Investigators searched the places of work of US streaming big Netflix in France and the Netherlands as a part of a preliminary investigation into tax fraud laundering, a French judicial supply mentioned on Tuesday.
French paper Marianne, which first reported the searches, mentioned investigators specializing in monetary crime and corruption raided the corporate’s places of work in central Paris on Tuesday morning.
The French investigation, carried out by the PNF, a particular monetary crime prosecution unit infamous for pursuing high-stakes white-collar probes that always contain giant worldwide firms, was opened in November 2022.
Dutch authorities had been concurrently looking out the corporate’s European headquarters in Amsterdam, the French judicial supply mentioned.
Representatives for Netflix in France didn’t instantly reply to Reuters telephone calls and e-mailed requests for remark. Representatives within the Netherlands couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
The workplace of the Dutch prosecutor for monetary crime declined to remark and referred inquiries to the PNF.
“Cooperation between the French and Dutch authorities has been underway for a lot of months as a part of these proceedings,” the French supply mentioned.
A preliminary investigation in France doesn’t indicate legal prices and doesn’t essentially result in a trial.
The details which led to the investigation weren’t instantly clear.
Massive tech firms providing their on-line providers and subscriptions throughout borders usually run into difficulties with European tax authorities.
In 2022, Netflix had agreed to settle a tax dispute with Italy by paying 55.8 million euros ($60.78 million).
Netflix mentioned on its web site it opened its Paris bureau, situated simply across the nook from the Opera Garnier, in 2020 when it employed round 40 employees.
The corporate produces most of its authentic movies and collection, together with the worldwide blockbuster Emily in Paris by working with third-party contractors.
