Tax scandal between Switzerland and Germany

04.04.2012

Tax scandal blazed up between Berlin and Bern. This news appeared in the press on the first of April and it wasn’t a joke. Since that time this scandal only grows.

The reason was an attempt of the German authorities to force the citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany having bank deposits in the Swiss banks, to pay taxes according to the German legislation.  

In February the anonymous seller apply to German authorities to offer a disk with stolen data on the Germans keeping savings in one of the largest Swiss banks - Credit Suisse. The disk was acquired by the German authorities for 2,5 million euros. Law enforcement agencies of Switzerland issued the warrant on arrest of three German tax specialists which accused in «economic espionage».

In turn, German taxpayers are recommended to declare about tax avoidance voluntary. To the middle of March more than 10 thousand persons were guilty. The investigation began concerning 1100 persons who hid from the taxation in total 1,2 billion euro. 

Expert’s opinion

«The case of the Germans, hiding their money in reliable Swiss bank, can turn back almost diplomatic scandal between Bern and Berlin. Though there is no political background in this situation. The reason is in the features of the legislation, first of all in the legislation of Swiss. It is known that it protects in the most strict way the secret of deposits, and violation of bank secret refer here to the category of serious crimes.

This century principle even more often became recently a subject of discussion between the Swiss party and the USA, and also the European Union, which give tax claims to the banking system of the Alpine republic.

We need to watch the progression of events, but already now it is possible to tell surely that the destiny all of the expected taxation agreement between Germany and Switzerland is under a serious question.»

On the basis: : http://www.rg.ru

Lomakina Irina ( the director of Moscow office of Honest & Bright )