Venezuela's tax agency is going to close the office of France's oil and gas major
Venezuela's tax agency Seniat is going to close the office of France's oil and gas major Total SA by March 14, if the company refuses to pay the taxes, the country's tax chief said Tuesday.
The French oil company owes Venezuela231 billion bolivars ($107.4 million), covering the years 2001 through 2004, he said. Seniat officials said the company could also face stiff fines for its failure to cooperate.
Jose Joaquin Cedillo, head of special tax contributions, noted that the shutdown could last as long as 72 hours and the fine could amount to 250% of the total debt, or "more than VEB500 billion bolivars, for the fine alone."
"We would even be willing to take this to an international court," the senoir tax chief Jose Mora said.
Total's officials couldn't be reached for comment.
Last month Vielma Mora publicly denounced that Total Oil was refusing to pay a bill and warned that such a position could jeopardize its ability to convert an oil operating contract into a joint venture company with state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela.
