Netflix’s European offices searched over suspected tax fraud

Offices of the streaming giant have been searched in France and the Netherlands, as part of an investigation into suspected tax fraud.

The search on Tuesday morning at the offices of Netflix’s French subsidiary was part of a tax fraud investigation, a judicial source confirmed to Euronews Business after the investigation was first published by French newspaper Marianne.

According to earlier reports, the raids took place at Netflix’s Paris and Amsterdam offices.

“I confirm that searches are being conducted today in various locations, including at the headquarters of the NETFLIX companies in France,” the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) told Euronews Business, adding that “they are part of a preliminary investigation opened in November 2022 on charges of money laundering, aggravated tax fraud and undeclared work.”

The searches were being carried out by investigators from the Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Financial and Tax Offences (OCLCIFF), in the presence of members of the PNF. The PNF is tasked with tracking down serious economic and financial crime.

Searches were also conducted simultaneously at the headquarters of the Netflix companies in Amsterdam by Dutch magistrates and investigators, accompanied by French magistrates and investigators.

“A criminal cooperation action between the French and Dutch authorities has been coordinated by the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust),” the judicial source said.

Eurojust told Euronews that it was supporting the investigations into possible tax fraud by organising the judicial cooperation between the Dutch and French authorities, including “the execution of European Investigation Orders for the searches done today”.

Netflix has not replied immediately to Euronews Business’ request for comment.

Last August, French newspaper La Lettre reported that the streaming platform’s French subsidiary, Netflix Services France SAS, has been the subject of a tax audit since 2022, investigating the company’s practices between 2019-2021.

According to that report, the company, until 2021, paid taxes on its French turnover in the Netherlands, to minimise the cost.