.
Amazon’s algorithm allows it to sell products from extra-community sellers in Italy, mainly Chinese, without identifying them, facilitating the escape of the Italian added value (VAT).
Under Italian legislation, an intermediary offering goods for sale in Italy is co-responsible for the non-payment of VAT by extra-community sellers using its electronic commerce platform.
The investigation, opened in 2021, results from routine checks carried out by the tax police in an area north of Milan, said the two sources under the seal of anonymity.
(Emilio Parodi report, Elena Smirnova, edited by Sophie Louet)
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