WASHINGTON, DC — Global Financial Integrity joined leading civil society groups in calling for swift passage of H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, expected to go to the House floor today for a vote. Multiple groups, ranging from the AFL-CIO to U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG), signed a letter voicing support for the bill which includes language that would tackle banking secrecy and tax evasion.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, as countries around the world observe International Anti-Corruption Day, Washington, DC-based research and advocacy organization Global Financial Integrity (GFI) notes the following victories and defeats from the past year in the fight against international corruption:
The United States Justice Department recently announced the arrest of 1,200 individuals on narcotics charges as part of the four-year, multi-agency law enforcement investigation targeting Mexian drug cartel La Familia known as “Project Coronado.” In addition to arrests, law enforcement agents confiscated $3.4 million in U.S. currency, 729 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 kilograms of cocaine, and 967 pounds of marijuana.
WASHINGTON, DC — Global Financial Integrity (GFI) applauds the on-going work of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service towards bringing wealthy tax evading citizens to justice. Following the release today of the previously confidential “annex” of criteria UBS will use to choose which accounts it remits information on, GFI urges consideration of further comprehensive reform of global financial protocols as significant shortcomings remain in the diplomatic and regulatory landscape.
WASHINGTON, DC – Global Financial Integrity (GFI) Advisor and Tax Justice Network – USA (TJN-USA) Chairman Jack Blum will testify tomorrow morning before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs in support of S. 569, the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act.
WASHINGTON, DC – According to a new analysis of financial jurisdictions prepared by UK-based civil society group Tax Justice Network, the state of Delaware is the most secretive financial jurisdiction in the world. Based on the laws and practices of 60 financial jurisdictions the Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) ranks jurisdictions according to their level of secrecy and the extent to which they cooperate with tax authorities in other countries.
WASHINGTON, DC – The G-20 reaffirmed its commitment to pressing uncooperative secrecy jurisdictions to adopt more rigorous reporting standards, tackle banking secrecy, and increase overall transparency in global finance in a communiqué released at the conclusion of today’s summit in Pittsburgh.
WASHINGTON, DC – As the Group of Twenty meets today in Pittsburgh, Global Financial Integrity (GFI) urges leaders to pursue measures to increase transparency in global finance and curtail illicit financial flows.