Financial Transparency Coalition

If you’re the type who’s not to be swayed against banking secrecy by arguments of tax or justice, I’ve got one for you: national security. It is now clear: international banking secrecy is solidifying a growing relationship between Iran and Venezuela – likely putting Iran one step closer to obtaining nuclear power. On Tuesday, at an event hosted by Global Financial Integrity and The American Interest, New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau spelled out the mounting financial, military, and economic ties between the seemingly “unlikely bedfellows,” Iran and Venezuela. Ideologically the relationship makes sense. Both countries are self-described...

Tax-News.com -- Determined to step up efforts to crack down on tax evasion, France’s Budget Minister Eric Woerth has announced his decision to demand assistance from the country's banks.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that the United States and Monaco have signed an agreement to allow for the exchange of information on tax matters between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin and Minister Franck Biancheri in Washington.

In its statement to the G20 this weekend, Oxfam International highlighted the need to crack down on tax havens as a development and human rights imperative. From Oxfam:

Reforming tax havens alone could release $160bn, reallocating an already agreed IMF bailout could free up another $89bn, and introducing a currency transaction tax could raise at least a further $30bn – each a significant sum to help poor people suffering in the crisis.

The money is desperately needed to prevent the crisis derailing efforts to reduce poverty as developing countries suffer job...