The Danish brewing giant Carlsberg has been found guilty of tax evasion amounting to 317 million kroner (€41 million) in Finland, according to the Copenhagen Post.
On top of a 276 million kroner tax fine, a court in Helsinki fined the brewery 41 million kroner (5.5 million) for failing to pay proper taxes between the years 2006 and 2010 via its subsidiary Sinebrychoff. According to reports, Carlsberg set up a special framework in Finland to avoid paying taxes.
“In the period between 2006 and 2010 we withheld an amount that we believed we paid too much in tax,” Jens Bekke, Carlsberg’s head of communication told regional media outlets.
“In 2010 we paid the tax in arrears, interest for the period and a smaller fine. Since then we have paid tax as normal.”
However, Carslberg are reportedly considering making an appeal.
"Over the next 14 days, we will decide whether we will appeal the case and continue it," Beke told told Ritzau news agency.
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine by Enda Dowling
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