Fernand Huts hangs tax claim of millions above the head, harbor magnate reacts angry: « This leak creates atmosphere of intimidation » (Antwerp)

According to the research of Time The special Tax Inspectorate (BBI) has a construction that has shifted to hundreds of millions of euros in dividends from Belgium – untaxed – to his trust (a combination of companies, ed.) In the Jersey tax haven. « For the Antwerp NV Cotton Nation alone, the tax claim in the case increases to more than 66 million euros, » writes the business newspaper.

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Huts immediately pulls strong in an open letter addressed to Minister of Finance Jan Jambon (N-VA). “Such practices (Leaking a confidential tax file, ed.) Create an atmosphere of intimidation, « it sounds. Huts speaks of a » serious precedent that destroys legal certainty and undermines deontology « .

« I am likely to knock on the door seriously with Our Minister in connection with the abuse of the tax administration, » writes the Havenbaas. According to Huts, other entrepreneurs would also have problems with « the intimidating approach » of the tax administration. At the Jambon cabinet, people do not want to comment on individual the files.

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Whether the leak is actually with the tax authorities is not clear and Huts has no evidence for that. According to him, the leak can only occur there. If the leak is elsewhere, the accusations in themselves are more a lightning rod. However, journalists almost always have the right to keep their source secret.