Category: Tunisia

Tunisian Government Estimates Tax Evasion at USD8.3 Billion

Prime Minister’s adviser in charge of tax reform Faisal Derbal has revealed that tax evasion is estimated to reach TND25 billion (around USD8.3 billion) in Tunisia. He denied, during a press conference in the government’s headquarters, rumors circulating about the tax evasion value rising to double of the mentioned number… – Continue reading

The EU just put 3 Arab countries on a ‘blacklist’ of tax havens

Blacklisted nations may face sanctions. The European Union released its first-ever “blacklist” of global tax havens this week, including 17 territories, three of which are Arab countries. Deemed to fall short of EU tax standards, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, and Bahrain joined American Samoa, Barbados, Grenada, Guam, South Korea,… – Continue reading

Nine Middle East Countries At Risk Of EU Sanctions Over Tax Governance

The European Commission has put nine Middle Eastern and North African countries on notice that they are at risk of measures being taken against them to deter tax avoidance. The nine countries (see table below) are Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates… – Continue reading

Expat eyes drift offshore

Offshore Financial Centres (OFCs) are jurisdictions, usually self-governing, which because of their low tax regimes, have specialized in providing commercial services to corporations and individuals, whether or not they are normally resident in that jurisdiction. The better-known offshore financial centres are small and sparsely populated countries or islands, and are… – Continue reading

Arab League intent on increasing investments in Brazil

The organization’s new ambassador in the Brazilian capital Brasília claims trade and mutual investment between Arab countries and Brazil can be worked on. São Paulo – Newly appointed to represent the Middle East and North Africa countries in Brazil, the ambassador of the League of Arab States in the national… – Continue reading

East Africa: New Reporting Code for Mncs Could Save Africa $35b

East African countries expect to collect more revenue under a new code drawn, by the world’s richest economies to stop foreign multinationals from dodging taxes in host countries. The new code — Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) — adopted by G20 at its meeting in Turkey two weeks ago,… – Continue reading

Europe’s money-laundering machine: still spinning

When the first flames of the Arab Spring began to burn, a Tunisia suffering from decades of mismanagement, inequality and abuse broke free from under the long reign of Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali. As the government fell and the turmoil in the country spread across the region, the sheer scale… – Continue reading

South African type controversy in Sri Lanka

(October 28, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “I and my family members have no secret accounts in Dubai banks,”said the Rajapaksa ‘Crown Prince’ Namal when the media published reports about a secret account in a Dubai bank of a son of a VVIP. The media reports stated that the Sri… – Continue reading

Tunisia: Belhassen Trabelsi Has Diverted Millions of Dinars Through Offshore and Shell Companies

Tunis, — The process of returning Tunisian property and assets frozen in a number of foreign banks in general and in Switzerland, in particular, has not moved an inch. More than four years have elapsed since the fall of former President Ben Ali without any hope of progress on the… – Continue reading

IMF Welcomes Tunisian Tax Proposals

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed Tunisia’s plans for tax reform, noting that they will improve equity in the tax regime, simplify tax rules, and boost revenues. In its 2015 Article IV consultation report for Tunisia, the Fund called for the quick implementation of the tax reform package, which… – Continue reading

New SwissLeaks analysis reveals how tax haven secrecy harms developing countries

30 September 2015 -New, detailed examination of the SwissLeaks files by Christian Aid working with the US-based Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC) graphically reveals the harm tax haven secrecy does to the economies of developing countries. The SwissLeaks scandal involves thousands of secret accounts at HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary HSBC Private Bank… – Continue reading

REFILE-Swiss law aims to return foreign funds stashed by erstwhile leaders

Aug 24 (Reuters) – Switzerland expects to adopt a new law by the end of the year that will speed restitution of illicit funds stashed in the Alpine country, where thousands of ‘politically exposed persons’ are believed to hold bank accounts, a top Swiss official said on Monday. Swiss authorities… – Continue reading

LUXEMBOURG: TAX TREATY UPDATE, STATUS REPORT

Luxembourg currently has 76 income tax treaties in force, and there are 29 treaties under negotiation. Tax treaties can provide a legal framework not only for the avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion, but also for international administrative cooperation between Luxembourg and its treaty partners in terms of mutual… – Continue reading

Countries and Companies Square Off Over International Tax

An OECD initiative on tax evasion is causing ripples around the world While a host of topics — from the necessity and the proposed scope of corporate tax reform, to corporate rate reduction and corporate inversions — are of major concern to those engaged in international tax, the overriding issue… – Continue reading

EP this week: tax evasion, Libor scandal, Nato and counter-terrorism

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove visit Parliament this week to discuss security challenges and the EU’s response to terrorist threats. In addition MEPs vote on legislation to increase transparency when setting key interest rates, while the new special committee on tax rulings will… – Continue reading

Tunisian Tax Reforms Supported By OECD

Continuing its drive towards fiscal and economic reform, Tunisia has signed two conventions with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The conventions deal with reform of tax collection and payment systems and aim to support the young to become economically active, and tax-compliant, through training and new tax… – Continue reading