Shell Tax Dodging

Shell Tax Secrecy: Same Playbook, Different Century — And Please Don’t Mention the 23%

Oct 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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From Swiss trademarks and Bahamas trading profits to Dutch tax secrecy, Shell’s financial history has acquired an impressive recurring theme: when the numbers become interesting, the explanation becomes complicated. Very complicated.

SATIRE — based on documented events, published investigations and official regulatory records.

After three Shell tax articles in a single morning, readers might reasonably wonder whether we are in danger of becoming repetitive.

Not at all.

Shell has thoughtfully provided several decades of material.

Today we learned that the Dutch Ministry of Finance cannot discuss Shell’s leaked transfer-pricing arrangements because they remain protected by fiscal confidentiality — despite the relevant documents having been leaked, published, analysed by researchers, debated by tax academics, defended by Shell and placed before Parliament. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Founder Hails Dutch Ministry’s Tax Secrecy as “An Art Form”

Oct 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Sir Henri Deterding comments

From beyond the grave, the founder of Royal Dutch Shell offers his views on the latest affair.

Well, well. Thirty-seven men in the Bahamas and six billion dollars. In my day it took ten thousand men, three continents and a war or two to make that sort of money. I’d have given my right arm for staff like that. Instead I had geologists.

As for the Ministry, I must say I am impressed. When I ran the company, we kept our secrets the old-fashioned way: we didn’t write them down. Now everything is written down, photocopied, leaked, translated, published by people with clipboards, and still the government manages to keep it secret. That isn’t confidentiality. That’s an art form. I’ve been dead since 1939 and even I’m allowed to read the documents. A Member of Parliament isn’t allowed to hear about them. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Dutch Ministry of Finance says leaked Shell tax documents remain confidential: Cannot Confirm What Everyone Has Already Read

Oct 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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THE HAGUE — The Dutch Ministry of Finance this week reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal secrecy by declining to discuss documents that have been published online, analysed by researchers, reported by journalists, criticised by a law professor, defended by Shell, and summarised in parliamentary questions anyone can download.

Headline options

  1. Dutch Government Confirms It Cannot Confirm What Everyone Has Already Read
  2. Shell Tax Files: The Only People in the Netherlands Not Allowed to Discuss Them Are the Ones Who Checked Them
  3. Ministry of Finance Unveils New Doctrine: “Secret Means Secret, Even When It’s on the Internet”
  4. 37 Employees, $6.2 Billion, Zero Comment: The Hague Invokes Tax Secrecy Over Leak Everyone Has Read
  5. Parliament Told to Read SOMO Report “Like Everyone Else”
  6. Dutch Tax Authority Neither Confirms Nor Denies Having Seen Shell (Or the Netherlands)
  7. Breaking: Government Sees No Evidence of Problem It Is Legally Unable to Look Into Publicly

Dutch Government Confirms It Cannot Confirm What Everyone Has Already Read

Ministry of Finance says leaked Shell documents remain confidential “in the special legal sense that does not involve anyone not knowing them”

THE HAGUE — The Dutch Ministry of Finance this week reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal secrecy by declining to discuss documents that have been published online, analysed by researchers, reported by journalists, criticised by a law professor, defended by Shell, and summarised in parliamentary questions anyone can download. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Dutch Government Refuses to Reveal What It Knows About Shell Tax Leaks — Citing Tax Secrecy

Oct 9th, 2026
by John Donovan.
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Parliament asked whether Shell’s leaked transfer-pricing arrangements were known to the Dutch tax authority and whether they complied with the law. The government’s answer, in substance: it cannot say.

“Shell rejects allegations of improper tax avoidance or illegality.”

A fresh Dutch parliamentary response has added an important new layer to the controversy surrounding the Shell Files — the cache of leaked Shell transfer-pricing documents published this summer by SOMO and Follow the Money.

On 5 October 2026, Dutch State Secretary for Finance E. Eerenberg answered a detailed series of parliamentary questions about Shell’s transfer pricing.

The questions went directly to the heart of the affair.

Did the Dutch tax authorities know what Shell was doing?

Were the arrangements arm’s length? read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Concerns over Kulluk tax bill factored into Shell’s winter Gulf of Alaska crossing

May 27th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Suzanna Caldwell: May 25, 2013

Millions of dollars in potential taxes were a primary reason Royal Dutch Shell decided to move the Arctic-ready conical drilling unit Kulluk from Dutch Harbor before the end of the year, according to the company’s Alaska operations manager.

The taxes were part of a hierarchy of issues the Shell Alaska venture considered before moving the Kulluk — the centerpiece of Shell’s $4-billion-plus Arctic drilling program — Sean Churchfield, Shell’s Alaska operations manager, told a US Coast Guard marine casualty investigation Saturday. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell challenges $1 billion tax demand in Bombay HC

Apr 26th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Mumbai: Global oil major Royal Dutch Shell Thursday said it has moved the Bombay High Court here, challenging the USD 1 billion demand made by the tax authorities on a four-year-old equity infusion.

“Shell confirms that it has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the draft tax order,” the Anglo- Dutch oil major said in a statement. The company “will continue to evaluate all options for redress available to resolve this tax dispute”, it said. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell Denies Tax Evasion in India

Feb 6th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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By NEHA THIRANI BAGRI: February 4, 2013

The Indian unit of the Anglo-Dutch oil company Royal Dutch Shell said Monday that it would challenge a notice by the Indian tax authorities alleging tax evasion through the transfer of shares.

Deepak Mukarji, a Shell India spokesman, said that the company had received an order on Friday from the income tax department of India that accused Shell India of evading taxes by underpricing a share transfer within the group by approximately $2.8 billion.

At the center of the controversy is a share sale by Shell India to Shell Gas BV, its overseas parent , in March 2009. Shell India issued shares worth 870 million rupees ($160 million) to Shell Gas BV, or 87 million shares at a value of 10 rupees per share, but the Indian tax authorities now contend that each share was actually worth 183 rupees. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell India In Talks With Tax Men Over Alleged Tax Evasion

Feb 2nd, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Published February 02, 2013 by Dow Jones Newswires

The Indian unit of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) Saturday said it is in talks with tax authorities in India over alleged tax evasion.

Earlier in the day, Mint newspaper, citing a person familiar with the matter, said that the Indian income tax department charged Shell India of under pricing a share transfer within the group by 150 billion rupees ($2.8 billion) and consequently evading taxes.

Citing television channel ET Now, the report also said that the income-tax order relates to the issue of 870 million shares by Shell India to an overseas company Shell Gas BV in March 2009. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Evidence Shell Tax Dodging was Behind Kulluk debacle

Jan 12th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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By John Donovan

The Alaska Dispatch has quoted from an email that Shell Alaska spokesperson Curtis Smith (right) sent on 27 December 2012.

Curtis said in his email:

“it’s fair to say the current tax structure related to vessels of this type influenced the timing of our departure.”

He also said it could cost “multiple millions” if the Kulluk was still in Alaska waters Jan. 1.

I think we can safely assume that Mr Curtis will have earned a big black mark against his name at Shell PR for telling the truth. That is not a quality that Shell management is looking for in a spokesperson. read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.

Shell’s Arctic Drilling Experiment an Epic Failure

Jan 12th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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By Brooke Jarvis January 11, 2013 10:37 AM ET EXTRACT

In December of 2011, Royal Dutch Shell produced a series of videos advertising the company’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean. Their tagline: “It’s time to explore, and Shell is Arctic Ready.”

That slogan sounds rather different after 2012, a year in which little went as the company planned – this week prompting U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to announce an urgent, high-level review of what went wrong. (FULL ARTICLE) EXTRACT

I reached out to Shell in both Houston and Alaska to gauge the company’s willingness to absorb costs incurred by public entities. Neither location made a representative available to answer questions by deadline. [See update at bottom.] The company did clear up one gauzy point, albeit to other outlets. As we reported earlier this week, Shell was motivated to move the Kulluk when it did to avoid paying tax to Alaska on the rig in the new year. From United Press International: read more

*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.