In a significant crackdown on potential financial misconduct, investigators conducted searches at Netflix's offices in France and the Netherlands on Tuesday. This action is part of an ongoing probe into alleged tax fraud and money laundering, according to a French judicial source.
The investigation, spearheaded by France's Parquet National Financier (PNF) since November 2022, saw coordinated raids at Netflix's Paris office and its European headquarters in Amsterdam. The PNF, renowned for handling high-profile international corporate cases, has been collaborating closely with Dutch authorities over several months, the judicial source revealed.
A Netflix spokesperson addressed the situation by confirming the company's full cooperation with French authorities. The spokesperson emphasized that Netflix adheres to tax laws in every country it operates in and highlighted the company’s role as a significant contributor to France’s local economy.
Corporate records indicate a remarkable surge in Netflix's French operations, with revenue climbing to approximately €1.2 billion in 2021 from just €47 million the previous year. Despite this growth, Netflix has yet to respond to questions regarding the possibility of revenue being reported through its Amsterdam headquarters in earlier years.
The PNF has not released further details regarding the investigation's scope. It’s important to note that a preliminary inquiry in France does not necessarily lead to criminal charges and may or may not culminate in a trial.
(With input from Reuters)
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Netflix offices in France and Netherlands raided in tax fraud probe
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