topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2246.89 -1.05
DAX 6730.88 -0.85
IBEX 30 8841.7 -0.68
CAC 40 3400.18 -0.72
FTSE 100 5881.76 -0.23
AEX 322.64 -0.76
DJIA 12890.46 0.05
Nasdaq 2927.23 0.39
FTSE MIB 16589.05 -0.39
TSX Composite 12497.94 -0.18
ASX 4322.6 -0.79
Hang seng 20783.86 -1.08
Straits Times 2960 -0.71
ISEQ 20 502.25 -0.29
You are here: Home News Belgian News Belgians with Liechtenstein accounts to be looked into

Belgian News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


10/09/2008Belgians with Liechtenstein accounts to be looked into

The Brussels public prosecutor has opened an investigation into Belgians with bank accounts in Liechtenstein.

10 September 2008

BRUSSELS -- The Brussels Public Prosecutor has opened an investigation into Belgians who have a bank account in the principality of Liechtenstein.

According to the daily De Tijd, the tax inspectors have already been investigating 50 Belgian account holders whose names were passed on by the German authorities.

In February, German tax inspectors raided clients of the Liechtenstein LGT bank and found 1,400 German names on a CD Rom with bank account numbers in Liechtenstein. Among the German names was the director of the Deutsche Post (German Post Office) who was forced to resign his post.

The German authorities found 50 Belgian names and passed the information along to the Belgian tax authorities.

As cooperation between the judiciary and the tax inspection can present a sticky legal situation, detectives have interrogated the director of the tax inspection about the information received by the Germans. The director is a witness in the prosecutor's case.

According to the spokesman of the Brussels public prosecutor Jos Colpin, it will be possible for the Belgians implicated to settle out of court depending on where the money came from. If it was a money laundering operation, sanctions would inevitably be more serious.

Germany and other Western European countries have long been at odds with Liechtenstein and other countries with bank secrecy laws. They say that these laws enable tax evasion.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

English in Belgium

ascent of language in belgium

Family in Belgium

Question about summer program/camp in Belgium

Healthcare in Belgium

How to find a good Physio and optometrist?

Jobs in Belgium

IFAs / FSIs / Country Managers / Confidential Introducers

Housing in Belgium

Flatmate Wanted as from mid February – SPACIOUS DUPLEX/PENTHOUSE

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Looking for work in Belgium

Looking for work in Belgium

This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, Belgian management culture.

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Moving to Belgium presents a host of challenges to expats, not least of all finding the right home.

Learning to cope with life abroad

Learning to cope with life abroad

The psychological effects of global mobility can be physically painful.