A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (Specialising in Taxation) / South Africa had entered into 97 double taxation agreements (at the time of this study in 2014) with other countries which generally contain an article which authorises the exchange of information between South Africa and the treaty partner. The 2008 global financial crisis re-emphasized the increase in tax planning structures as a result of globalisation to avoid or evade taxes and this highlighted the need for a more transparent tax information sharing platform. Since the 2008 economic crisis, one of the key themes has been the attempts to co-ordinate reform of the global financial system in the pursuit of greater international transparency. Since 2012 Treasury started entering into agreements with various other countries to enhance the transparency of taxes paid by entering into exchange of information agreements: these includes the Bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEA) and the Multilateral Mutual Administrative Assistance (MAA) Agreements and the agreement entered into with the United States of America known as the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) agreement, signed 9 June 2014. This will support the Double Tax Agreement already in place to enhance the information sharing regime. Government Notices 508 and 509, Gazette number 37778, were published on 27 June 2014 in order to facilitate FATCA compliance in terms of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (TAA) sections 26, 29 and 30. As FATCA is a new agreement, there is a limited overview of the impact of this exchange of information agreement. This report is to gain insight into the reasons for implementing these agreements, an overview of these agreements and the implications of these agreements, with a specific focus on the newest agreement, FATCA.

Since the mid-1990s, countries offering tax systems that facilitate international tax avoidance and evasion have been facing growing political pressure to comply with the internationally agreed standards of exchange of tax information. Using data of German investments in tax havens, we find evidence that the conclusion of a bilateral tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) is associated with fewer operations in tax havens and the number of German affiliates has on average decreased by 46% compared to a control group. This suggests that firms invest in tax havens not only for their low tax rates but also for the secrecy they offer. (authors' abstract) / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

The pressure on tax haven countries to engage in tax information exchange shows first effects on capital markets. Empirical research suggests that investors do react to information exchange and partially withdraw from previous secrecy jurisdictions that open up to information exchange. While some of the economic literature emphasizes possible positive effects of tax havens, the present paper argues that proponents of positive effects may have started from questionable premises, in particular when it comes to the effects that tax havens have for emerging markets like China and India. (authors' abstract) / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

隨著經濟活動全球化及資本移動自由化，跨國企業及個人之資產與所得分佈全世界，且因稅捐稽徵機關與納稅人間資訊不對稱，使得稅務資訊蒐集異常困難，稅捐稽徵機關在查核跨國案件時面臨極大挑戰，國際租稅合作與資訊交換成為各國稅捐稽徵機關用以處理國際租稅規避案件之重要工具。 本文就稅務資訊交換介紹國際稅約協定範本及其發展，並與我國經濟體相當之香港、新加坡及先進國家美國、瑞士等國家及OECD、UN及EU等國際機構所公布之國際租稅最新發展進行比較。本文研究歸納，資訊交換為影響我國洽簽租稅協定成敗之關鍵因素，進行銀行資訊交換應不影響我國發展為國際金融中心，支持財政部推動洽簽包括資訊交換之租稅協定。本文建議因應國際資訊交換之趨勢，我國應加強稽徵人員訓練、進行稅捐稽徵法第5條修法、確認租稅協定之法律位階、擴大租稅協定網絡之修法及加強宣導租稅資訊交換保密性等面向，強化我國資訊交換效能。 / Due to the globalization of economic activities, the labialization of capital transactions, individual worldwide assets and income and the asymmetric information of taxpayers and tax authorities, it is difficult for tax authorities to collect information. International cooperation in tax matters is crucial to ensuring the administration and enforcement of countries’ tax laws as cross border tax evasion becomes easier with the liberalization of financial markets. This thesis first introduces the development of the models of tax convention with special reference to EOI, it then makes a comparison of the measurements of EOI in the economies such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, and also looks at recent publications on EOI by OECD, UN and EU. It is concluded that EOI is the key to conclude tax treaties, that EOI of bank information will not adversely affect Taiwan government policy to become an international financial center, and that Ministry of Finance is supported to conclude tax treaties including EOI. It is suggested that strengthening the efficiency and capability of EOI in the aspects of strengthening the training of the tax collectors, amendment of Article 5 of the Tax Collection Act, confirmation of the legal status of tax treaties, broadening of the net work of tax treaties and promotion of the importance of the confidentiality of the EOI, so as to follow the international trend of EOI.

The exchange of tax information has received ample attention recently, due to a number of recent headlines on aggressive tax planning and tax evasion. Whilst both participating tax authorities will gain when foreign investments (FDI) are bilateral, we demonstrate that FDI receiving nations will lose in asymmetric situations. We solve a bargaining model that proves that tax information exchange will only happen voluntarily with compensation for this loss. We then present empirical evidence in a global panel and find that a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) or a double tax treaty with information exchange (DTT) is more likely when the capital importer is compensated through official development assistence (ODA). We finally demonstrate how the foreign account tax compliance act (FATCA) and similar international initiatives bias the bargaining outcome in favour of capital exporting countries. (authors' abstract) / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

In this article, the author begins by giving an overview of the systems of tax information exchange. Not only describes and analyzes the nature of this figure, but also performs a comprehensive analysis of the content, the subjects involved, and the ways and means of information exchange. Finally, analyzes international agreements on exchange of information on tax matters in Peru which is part. He concludes his analysis by focusing on the implementation of FATCA (Foreingn Account Tax Compliance Act) in Peru. / En el presente artículo, la autora comienza dándonos un panorama general sobre los sistemas de intercambio de información tributaria. No solo define y analiza la naturaleza de esta figura, sino que además realiza un exhaustivo análisis del contenido y sujetos comprendidos, así como de las formas y modalidades del intercambio de información. Finalmente, analiza los acuerdos internacionales sobre intercambio de información de materia tributaria en los cuales el Perú es parte. Concluye su análisis centrándose en la implementación del FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) en el Perú.

La coopération internationale par l’échange de renseignements fiscaux, question classique si bien que marginale, s’est renouvelé dans l’acuité pour devenir l’une des matières les plus sensibles du droit fiscal international contemporain. Malgré tous les efforts politiques et juridiques déployés ces dernières années, et leurs véritables avancées sur le plan de la technique juridique et de l’efficience administrative, il y a raisons de craindre qu’elle rencontre encore des différents limites pour fonctionner efficacement au niveau planétaire. Cette thèse s’occupe d’identifier l’existence d’un régime juridique général des échanges de renseignements fiscaux, assez homogène en matière de contenu et d’application, en contemplation des principaux modèles normatifs non communautaires disponibles à l’actualité, y compris ceux automatiques. Ensuite, la thèse examine la portée de ce régime général, afin d’encadrer les limites à l’échange de renseignements fiscaux et de proposer solutions juridiques pour les dépasser. / International co-operation through the exchange of tax information, a classical but marginal issue, has been renewed to become one of the most sensitive subjects of international tax law. Despite all the political and legal efforts made in recent years, and despite the fact that these efforts are real advances in legal technology and administrative efficiency, there are reasons to believe that international tax co-operation still faces different limitations to operate in a worldwide level. This thesis aims to identify the existence of a general legal regime for the exchange of tax information, fairly homogenous in terms of content and application, in view of the main non-EU normative models available nowadays, including those of automatic exchange. Afterwards, the thesis examines the scope of this general regime in order to frame limits to the exchange of tax information and to propose legal solutions to overcome them.

我國所得稅係採年度申報自繳制度，具有大量、反覆之特性，因此稅捐稽徵機關在所得稅申報期間之前，即已進行各種課稅資訊之蒐集活動，除藉此定出各類所得、費用標準，以作為核課依據外，嗣人民申報其年度所得稅後，即將蒐集之課稅資料與申報資料互相勾稽，作為選定事後審查對象及釐正申報資料與核定所得額之依據；當年度之所得稅申報資料及核定情形復又成為次一年度之課稅基本資料來源及比較對象，二者環環相扣，互為因果關係，形成一個獨立體系，而得以單獨作為研究之對象。次為掌握稅務調查制度之全貌，必須對其作全面性之審視及檢討，故本文採用源自日本之行政法學研究方法「行政過程論」從實現稅務行政目的之過程，歸納、整理所得稅事前課稅資訊蒐集活動及事後審查階段之調查手段、程序、屬性、相關人之法律關係、調查效果及其救濟途徑，以宏觀角度檢視現行法制下之稅務調查制度，藉以發現問題並試圖提出解決方法或修法建議。 / Taiwan adopts an annual self-reporting system for income tax return. Such reporting system involves massive and recurrent information. Hence tax authorities would collect all kinds of tax information before the annual income tax reporting period and use such information to set out the norms for different types of income and expenses as basis for taxation. Upon receiving the annual income tax returns filed by taxpayers, tax officers would check the filed data against the collected tax information, and based on the results, determine the taxpayers to be audited and the assessed income tax. The information contained in an annual income tax return and the results of assessment become the source of basic tax information and comparison for following year’s return. Hence income tax returns of two successive years are interrelated and can form discrete units for research purpose. In order to grasp the full view of the tax investigation system, comprehensive examination of the system is necessary. Thus this study employs the methodology of the “theory of administrative process” originated in Japan to examine the tax investigation system under the prevailing law in a macroscopic manner, from the process of tax administration, pre-filing tax information collection, the means, procedure and attributes of post-filing investigation, legal relationship of the parties concerned, to the effect of investigation and remedies available. This study attempts to discover problems, and based on which, propose solutions or suggestions for regulatory amendment.

The work deals with the topic of electronic communication with the tax authorities. The theoretical part starts with the research of related work and then the development of e-Government to nowadays form is presented. The legislation regarding electronic communication with tax authorities with possible changes towards future follows. The theoretical part of the work is finished with statistics regarding electronic communication with the tax authorities and with comparison of the situation in the Czech Republic with the situation in other European Union countries. In the practical part of the work, a set of best practices which should be obeyed by tax advisors is presented as a main output of the work. Practical part also contains a survey and statistical analysis of data arising from it. The survey is unique because of the fact that all respondents are tax advisors. In the last part, based on the survey, the benefits and shortcomings of the electronic communications with the tax authorities as well as possible steps to streamline are presented.

La tendance contemporaine vers plus de transparence dans la vie des affaires illustre une désaffection générale pour toute forme de confidentialité. Toutefois, cette dernière bénéficie de traductions juridiques dont les sources lui confèrent une indéniable légitimité. Cette observation doit amener à reconnaître l'existence d'un "principe de confidentialité". La rencontre des normes sur la prévention de la criminalité financière avec le principe de confidentialité est source d'insécurité juridique, non seulement pour les professionnels assujettis aux obligations de lutte anti-blanchiment et contre le financement du terrorisme, mais également pour tous les individus dont les données son traitées dans ce cadre. Ces deux blocs de normes aux logiques contradictoires tendant pourtant vers des objectifs communs : le respect des droits fondamentaux. Néanmoins, les excès liés à l'utilisation potentiellement illicite des outils juridiques offerts par l'un, et les défauts des dispositions constituant l'autre, font obstacle à l'application efficace et mesurée du droit. Cette étude se propose d'analyser ces principes antagonistes pour mieux envisager leur équilibre latent au moyen de solutions préservant leurs intérêts propres et concourant à l'amélioration de la sécurité juridique. Dans cette optique, l'exercice de droit comparé permet de parfaire l'interprétation des obligations de vigilance tout en plaidant la réhabilitation du principe de confidentialité. Il témoigne de l'émergence d'un véritable "droit du blanchiment", et en particulier de son volet préventif qui occupe désormais une place prépondérante dans le domaine de la régulation bancaire et financière. / The recent trend towards transaprency in business highlights a more global disenchantment with the concept of secrecy. The concept of secrecy benefits from various legal expressions whose origins give it as undisputable legitimacy. This observation leads us to recognise the existence of a "Principle of confidentiality". The clash betxeen the rules of Financial Crime prevention and this principle of confidentiality is causing legal uncertainty not only for professional subject to Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations but also gor persons whose data is being processed. These two sets of conflicting rules nevertheless share a common goal, namely to ensure respect for fundamental rights. Notwithstanding this, both the risk of abuse of legal instruments offered by one set for illegitimate purposes and the shortcomings attached to the other set potentially hinder the efficient and reasonable use of Law. This study aims at analysing antagonistic principles to reach a certain balance by applying solutions which preserve their respective interests and contribute to legal certainty. In this regard, the comparative law analysis helps better interpret customer due diligence measures whilst rehabilitating the arguments in favour of the principle of confidentiality. This shows the development of e genuine AML/CFT Law and in particular its preventive aspects that form a major part of the Banking and Financial Regulations.