Now also available as
eBook
The controversial assumption that underlies tax amnesties is that, at least in
some situations, it is preferable to sacrifice the penalties for past
non-compliance (and perhaps even the tax owing itself) in exchange for
improved compliance in the future. Some commentators argue that tax amnesties
actually undermine future compliance, because some taxpayers may be encouraged
to engage in non-compliance in anticipation of future tax amnesty.
Consequently, tax amnesties must be designed and implemented cautiously from a
public policy perspective. The scope of this highly relevant book is
impressive. It covers the experience with tax amnesties of a variety of
countries, deals with the constitutionality, morality, and economic effects of
tax amnesties, and discusses the compatibility of tax amnesties with
international agreements, in particular, the Treaty of the European Community.
As the renowned international tax expert Brian Arnold observes in the work’s
foreword: ‘The book is an important contribution to the literature on tax
amnesties, as there is no comparable source dealing with the topic . . . It is
timely because the elimination of bank secrecy and the proliferation of Tax
Information Exchange Agreements with tax havens have led several countries to
adopt tax amnesty programs. The book should be required reading for tax
practitioners, scholars, and tax policy officials.’
About the Authors. Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgement. Introduction.
Chapter 1 The International Demise of Bank Secrecy as an Incentive to Tax
Amnesties Chapter 2 Description and Legal Effects of Amnesties in
Selected Countries Chapter 3 Constitutionality and Legality of Tax
Amnesties Chapter 4 Compatibility of Amnesties with International
Agreements Chapter 5 Economic and Moral Evaluation of Tax Amnesties
Conclusion Bibliography. Appendices. Appendix 1 Italy Appendix 2
Belgium Appendix 3 Switzerland Appendix 4 Argentina Appendix 5
Canada Appendix 6 Brazil Appendix 7 United States of America
Appendix 8 United Kingdom Appendix 9 Mexico Appendix 10
Austria Appendix 11 Judgment of the European Court of Justice of July
17, 2008 Italian VAT Amnesty Appendix 12 Opinion of Advocate General
Sharpston October 25, 2007 Appendix 13 Greece. Index.