The European Parliament voted Friday in favor of the abandonment of secrecy in Europe by 1 July 2014 to fight against tax evasion. A
fraud estimated at some 200 billion euros per year.
"European governments have placed on the table nearly 3000 billion to bail out banks, it seems legitimate to ask in return for bankers to play the game of transparency," said the author of the report, the French Socialist Benoit Hamon.
MEPs also recommend that all legal persons - including trusts and foundations - are subject to this impôt.STRASBOURG (AFP) - The European Parliament has called for all EU countries put an end to secrecy on savings income for 2014 at the latest, in an advisory Friday adopted in plenary.
"We hope that a deadline be set for 2014" in a directive (law) on European taxation of savings, rapporteur summarized the text, the French Socialist Benoit Hamon.
"It is legitimate, when you ask the taxpayers to come rescue the European banking sector, the banking sector should make efforts to help states fight against tax evasion," he added.
In his report he said the "major economic issue" for tax fraud, estimated at 200 billion euros per year or 2% of EU GDP.
Under an amendment passed Friday, the MEPs want to see widespread "no later than 1 July 2014" automatic exchange of information in the EU.
Today, three countries have a transitional regime: Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria. In exchange for a tax deduction at source on income from savings, they practice secrecy and beyond the exchange of information.
Only Belgium has set a date for termination, 2010.
Luxembourg MEP Astrid Lulling conservative denounced the "emotional turn" taken by the discussion on bank secrecy, and was surprised that wants to "make it mandatory that the system does not work."
"Against all logic, a majority of Parliament voted to abolish the system of withholding tax, which works" and is "a system effective, inexpensive and ensures that everyone pays taxes, "she said." It's incomprehensible. "
She filed an amendment alternative which endorsed a free choice between European countries participate in the system information or apply for a permanent system of withholding tax, but it was rejected by Parliament.
consolation prize for Luxembourg MEPs also suggested to expand a list of tax havens annexed to the EU Directive to include such U.S. states of Delaware and Nevada.
Their very Taxation low had been denounced by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker.
Furthermore, in a separate resolution, Parliament "calls on the upcoming G20 summit to agree on a coordinated and concrete action to close all tax and regulatory havens and to close tax loopholes and regulatory onshore +" that enable extensive tax evasion, even in major financial centers.
As with all tax matters, Parliament's opinion is purely advisory. Neither the Commission nor the Council brings together representatives of EU countries are obliged to consider.
"Setting a deadline for the transition period is premature at this stage" because the Council would not accept it, has acknowledged Thursday the Commissioner for Taxation, Laszlo Kovacs.
The idea of a date for the banking secrecy also worried some countries, including Switzerland, because they fear that the EU does not apply under their agreement to waive tax too.
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