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

163 points by amarcheschi

by mesmertech

2 subcomments

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

by flerchin

0 subcomment

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

by mcs5280

3 subcomments

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

by myrmidon

1 subcomments

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.

by Yizahi

2 subcomments

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 ;) .