Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Belgium 2013 : Phase 2: Implementation of the Standard in Practice / Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Contributor:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Series:

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, 2219469X.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Finance--Belgium.

Finance.

Belgium--Economic conditions.

Belgium.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (108 pages)

Place of Publication:

Paris : OECD Publishing, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This report contains the “Phase 2: Implementation of the Standard in Practice” review for Belgium, as well as revised version of the “Phase 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework review” already released for this jurisdiction. The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes is the multilateral framework within which work in the area of tax transparency and exchange of information is carried out by 120 jurisdictions, which participate in the Global Forum on an equal footing. The Global Forum is charged with in-depth monitoring and peer review of the implementation of the international standards of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes. These standards are primarily reflected in the 2002 OECD Model Agreement on Exchange of Information on Tax Matters and its commentary, and in Article 26 of the OECD Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital and its commentary as updated in 2004. The standards have also been incorporated into the UN Model Tax Convention. The standards provide for international exchange on request of foreseeably relevant information for the administration or enforcement of the domestic tax laws of a requesting party. Fishing expeditions are not authorised but all foreseeably relevant information must be provided, including bank information and information held by fiduciaries, regardless of the existence of a domestic tax interest or the application of a dual criminality standard. All members of the Global Forum, as well as jurisdictions identified by the Global Forum as relevant to its work, are being reviewed. This process is undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 reviews assess the quality of a jurisdiction’s legal and regulatory framework for the exchange of information, while Phase 2 reviews look at the practical implementation of that framework. Some Global Forum members are undergoing combined – Phase 1 and Phase 2 – reviews. The Global Forum has also put in place a process for supplementary reports to follow-up on recommendations, as well as for the ongoing monitoring of jurisdictions following the conclusion of a review. The ultimate goal is to help jurisdictions to effectively implement the international standards of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes. All review reports are published once approved by the Global Forum and they thus represent agreed Global Forum reports.

Contents:

Table of Contents; About the Global Forum; Executive Summary; Introduction; Overview of Belgium; General information on the legal and tax system; Overview of the financial sector and the relevant professions; Compliance with the Standards; A. Availability of Information; Overview; A.1. Ownership and identity information; A.2. Accounting records; A.3. Banking information; B. Access to Information; Overview; B.1. Competent Authority's ability to obtain and provide information; B.2. Notification requirements and rights and safeguards; C. Exchanging Information; Overview

C.1. Information exchange mechanismsC.2. Exchange-of-information mechanisms with all relevant partners; C.3. Confidentiality; C.4. Rights and safeguards of taxpayers and third parties; C.5. Timeliness of responses to requests for information; Summary of Determinations and Factors Underlying Recommendations; Annex 1: The Jurisdiction's Response to the Peer Review; Annex 2: List of All Exchange of Information Mechanisms in Force; Annex 3: List of Agreements Signed by Belgium that Still Need to be Ratified to Allow for EOI to the Standard

ISBN:

9789264192065

9264192069