Tax Co–operation 2009: Towards a Level Playing Field – OECD

The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information conducts an annual review of transparency and exchange of information in more than 80 countries. This fourth annual assessment includes information on Estonia, India, Israel and Slovenia, bringing to 87 the number of countries covered by the report. It also features new summary assessments for each country, providing a snapshot of their legal and administrative framework. The report sets out in a series of tables, on a country by country basis, information on:

• Laws and agreements permitting the exchange of information for tax purposes.
• Access to bank information for tax purposes.
• Access to ownership identity and accounting information.
• Availability of ownership, identity and accounting information relating to companies, trusts, partnerships and foundations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. Introduction

II. Progress Made in Implementing the Standards

III. Summary Assessments

IV. Country Tables

A. Exchanging Information

• Table A.1. Number of double taxation conventions and tax information exchange agreements
• Table A.2 Summary of domestic laws that permit information exchange in tax matters
• Table A.3 DTCs and TIEAs providing for information exchange upon request
• Table A.4 Summary of mechanisms that permit information exchange in tax matters
• Table A.5 Application of dual criminality principle

B. Access to Bank Information

• Table B.1 Bank secrecy
• Table B.2 Access to bank information for exchange of information purposes
• Table B.3 Procedures to obtain bank information for exchange of information purposes

C. Access to Ownership, Identity and Accounting Information

• Table C.1 Information gathering powers
• Table C.2 Statutory confidentiality or secrecy provisions
• Table C.3 Bearer securities

D. Availability of Ownership, Identity and Accounting Information

• Table D.1 Ownership information – Companies
• Table D.2 Trusts laws
• Table D.3 Identity information – Trusts
• Table D.4 Identity information – Partnerships
• Table D.5 Identity information – Foundations
• Table D.6 Accounting information – Companies
• Table D.7 Accounting information – Trusts
• Table D.8 Accounting information – Partnerships
• Table D.9 Accounting information – Foundations

Annex A: Glossary of Key Concepts

Annex B: Countries Covered by Report