Tax evaders targeted in European data-sharing pilot

9 Apr 13
The UK government is to automatically share tax information with France, Germany, Italy and Spain in a multinational effort to identify and deter tax avoiders.

By Vivienne Russell | 9 April 2013

The UK government is to automatically share tax information with France, Germany, Italy and Spain in a multinational effort to identify and deter tax avoiders.

The pilot information exchange will be based on the existing intergovernmental agreement to improve tax compliance approved by these five European countries and the US, which was developed and published in July last year. It also formed the basis of the UK-US bilateral automatic exchange agreement.

Exchequer secretary David Gauke called the agreement an important step in the fight against tax evasion. Its ambition is the development of a new international standard in the automatic exchange of tax information.

He added: ‘This builds on the agreements we have reached with the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey and the discussions currently under way with the Overseas Territories.’

A joint letter has been issued to Algirdas Šemeta, the European commissioner with responsibility for taxation, setting out the terms of the agreement.

The letter invites other European Union member states to join the pilot, stating: ‘We hope that Europe can take a lead in promoting a global system of automatic information and exchange, removing the hiding places for those who would seek to evade paying their taxes.

‘In this context we also look forward to discussing how progress can be made within Europe on improving tax information exchange between all member states.’


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