BEPS Action 14: Make Dispute Resolution Mechanisms More Effective BEPS Monitoring Group Review of Islands at the Bush Theatre London Londontheatre1.com Corporate Tax Behavior Can Be Changed By Public Pressure [Study] ValueWalk Richest Russians Repatriate Assets as Putin Turns Tax Screw … [Read more...]
Corporate Tax
Links Jan 19
Ex-Swiss banker found guilty in WikiLeaks trial, avoids jail Reuters See also recent blogs Will Antoine Deltour become a prisoner of conscience? and Tax haven whistleblowers: where are the human rights organisations? U.S. regulators question whether Credit Suisse has rule-breaking culture … [Read more...]
Do not listen to Big Oil’s whining for tax cuts
It's all so tiresome and predictable. This blog focuses on the UK, but it could apply to any oil and gas producing country. The Guardian has a headline that is more to the point: Oil industry calls for North Sea tax cuts. Meanwhile, the lobbying arm of the British financial services industry … [Read more...]
Links – Jan 16
Company beneficial ownership register to open in April 2016 STEP New UK corporate transparency measures allow applications for anonymity. See also: UK: Implementation of Company filing requirements and corporate transparency measures and the register of people with significant control ("PSC … [Read more...]
Tax wars: Europe lands blow against Amazon
From Bloomberg: "The European Union said Luxembourg hastily approved a “cosmetic” tax deal with Amazon.com Inc. in 11 days, allowing the company to shift profits to a tax-free unit. The EU told Luxembourg officials in a letter that the deal, based on a “cosmetic arrangement,” gives the Internet … [Read more...]
Links Jan 15
Switzerland unveils draft laws to dismantle bank secrecy Financial Times (paywall) "The Swiss government has taken a further step towards dismantling its once untouchable bank secrecy laws, by unveiling draft legislation that would pave the way for automatic information exchange about offshore … [Read more...]
Links Jan 14
Tax evasion/Luxembourg leaks: EU Parliament inquiry committee gains cross-political support and must be swiftly put in place The Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament See also: MEPs urge Schulz to set up inquiry committee on tax evasion EurActiv Credit Suisse to Face Nader … [Read more...]
Links Jan 13
OECD Global Forum agrees to Luxembourg transparency review Luxemburger Wort Billions of rands leave South Africa under the radar Times Live FDI inflows: Who is investing in India and in what sectors? Financial Express "While Singapore and Mauritius have swapped places as top investors in … [Read more...]
Links Jan 12
WikiLeaks Banker Called Traitor as Prosecutor Seeks Jail Bloomberg See also recent blogs Tax haven whistleblowers: where are the human rights organisations? and Show trial of Swiss whistleblower Elmer now in 9th year Luxleaks: Parliament could still set up a committee of inquiry euranet … [Read more...]
Credit Suisse’s U.S. public hearing on Wednesday
A guest blog by Heather Lowe of Global Financial Integrity, with thanks: As many of you know, Credit Suisse AG (CSAG) was convicted in November of U.S. felony charges relating to assisting (and soliciting) tax evasion by U.S. taxpayers. A consequence of this felony conviction is that, according … [Read more...]
Oil and mining contract transparency: is a tipping point approaching?
From Open Oil: "a push towards universality – all contracts and all concessions in public domain – is only what is due to the public. Who are, after all, the legal owners of sub-soil resources in every country in the world bar one. What management of a company would be taken seriously if they … [Read more...]
Links Jan 8
Public consultation rejects beneficial ownership registry Cayman Compass Where have all the tax avoiders gone? Mike Lewis' blog An overview of the state of the tax avoidance debate Scale and Consequences of Capital Flight from Africa The Real News $2 lost for every $1 gained: the single … [Read more...]
Dynamic scoring: “deception, tax fraud, sleight of hand”
We've just posted a brief reminder of the economic voodoo peddled by a certain well known U.S. economist, Arthur Laffer. Now we bring you a second, related example of economic prestidigitation: a devious and increasingly popular wheeze known as "dynamic scoring." It emerged in the United States but … [Read more...]
Links Jan 7
LuxLeaks Scandal Reveals International “Race to the Bottom” Economy Watch LuxLeaks informant faces up to 10-years in prison Luxemburger Wort See also article linked yesterday: World unites to decry prosecution of source behind LuxLeaks tax scandal The Guardian, and the open letter to Luxembourg … [Read more...]
Poorer Countries Lose More from Corporate Profit-Shifting
By Alex Cobham. This post was originally published by the Center for Global Development, where I was a research fellow until leaving this month to join TJN as Director of Research. Reproduced, with CGD's permission. Poorer Countries Lose More from Corporate Profit-Shifting Lower-income … [Read more...]