China to step up international co-operation in fight against tax evasion South China Morning Post
“Amid revelations about use of offshore havens, the mainland’s tax commissioner plans greater international co-operation to pursue evaders”. See also: How We Did Offshore Leaks China ICIJ
How to Halt the Terrorist Money Train The New York Times
Op-ed by Robert Mazur: “I have seen this firsthand. I was a federal agent for 27 years and worked undercover as a money launderer within this murky realm for five of them.”
Switzerland: Over 100 institutions sign up for US programme swissinfo
Austria Hails Swiss Tax Deal A “Resounding Success” Tax-News
CEO of Swiss bank at Davos: “in five years bank secrecy will be irrelevant” Financial Secrecy Media Monitor
See also: Switzerland to play active role in tax info sharing standards Business Standard Positive statements, good news if genuine intent.
Congo’s decision to suspend passage of oil law through parliament is good news Global Witness
Ghana puts plans for mining windfall tax on hold Reuters
If people want to put their money offshore, they’ll find a way to do it Spy Ghana
On ActionAid’s call on British giant bank Barclays to stop promoting tax havens in Africa.
Taiwan: DPP calls for taxation justice Taipei Times
Call by Israeli legislators to tax Google more heavily Financial Times
U.S.: The Bennet-Blunt Corporate Tax Amnesty Must Be Stopped Citizens for Tax Justice
U.S.: Fortress Secrecy – No News Here The Tax Analysts Blog
On “Tax Analysts’ ongoing efforts to investigate what did and didn’t happen in the IRS’s self-admitted abuse of power in reviewing the tax-exempt applications of mostly conservative groups.”
SEC Charges KPMG With Violating Auditor Independence Rules U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Hat tip: Offshore Watch
UK Prime Minister Cameron: laws won’t make firms pay fair share of tax The Telegraph
“Prime Minister says accountants and lawyers should stop trying to bend tax rules”
Panama: A paradise other than a tax haven? Le Journal International (In French)
Panama is ranked at 11th position on the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index, assessed towards the top end of the secrecy scale.
Monaco pay €50m to France to stay in Ligue 1 – exempted from French tax The Guardian
Bahamas: RBC Royal Bank welcomes 1,800 bankers from around the world Bahamas Islands Info
RBC rewards employees’ job performance with cruise to Bahamas, and “as part of the festivities” presents donations of $10,000.00 each to the Royal Bahamas Defence Rangers Programme and the Royal Bahamas Police Force Summer Youth Programme. Illustrates cosy relationship between banks and government? – see recent blog The Bahamas – Another Captured State?
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