About John Christensen
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice #28
US and African leaders talk tough on illicit finance Last week saw the Africa-US summit meeting in Washington DC. The Summit was an opportunity for President Obama and his officials to meet many African heads of state. It was also a shot in the arm for Africa’s airline industry. The welcome news for tax justice campaigners was that one of
Read the full article…Tax haven film world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
We have just heard that Harold Crook’s (Surviving Progress) new film, entitled The Price We Pay, is to receive its world première on 5th September 2014 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). TweetShare
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice #27
A Messi affair The ongoing tax affair with the world’s top footballer Lionel Messi rolls on. Two weeks ago the Tax Justice Network Germany reported that a Barcelona court had confirmed proceedings against Lionel Messi for tax evasion. He is accused of using a series of shell companies based in Uruguay, Belize and the UK to hide revenue from royalty and licence
Read the full article…Did Messi hide behind offshore structures in UK, Switzerland, Uruguay and Belize?
Last week our German colleagues reported on the investigations into Lionel Messi’s complex offshore web (German version here, English here). Now Global Witness has issued the following: According to a Spanish prosecutor’s document, Lionel Messi’s alleged multi-million euro tax evasion scheme (1) relied upon hiding the names of the real owners of companies registered in the UK, Switzerland, Uruguay and
Read the full article…Taxing Men and Women: new report on gender and tax justice
Hot on the heels of our announcment earlier this week of the launch of Women for Tax Justice, Christian Aid have now published a report titled Taxing Men and Women: why gender is crucial for a fair tax system. TweetShare
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice #26
Maverick puts corporate inversions in the firing line Mark Cuban, the billionaire American investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, took to Twitter last week to say he would be dumping shares in any company that moves offshore for tax purposes. TweetShare
On why being tough on unproven claims is both smart and right
We always appreciate the opportunity to discuss our research work since constructive criticism allows us to improve and clarify our views. This is the case with a couple of recent blogs by Mick Moore of the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) on 18 July, one entitled “Tax Justice Campaigning: Is Tough Always Smart?”, and the other entitled “Tax
Read the full article…Macedonia plans to set up tax haven
The Balkan press is reporting a mixed reaction to the Macedonian government’s announcement yesterday of plans to create a tax haven in that country. While financial experts are reportedly cock-a-hoop about the plan (who doesn’t like a free lunch?), and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski (pictured) says that the tax haven will boost employment, others are concerned that illicit money will
Read the full article…Uganda hits Tullow Oil with $407m tax bill
UPDATE: We have received the following comment from Professor Sol Picciotto, senior adviser to TJN: The Tullow case is interesting because the Tax Tribunal held that a clause in a production sharing agreement signed by a government Minister which gave exemption from taxes could not override the tax legislation, because the Uganda Constitution provides that taxes and tax exemptions must
Read the full article…Network launched in Zimbabwe to counter illicit financial flows
Our partners at the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) have announced the launch of a new network – the Zimbabwe Network Against Illicit Financial Flows (ZINAIFF). The network membership includes AFRODAD, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), the Zimbabwe Environmental Organisation (ZELA), and the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD). TweetShare
Global Alliance for Tax Justice appoints campaigns and communications coordinator
From Dereje Alemayehu, Chair of the Coordinating Committee of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (the campaign coordination wing of the tax justice movement) Dear Friends I am delighted to announce that TERESA MARSHALL will be joining the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) as the campaign and communications coordinator, beginning in August 2014. TweetShare
OECD continues to stand in the way of global tax reforms
The following guest blog was written by Renaud Fossard [1] The idea of ??a political space in international tax issue discussions in the framework of the United Nations is still being blocked by the OECD. Though not much interest has been seen from developing countries either, its implementation is crucial. TweetShare
Honest Accounts? The true story of Africa’s billion dollar losses
For decades Western countries have peddled a fairy tale about Africa’s plight. The tale spins a homely story of how the West provides development aid to assist African nations overcome their own shortcomings. The tale is, of course, a vicious and mendacious nonsense. As this new report from Health Poverty Action (which lists TJN as a co-author) details, Western countries
Read the full article…The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice
Nando’s goes offshore to roost The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has this week released another set of stories based on a new leak of information. This time, they have got hold of a list of names that have had Jersey accounts with wealth manager, Kleinwort Benson. TweetShare
The World Weekly – Infographic on the Hidden Economy
From The World Weekly: TweetShare
