Germany and New Zealand react to Panama Papers leak



BERLIN: -- German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, has waded into the Panama Papers controversy by suggesting that offshore registers should be created that name company owners which are then shared internationally.

He also suggested that the time scale of the statute of limitations be changed.

Speaking on German media he said:
“We have to standardise international registers and information and link the registers internationally and automatically exchange information. We can then significantly reduce the leeway for such excessive abuse models, a lot has happened already, but this will be stepped up now.”

New Zealand has announced a review of its foreign trust laws after its legal framework has been identified as vulnerable to international tax avoidance.

Former PricewaterhouseCoopers chair John Shewan is to lead the review and report back by June 30.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced the move:“We’re open to considering changes to disclosure rules, if that is warranted. So we have asked Mr Shewen to take a thorough, independent look at the current regime to check it’s fit for purpose.”

The review is to focus on disclosure rules for foreign trusts, including the way information is recorded and exchanges of information with other tax jurisdictions.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-12

Quote Former PricewaterhouseCoopers chair John Shewan is to lead the review and report back by June 30. unquote. What a great pick to do the investigation. I am sure he will give a glowing report much like the team that investigated the monument scandal here.

Politicians want more money to buy more votes.

Politicians want more money to buy more votes.

In my home country (USA) politicians don't buy votes, corporations buy politicians.

Quote Former PricewaterhouseCoopers chair John Shewan is to lead the review and report back by June 30. unquote. What a great pick to do the investigation. I am sure he will give a glowing report much like the team that investigated the monument scandal here.

It's always been like that. The government will hire a tax expert, because they won't hire a plumber to provide tax recommendations.

A tax expert will work for accounting firm.

Because you want the best of the best, that expert will work for one of the big four.

Of course, accounting firms have to mantain a profit, profit comes from clients doing repeat business, clients want to minimize tax.

It's like that in every country, it's a catch 22.

Quote Former PricewaterhouseCoopers chair John Shewan is to lead the review and report back by June 30. unquote. What a great pick to do the investigation. I am sure he will give a glowing report much like the team that investigated the monument scandal here.

It's always been like that. The government will hire a tax expert, because they won't hire a plumber to provide tax recommendations.

A tax expert will work for accounting firm.

Because you want the best of the best, that expert will work for one of the big four.

Of course, accounting firms have to mantain a profit, profit comes from clients doing repeat business, clients want to minimize tax.

It's like that in every country, it's a catch 22.

As a former International Merchant Banker and Federal Foriegn Exchange employee and as such earned the nickname Smiling Assasin and as a politician Teflon John,Mr Key is possibly rapidly adjusting his own financial position of millions ...? He has an interesting history !