Tax fraud: 65 million euros seized in Belgium in McKinsey investigation
The National Financial Prosecutor has had 65 million euros seized in Belgium, equivalent to 96 per cent of the estimated fiscal damage in the investigation against McKinsey.
McKinsey: Belgian courts seize 65 million euros at request of French National Financial Prosecutor
The National Financial Prosecutor (PNF) announced Friday that it has obtained from Belgian courts the seizure of approximately 65 million euros as part of an investigation into money laundering and aggravated tax fraud involving American consulting firm McKinsey, according to information.tv5monde.com. The seizure, carried out on 19 August, represents "96 per cent of the fiscal damage according to the evaluation of the national financial prosecutor", stated jointly by national financial prosecutor Pascal Prache and the King's Prosecutor for Brussels Julien Moinil.
McKinsey reacted by emphasizing the limited scope of the measure. "The measure of preventive seizure is a procedural measure linked to a preliminary investigation conducted by French authorities. It does not constitute a judicial decision," the group declared when questioned by the AFP. The firm added that it "continues to cooperate with French authorities" and reaffirms "its commitment to respecting its tax obligations in France and in each of the countries" where it operates.
The preliminary investigation dates back to March 2022. It was opened following a Senate inquiry commission examining the influence of private consulting firms on public policy since Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017, and was entrusted to the National Anti-Fraud Office (Onaf). The criminal investigations concern a possible tax scheme involving McKinsey's French entities, which is alleged to have allowed them to pay no corporation tax in France between 2011 and 2020.
Following witness and suspect interviews in 2025 and 2026, the PNF sought the assistance of the Belgian prosecutor's office "within the framework of international mutual assistance". The seizure is directly linked to this preliminary investigation, which is ongoing.
The PNF nevertheless specifies that this seizure is unrelated to the judicial investigations opened subsequently, in particular for "improper keeping of campaign accounts" — concerning the conditions of intervention by consulting firms during Emmanuel Macron's election campaigns in 2017 and 2022, subsequently widened to the years 2015 and 2016 — as well as for favouritism.
Searches have already taken place at the homes of current and former McKinsey executives, at the Ministry of Health, at the firm's Paris headquarters, as well as at the premises of the Renaissance party and its fundraising association.
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)