The Global Forum assists jurisdictions to fight tax evasion through a seminar on international tax cooperation

26 April 2019 - The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum) delivered a five-day seminar on “Exchange of Information as a Tool to Combat Offshore Tax Evasion” in Yangzhou, China on 22-26 April 2019. The seminar was organised as part of the OECD’s Global Relations Programme in Taxation. More than 100 officials from 10 jurisdictions attended this seminar which was led by the Global Forum Secretariat (Mr. Lloyd Garrochinho and Ms. Mathilde Sabouret).

This seminar focused on the connection between the domestic tax investigations, the domestic information gathering framework and the international infrastructure for exchange of information (“EOI”). Participants were introduced to key concepts of transparency and exchange of information (EOI) as assimilated into the international standards: EOI on request, automatic EOI, confidentiality of data and beneficial ownership. Through a series of hands-on workshop exercises, participants were familiarised with the use of EOI networks and structures to improve the quality of tax audits and to combat transnational tax evasion.

Tax auditors were encouraged to make effective use of these EOI tools by increasing the number and quality of outgoing requests to their treaty partners. The seminar has strengthened awareness among participants that protection of domestic revenue is closely linked with the effective use of this EOI network.

Thee Global Foum would like to thank the People's Republic of China once again for the hosting of this event.