Links Nov 25

Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Poverty Reduction in East Africa: Lessons for Tax Policy and Administration African Development Bank
"The African Development Bank (AfDB) has partnered with the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat on a Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) project for the EAC partner states. The project is designed to build capacity for tax administrators and tax policy experts in the Bank’s Regional Member Countries in the EAC sub-region." Hat tip: Vera Mshana.

The fight against tax havens, avoidance and evasion ABC News
Nov 23 - Interview with TJN Director John Christensen. Transcript available. The piece concludes with the presenter, Ticky Fullerton, observing "John Christensen, I would say you have your work cut out for you, but thank you very much."

The Stolen Money Trail New York Times
Nov 23 - Op-ed by Anthea Lawson of Global Witness, on banks taking in proceeds of corruption from dictators. "A first step would be for governments and regulators to follow the British and Swiss example and take a hard look at what their banks were doing when they took this money. But they must all go further. The second step must be for governments and regulators to make it unacceptable for banks to take this money in the first place."

Rubik tax treaties face serious hurdle swissinfo
Nov 25 - On the story we blogged yesterday. "Switzerland is facing defeat in its efforts to isolate European Union members with tax deals that guarantee client anonymity ... The European Commission has threatened to take Germany and Britain to court if they enforce the Swiss treaties." Hat tip: Bruno Gurtner

See also:
France rejects Rubik and clamps down on Tax Fraud Le Temps (In French)
Nov 25 - France's Budget Minister Valérie Pécresse said: "We reject any amnesty ... And I say just as clearly, we do not wish to engage in the device "Rubik", because that would lead us to agree to compromise our principles."

Take the UK - Swiss tax deal and then avoid it Tax Research UK
Nov 23 - On some commentary that affirms TJN's view that the Swiss Rubik deal would help tax evaders, written by a party who is advertising services to help people do exactly that.

Switzerland: Rich cast nervous eye at inheritance tax plan swissinfo
Nov 22 - Reporting on a proposed move to tackle inequality in Switzerland: "A proposal to stiffen the inheritance and gift tax laws in Switzerland has sent many wealthy residents running to their accountants for advice."

Taiwan's financial institutions urged to prepare for U.S. tax law Focus Taiwan
Nov 25 - Head of a wealth planning firm describes "the introduction of FATCA as a significant turning point in the global banking system because financial institutions will have to move from secrecy on account information, where no information is revealed under any circumstances, to confidentiality. "

Amid crisis, Italy confronts a culture of tax evasion Washington Post
Nov 24 - "As the world’s eighth-largest economy struggles to pull back from the brink of a debt crisis that has much of the financial world on edge, Italy may be on the verge of a national reckoning over one of its most vexing financial — and cultural — problems: tax cheats." Hat tip: Offshore Watch.

We know we need to stop tax abuse. So why is it so hard? Tax Research UK
Nov 25 - Comment by Richard Murphy on an article in The Independent. "And why do government’s continually listen to the abusers and not those who want to do the right thing? Why is it so hard to support ethical behaviour?