Links Feb 19

HSBC : University of Warwick – Top researchers in call for re-think over international undercutting; Expert team warns of ‘race to the bottom’ threatening living standards around the world 4-Traders

TJN-Africa’s most recent publications on Transfer Pricing in Africa:

Transfer Pricing in Africa: Contextual Issues

Processes in Transfer Pricing – Pertinent Issues for African Countries

Addressing Transfer Pricing in Africa (policy synthesis paper)

Towards Real Ownership and Cooperation: Increasing Africa’s Voice and Influence in Addressing Transfer Mispricing Challenges

Tax dumping: Juncker Commission proposes only half-hearted measures Sven Giegold

EU seeks to force firms pay tax where profits earned Irish Examiner

HSBC whistleblower: There are ‘more revelations’ BBC
See also video interview: HSBC whistleblower Herve Falciani on tax evasion data BBC

HSBC Scandal Heightens Calls for Tougher Bank Oversight Voice of America
Cites TJN’s Markus Meinzer

Swiss prosecutor raids HSBC office, opens criminal inquiry Reuters
See also SwissLeaks: Geneva prosecutor raids HSBC Le Temps (In French, paywall)

HSBC tax scandal prompts rivals to check for ‘problem dossiers’ Financial Times (paywall)

Police investigate Slovaks with HSBC accounts The Slovak Spectator

HSBC India at centre of fresh tax evasion claims The Economic Times

Richer East Africans Are Also Stashing Cash in Swiss Banks Ventures

Legal risks and unwritten research Alex Cobham’s Uncounted blog

54% of Malta’s Individual Investor Programme (IIP) for citizenship are from Russia Malta Today

A Whistleblower’s Horror Story Rolling Stone / Matt Taibbi
See also recent blogs Tax haven whistleblowers: where are the human rights organisations? and Will Antoine Deltour become a prisoner of conscience?

The rich people who say they are happy to pay their taxes BBC

Tax haven bailiffs repossess BNP Paribas Fortis’ furniture in Brussels – Government inaction and close relationship to tax cheats exposed Corporate Europe Observatory

Turks & Caicos Premier blasts British Opposition leader on ‘tax haven’ statements Turks And Caicos Weekly News
See also: “We are not a tax haven.” They all say that

The HSBC scandal: if HMRC is underfunded tax cheats will continue to win Open Democracy

As CEOs seek tax cuts, US senator slams corporate tax haven use Reuters

Caterpillar’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Forbes

UK Revenue sees rise in requests from abroad to trace tax evaders Financial Times (paywall)
The largest number of requests at 690 came from Norway, a rise of 149 on the previous year. There was also a big increase in requests from Ukraine, which rose by 40 per cent to 88.