Shell, Philips Execs Say Dutch Tax Break Not Politically Viable

Senior executives from Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Koninklijke Philips NV have admitted the tax regimes that allowed them to pay no, or very little, tax are no longer publicly palatable—but they want to work with lawmakers to improve investment appeal.

“If people in this country are unwilling to accept that the outcome of the laws that you have made is that companies like mine don’t pay taxes, then I think you have an obligation” to think about what should be done instead, Alan McLean, executive vice president for taxation at Shell