Italian prosecutors seek trial for Amazon, 4 execs in alleged $1.4B tax evasion

mesmertech an hour ago | parent | next [-]

As a solo indiehacker in Europe, its crazy that I have to be so worried about VAT related things and big tech just goes around the whole thing and doesn't even expect to be charged just fined

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amarcheschi an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Well, for once execs are being investigated as well

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cbg0 42 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

You only have to be worried if you're doing something illegal, like the guys in the article. Misfiling something won't land you in jail, just some fines at the most. Intent matters quite a bit.

	▲	bluefirebrand 34 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		When you're not wealthy, "some fines at most" can be a really nasty setback

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flerchin 32 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Honest sellers pay VAT, and scofflaws get sales. Yeah they gotta throw down the gauntlet here or else VAT is only for suckers.

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Yizahi 9 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Billionaire doesn't pay tax: let's settle with you paying half of all stolen money as a fine and we'll drop the case.

A regular citizen doesn't pay tax: lets jail or deport you, bar the entry for a decade, take away your home, car and anything you own in general and make you unable to find job for the rest of your life. Also your tax is double that of the billionaire, glhf ;) .

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mcs5280 an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Let me guess. Jeff/Andy make a donation to a certain someone. Tariffs on Italy are threatened. Case is dropped.

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robtherobber an hour ago | parent | next [-]

I think that normally that may be the approach (and I'm not singling out Italy for this, it probably applies to most countries).

On this occasion, however:

> In all previous cases involving other international groups, once a settlement was reached and payment made, prosecutors closed related criminal investigations, either through plea deals or by dropping the cases.

> This time, however, Milan prosecutors did not share the tax authority's approach and decided to press ahead with their probe, leading to a request that the suspects be sent to trial.

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mr_00ff00 40 minutes ago | parent [-]

Damn, is anyone an expert that can speak to the criminal law involved here?

It’s crazy that executives can jump around the law and not face any criminal charges, then the company picks up the bill (although I’m not ignorant thinking this isn’t usual)

I’m just curious to learn more about how often this is the case and you usually what happens with people afterward

	▲	nobodyandproud 24 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		While I share your sentiment, perhaps its better that it remain murky to give prosecutors a chance to succeed.

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zoobab an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

"Tariffs on Italy are threatened. Case is dropped."

Justice is independent in most EU countries.

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cbg0 42 minutes ago | parent [-]

There's quite a few asterisks that need to be appended to "independent".

	▲	gpderetta 23 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		It is quite independent in Italy actually. The government is pushing for a constitutional amendment to help "fix" this feature. There is going to be a referendum on the change very soon.

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myrmidon an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

It would be really nice to have a few relevant numbers in the article for context.

If this is just from foreign sellers operating on amazon.it, then 1.4B of evaded taxes sounds like a lot to me, because the total revenue should be well under 50B/y, so this would be a significant fraction of total sales tax (and I'd expect most sellers to not be foreign and thus unaffected).

Would be quite nice to see rich people held accountable for once, curious how this will go.

	▲	philipwhiuk an hour ago \| parent [-]
		> and I'd expect most sellers to not be foreign and thus unaffected Most sellers probably are foreign.