Amazon share price down, changes tax policy in Europe as investigations continue

Amazon.com Inc has begun booking revenues in individual European countries for tax purposes, instead of channeling them through low-tax Luxembourg, the Wall Street Journal reported, following extensive criticism and intense scrutiny by EU authorities.

The change came into force on May 1st, a company spokesman said, cited by the Wall Street Journal. A May 22nd report showed that the US company has set up a London branch of its main Luxembourg retail company that will be booking sales from UK customers as of May 1st. Similar local branches will be booking revenue in Germany, Italy and Spain.

Amazon, among other multinational companies, has fallen under greater scrutiny because its taxable profits in large European markets have been next to nothing when compared to sales. In 2013, Amazon paid £4 million of taxes in the UK on £449 million of revenue, representing services provided to other group companies, while 2014 revenue, which was funneled through Luxembourg, amounted to $8.3 billion.

The EU has opened several probes into tax deals, which could provide an illegal advantage over competitors, between multinational companies such as Amazon, Apple and Starbucks, and individual EU countries.

Luxembourg has faced international criticism after leaked documents in November showed its role in abetting companies funnel profits through the country, avoiding higher tax rates in states where they conducted more business.

EU antitrust regulators opened an investigation into Amazons tax savings structure in October, focusing on whether Luxembourg violated EU state aid rules by allowing Amazon to operate nearly tax-free in Europe. Amazon is also subject in an antitrust inquiry into e-commerce and an investigation into online platforms, and is in the midst of a $250-million tax dispute with the French tax authorities and a $1.5-billion dispute with US authorities.

France is also investigating other US companies for diverted taxes, including Google Inc, which allegedly channeled revenue through Ireland, instead of booking in France. All of the companies under scrutiny have said they didnt receive special treatment and have adhered to the law.

However, the e-commerce giant warned against expectations of big tax payments, having recorded an overseas loss of $403 million last year and emphasizing that corporate tax was based on profits, not sales.

“E-commerce is a low-margin business and highly competitive, and Amazon continues to invest heavily around the world, which means our profits are low,” the company said.

Amazon.com Inc settled 0.93% lower on Friday on the NASDAQ at $427.63 per share, marking a one-year jump of 36.96%. The company is valued at $199.14 billion. According to CNN Money, the 34 analysts offering 12-month price forecasts for Amazon have a median target of $470.00, with a high estimate of $600.00 and a low estimate of $312.00. The median estimate represents a +9.91% increase from the last price of $427.63.