This feed is published daily with selected new or updated
content from across the Lowtax Network. For a list of Lowtax Network
sites, many of which feature daily news, see
below.
Providing essential tax news and information
for globally mobile artists, contractors, entrepreneurs, professionals,
small businesses, sportspersons and entertainers.
Lowtax Portal:
'Low-tax' business and investment in the top 50 jurisdictions covered in
exceptional detail.
Tax News: Global
tax news, continuously updated through the day.
Investors Offshore:
The independent offshore and alternative investment guide for expatriates
and the globally aware investor.
Law & Tax
News: Daily news and background data on tax and legal developments
for international business.
Offshore-e-com:
A topical guide to offshore e-commerce focused on tax and regulation.
Lowtax Library:
One of the web's largest and most authoritative business and investment
information sources.
US Tax Network:
The resource for free online US taxation information, covering: corporate
tax, individual tax, international tax, expatriates, sales and e-commerce
tax, investment tax.
NEW! Personal
Business Tax Guide: Providing essential tax news and information
on business for contractors, entrepreneurs, professionals, small businesses,
artists, sportspersons and entertainers.
Germany's Schäuble Urges Tax Evaders To Come Forward,
by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Despite fierce criticism from within his own ranks, German Finance Minister
Wolfgang Schäuble has confirmed that the decision to purchase the disc,
containing stolen tax evader data, has “in principal” been made.
Consequently, Finance Minister Schäuble has advised individuals, with
accounts held secretly in Switzerland, to come forward and to make a formal
declaration to the country’s tax authorities.
Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Volker
Kauder, has also called for those with hidden foreign accounts to make themselves
known to the authorities. According to Kauder, it was evident, in the wake of
the Liechtenstein case, that further discs would emerge in future, given the
state’s willingness to pay for the information.
Defending the controversial decision, Schäuble alluded to the Liechtenstein
incident, and highlighted the fact that, despite almost 200 trials that were
held subsequently, the action taken at the time has never been called into question
by any court. Even the Federal Constitutional Court has approved such action
in many cases, he added.
Karl Heinz Däke, President of the German Association of Taxpayers (der
Bund der Steuerzahler – BdSt), has emphasized the fact that there remains
considerable legal doubt as to whether or not the purchase of the data by the
state can legitimately take place. The legal debate has not reached a final conclusion, he
added, and there are clear data protection issues.
The BdSt has urged the government to strive towards effectively combating tax
evasion, and towards improving international framework conditions. To avoid
further incidents of trade in data, it added, the government should seek a solution
at European level to protect honest taxpayers.
The infamous disc, containing the names of around 1,500 Germans thought to
hold bank accounts illegally in Switzerland has been offered to the government
for EUR2.5m. The authorities are eager to conclude the deal swiftly.
Final issues surrounding the purchase of the disc are currently being examined
by both the finance authorities in North Rhine-Wesphalia, and by the government.
One of the web's largest and
most authoritative business and investment information sources. Alongside
topical, daily news on worldwide
tax developments, you can receive weekly newswires or
access up-to-date intelligence
reports on a range of legal, tax and investment subjects.
Our 16 constantly updated
intelligence reports cover every important aspect of 'offshore' and international
tax-planning in depth, including banking secrecy, the EU's savings tax
directive, offshore funds, e-commerce, offshore gaming and transfer pricing.
Reports are available for immediate downloading or as subscription
services with news pages.
Advertising & Marketing
With over 50,000 qualified readers every month our web-sites
offer a number of cost effective, targeted advertising,
sponsorship and marketing opportunities:
Display advertising - from 'skyscrapers' to 'buttons'
Content/article submission and sponsorship
Opt-in email marketing
On-line Services Directory listings
Could your corporate web-site or newsletter benefit
from incorporating regularly updated news and content
tailored to serve your clients' interests? We can provide
a variety of maintenance-free news and content solutions
that can be seamlessly integrated and dynamically delivered:
Click here for a brief introduction
to RSS and instructions on how to get the Tax-News feed.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE LOWTAX NETWORK has
taken reasonable care in sourcing and presenting the information contained on
this site, but accepts no responsibility for any financial or other loss or damage
that may result from its use. In particular, users of the site are advised to
take appropriate professional advice before committing themselves to involvement
in offshore jurisdictions, offshore trusts or offshore investments. All materials
on this site copyright THE LOWTAX NETWORK 1999 to 2010. Contact
us for further information.
TAX-NEWS.COM
Free Tax-News Feed