Pursuits
Facebook, Google Quizzed by EU Lawmakers on Dutch Sandwich Deals
- U.S. companies appear before panel to discuss tax arrangements
- Lawmakers question use of corporate tax-cutting techniques
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Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. were among U.S. companies facing questions Monday from European Union lawmakers about their tax-reducing techniques, a month after regional antitrust regulators raised the stakes by ordering Starbucks Corp. and a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV unit to repay millions of euros in back taxes.
The queries about the “Dutch Sandwich” and the “Double Irish” -- tax arrangements that allow companies to declare income in lower-tax areas -- came as the European Commission weighs its next decisions on fiscal pacts Amazon.com Inc. arranged with Luxembourg and Apple Inc. with Ireland. Eleven companies, including Amazon, faced questioning from the parliament’s special tax committee in Brussels.