New probe into Amazon for suspected tax evasion in Milan

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 12 - A new probe has been opened against Amazon on suspicion of the online retail giant dodging hundreds of millions of euros in taxes between 2019 and 2023, judicial sources said Thursday, cited by Reuters. The Monza Finance Police, delegated by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, conducted a series of searches at the Italian headquarters of the company led by Jeff Bezos, as well as at the homes of seven managers and the offices of KPMG, who are not under investigation. Confirmation of the operation, reported by Reuters, came from well-qualified sources. The investigation, currently against person or persons unknown, is being coordinated by Prosecutor Elio Ramondini. The charge concerns an alleged "hidden permanent organization," as the multinational allegedly operated and generated income in Italy, the sources said. Amazon denounced what it called aggressive and disproportionate actions by the prosecutor's office, which it said were worrying while they were actively engaged in a transparent dialogue with Italian authorities. "It is surprising and deeply concerning that, while we are actively engaged in a transparent dialogue with the Italian tax authorities to gain clarity on complex technical issues, our company and our employees continue to be subjected to aggressive and entirely disproportionate actions by the Prosecutor's Office," Amazon stated, adding that the company "pays all taxes due in Italy and is one of the country's top 50 taxpayers. "We are among the largest foreign investors in Italy, with over €25 billion invested in the last 15 years and over 19,000 permanent employees." (ANSA). Read article...

By ANSA