In this country, Switzerland hunts for the most tax evaders

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The hunt for Swiss tax evaders abroad is at its peak. Last year, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) submitted 228 requests for international administrative assistance in tax matters. Five times more than in the previous record year 2020 – when there were only 46 applications.

Which countries the applications go to has so far remained a secret – in order to avoid conclusions about individual applications. A danger that has diminished due to the enormous increase in the number of applications – as a result of which the Tax and Customs Administration is now providing more specific information for the first time.

Austria ahead of France at the top

“The department for information exchange in tax matters has requested administrative assistance from 17 different countries,” ESTV spokesman Patrick Teuscher told Blick. He also mentions the two top positions. Switzerland made the most applications in Austria, followed by France.

According to the authority, the two countries have skipped a number of applications, which means that no conclusions can be drawn on individual applications. She doesn’t want to be more specific.

Teuscher explains last year’s record increase mainly due to the automatic exchange of information. In the course of this, the FTA received “data requiring further clarification”. These clarifications would be made through requests for administrative assistance. And: “This year, the majority of requests related to natural persons.”

More than 25,000 requests from abroad

Incidentally, it is not only domestic tax evaders who pay the bills. Last year, the Tax and Customs Administration received 25,348 requests for administrative assistance from abroad. Great Britain was at the top, followed by France, Denmark, Israel and Austria.

Source:Blick