These are my links for March 12th through March 16th:
- International deals on sharing tax data could take years to complete - International Herald Tribune - .
"There is some doubt about how long the enthusiasm of the newfound converts will last. After an outcry in the Swiss media following the announcement that the country would comply with the OECD standards, the Swiss government issued a statement Saturday saying the decision "does not constitute 'the end of bank secrecy,"' and said the government "has stated on several occasions that Switzerland has no intention of relinquishing bank secrecy.""The Swiss are trying to gain time," Nicolas Michellod, an analyst with the Zurich office of with Celent, a international financial research firm. "Negotiating new tax treaties with each country will take years."
He said that could give opponents of the measure on the Swiss right, whom he described as feeling aggrieved by the international criticism, a chance to drag out any changes to the banking laws until the issue moved out of the headlines."
- AFP: Secrecy reforms don't faze Swiss banks: reports - Of course not: for a start it will take a decade for anything to happen
- Jersey fears for a future without tax schemes | - .
Nick Mathiason asks if Jersey has a future with out to tax avoidance.I can tell him. The answer is no
- Bad boys, old boys, new thinking | AccMan - Dennis Howlett with sound thinking on regulation
- Barclays 'makes £1bn a year' through tax avoidance schemes | Mail Online - The Mail picks up the Barclays story and runs with it
Rightly so: this sort of thing has to be ended for good and middle England rightly dislikes it
- Non-governmental Groups In Jersey Protest At Tax Havens - "Militants" from Tax Justice Network
Are they going to call Sarkozy, Merkel, Brown and Obama militants next?
They're on our side
But the media can't quite get their heads round that yet.
- Prem Sikka: Why we need a people-centred approach to banking | - .
Oh yes - www.news.admin.ch - Switzerland to adopt OECD standard on administrative assistance in fiscal matters - Saying 'Swiss banking secrecy stays intact' is not a good move right now.
So theme tact would help.
- FT.com / Europe - Liechtenstein eases bank secrecy rules - .
But note:"Liechtenstein will go not so far as to abolish bank secrecy. But the principality will co-operate more fully with foreign tax authorities and will end the confusing distinction, also retained by Switzerland, between tax evasion, a civil offence, and tax fraud, a crime."
That's progress.
But it's only limited progress.
We will demand more. And rightly so. Bank secrecy is, after all, a crime against humanity at large.
Don't believe me? Ask all those who have suffered the despoliation of their nations as they loot funds for the benefit of their Swiss and Lichtenstein bank accounts.
A billion voices can bring testimony to support my case.
- FT.com / Companies / Financials - Fury at Madoff over claim he acted alone - .
I simply don't believe he acted alone.Just not possible.
And where is the money?
- Tax Havens Pledge to Ease Secrecy Laws - WSJ.com - .
It's not just me. Here's John Christensen being quoted out of context too. - Is this the end for treasure islands? - .
Is it a sign that you've made it when a) your research isn't credited and b) you're quoted out of contextDiscuss.
- A quoi sert la liste noire des paradis fiscaux ? - I get around these days
- FT.com / Companies / Financial Services - Auditors suffer liability setback - .
Actually, some of us call that progress - PwC, Berg Kaprow Lewis receive petty cash fines | AccMan - .
Dennis is right.Does a £750 fine have any meaning for PWC?
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The comment in Nick Mathiason’s article is a joke. Comments attributed to an unnamed Jersey lawyer. Yeah – right.
Rupert
For all practical purposes you are an unnamed Guernsey tax practitioner on this blog
So what credibility do you have in that case?
I know Nick Mathiason. I might know the lawyer who spoke to. like most people who in any way propose the establishment in Jersey, Guernsey and other such places, they live in fear. That is what tax havens do to people.
That is why they are a tyranny
Richard
Richard
Its right up there with red-top taboid journalism. “A friend said…” or “a spokesman said” means absolutely nothing. Its nothing but a cheap shot.
Rupert
Rubbish
Publish your full name and address or you’re just a red top too
Worse in fact – Nick Mathiason is utterly reliable
Richard
Richard
Its not me that’s been making the absurd allegation by the mythical “Jersey lawyer”. My statements don’t need to be publicly attributed. Since when has it been a requirement for posters on this site to publish their full name and address ?
Rupert
It isn’t – except for those who hypocritically criticise those using anonymity when hiding behind it themselves
Too long in Guernsey has clearly reduced your ability to identify the abuse that secrecy facilitates
Richard
Richard
I’m not the one making the slanderous claims. I’m the one attacking the person who makes those slanderous claims without the evidence to back them up. Not quite the same thing.
For the record, like you I’m against the abuse of secrecy when it comes to tax evasion and regulatory avasion. But I’m equally against the abuse of the basic right to privacy for those who are properly complying with their tax and regulatory obligations. I’m sure you are well aware that the European Court of Human Rights (Article 8) will prevent the level of public disclosure that you seek.