Another EU agreement to stop tax evasion by individuals

© European Commission

Signing of the agreement.

THE European Union and Monaco signed an agreement aimed at improving tax compliance by private savers on July 12 which will require that financial information is exchanged automatically between the Principality and the Union. 

This is part of an on-going programme which has seen similar agreements struck between the EU and Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Switzerland and when ratified is due to come into force in January 2018. 

The agreement upgrades a 2004 agreement that ensured that Monaco applied measures equivalent to those in an EU directive on the taxation of savings income. The aim is to extend the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts in order to prevent taxpayers from hiding capital representing income or assets for which tax has not been paid.

Three parties signed the document, Peter Kažimír, Finance Minister of Slovakia and President of the European Council, Serge Telle, Minister of State of Monaco and Pierre Moscovici, European Economic Commissioner.

Basically, the agreement provides for Monaco to meet exactly the same standards of transparency and exchange of information as if they were full members of the EU. Such information may include release of names, addresses, tax identification numbers and dates of birth of each member states residents with accounts in the Principality, as well as other financial and account balance information.

Slowly but surely, it is becoming more difficult for private individuals to avoid the payment of tax in their place of domicile, although no doubt those who are really rich will still be able to settle in low tax areas such as Monaco and Switzerland whilst corporations and even cartels will endeavour to hide their profits through technicalities and loopholes although even they are beginning to feel the pinch.

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Comments


    • roy león

      15 July 2016 • 07:31

      This action is all very important and necessary. However if the lily livered politicians made some serious decisions about the tax evasion of very serious offenders, who can afford to pay legions of slick accountants to get them out of paying taxes. Such as the owners of most of Bond Street and other HUGE conglomerates. Then there would be little need to waste valuable time collecting dribs and drabs from pensioners who have managed to save a few shekels during their frugal working lives. I suspect the total taxes owed by ALL savers in Spain would not amount to the tax that should be paid by just one of the infamous big time evaders, Who shall remain nameless and tax-free.
      Am I naive, or would it be so politically incorrect to make a law that says- You pay tax to the country where the money is earned, regardless of where your business is registered, or where you reside.?
      Cheers
      Leo

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