Netflix Offices In Paris, Amsterdam Raided In Tax Fraud Investigation By French, Dutch Authorities

The Paris and Amsterdam offices of streaming giant Netflix has been raided by French and Dutch authorities this week as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged tax fraud, according to French judicial sources. 

Officials from both countries has been collaborating on the case since it was launched in November 2022.

The French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), a special unit dedicated to investigating high-profile white-collar crime, is leading the probe. 

According to the PNF, the investigation centers on suspicions of “covering up serious tax fraud and off-the-books work.” The inquiry includes an examination of Netflix’s tax filings for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

French authorities report that their Dutch counterparts conducted simultaneous searches in the Netherlands, as part of a months-long collaborative effort between the two countries. 

The Amsterdam office serves as Netflix’s headquarters for its operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Netflix has yet to make a specific statement regarding the raids but emphasised in a general comment that it “complies with tax laws wherever it operates.”

The investigation follows media reports from French outlet La Lettre, which suggested that until 2021, Netflix minimised its tax payments in France by declaring revenue generated there to its Dutch subsidiary. 

According to La Lettre, Netflix’s declared turnover in France surged from €47.1 million ($51.3 million; £39.6 million) in 2020 to €1.2 billion in 2021 after the company reportedly ceased this practice. 

Investigators are now working to determine whether Netflix continued efforts to minimise profits in France following this shift.

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