On 6 December 2016, the Council adopted a directive granting access for tax authorities to information held by authorities responsible for the prevention of money laundering.

The directive will require member states to provide access to information on the beneficial ownership of companies. It will enable tax authorities to access that information in monitoring the proper application of rules on the automatic exchange of tax information. It will thus help prevent tax evasion and tax fraud. The directive will apply as from 1 January 2018. It is one of a number of measures set out by the Commission in July 2016, in the wake of the April 2016 Panama Papers revelations. 

The directive was adopted at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, without discussion. The European Parliament has given its opinion on 22 November 2016. Member states will have until 31 December 2017 to transpose the directive into national laws and regulations.

 

Press release

Council Directive

 

Informatiesoort: Nieuws

Rubriek: Europees belastingrecht

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