India seeks pressure on tax havens to share information

Grappling with the problem of blackmoney, India today asked the international community to impress upon non-cooperative jurisdictions to share information about funds stashed there.

"The governments of those countries should share tax information through regular instruments," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the Governors'' seminar at the ADB meet.

Addressing the meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), he said that there should not be any differentiation between tax evasion and tax fraud. Also, the flow of information should not be hindered.

Some countries or jurisdictions differentiate between tax fraud and tax evasion. This difference in perception assists deliberate concealment of wealth for the purpose of evading tax, something regarded as crime all over the world, and impedes effective exchange of information.

Concerned over blackmoney, specially stashed abroad, the Indian government has concluded 11 TIEAs and 13 new Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs), along with revision of provisions of 10 existing DTAAs in 2010-11.

Addressing the conference, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said, "We have to continue the fight against corruption and non-cooperative jurisdiction." The aim of the G20 is to prepare a framework for "solid, sustainable and balanced growth."

Lagarde also pressing on the need to reform international monetary system to meet the challenges of today.