Information Exchange and Tax Transparency: Tackling Global Tax Evasion and Avoidance

In recent years, tackling global tax evasion and avoidance, facilitated through off shore legal entities and structures, has become a priority for governments around the globe. The political support for addressing this menace has resulted in development of standards on transparency and exchange of information and almost every jurisdiction in the world has now committed to implement these standards. This book provides guidance to tax authorities, taxpayers, tax professionals and public at large in understanding how global transparency and the commitment of jurisdictions to exchange information would facilitate investigation of cross-border transactions for effective protection of domestic tax revenue.

Key Highlights:-

Explains the role of tax havens and off shore financial centres in global tax evasion and avoidance

Discusses how tax havens and off shore financial centres have been “identified” and listed over the years

Discusses off shore leaks in brief like “Panama Papers” and their role in creating deterrence against off shore tax evasion and avoidance

Discusses the development of global standards on transparency and exchange of information and the role of OECD, G20 and Global Forum in developing these standards

Provides the details of assessments undertaken by the Global Forum regarding actual implementation of exchange of information and results of these assessments along with “Ratings“

Discusses the legal provisions and relevant case law around the world for exchange of information including Article 26 of the OECD and UN Model DTAAs, TIEAs and Multi lateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, including their historical development over the years

Explains the key concepts of the exchange of information in detail including its legal basis, standard of foreseeable relevance, exchange of past period information, stolen data issue, confidentiality of information exchanged, disclosure before the courts, limitation on exchange of information, rights and safeguards, etc.

Explains other forms of administrative assistance under the tax treaties including automatic exchange of information, spontaneous exchange of information, simultaneous tax examination and joint audits

Discusses in detail the provisions for assistance in collection of taxes under the provisions of tax treaties including its historical development and relevant case law

Explains in detail the provisions Common Reporting Standards (CRS) on Automatic Exchange of information (AEOI)

Discusses in detail how the FATCA and CRS on AEOI are being implemented in India and abroad and how the information received on an automatic basis would be used for improving tax compliance

Briefly discusses the recommendations made under G20/OECD BEPS Project for improving transparency including automatic exchange of Country-by-Country (CDC) reports

Explains the provisions for disclosure of foreign income and assets under the Black Money Act and the Income-tax Act, 1961.