Global Forum Secretariat and United Arab Emirates enhance co-operation to improve tax transparency in the MENA region

The Global Forum Secretariat enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates, confirming UAE’s commitment to the Global Forum’s work on transparency and exchange of information.

Tax: OECD updates OECD Model Tax Convention to extend information requests to groups

The OECD has updated Article 26 of the OECD Model Tax Convention, which sets out the international standard on exchange of information. The standard provides for information exchange on request, where the information is “foreseeably relevant” for the administration of the taxes of the requesting party, regardless of bank secrecy and a domestic tax interest.

Draft Commentary on the International VAT Neutrality Guidelines

The OECD's Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA) invites public comments on the draft Commentary on the International VAT Neutrality Guidelines. This draft Commentary provides guidance on the practical implementation of the six International VAT Neutrality Guidelines approved by the CFA in July 2011. Public comments should be sent before 26 September 2012 to vat@oecd.org.

Tax: Joining forces to fight financial crime and illicit activities

Financial crimes, including corruption, tax fraud and money laundering, are a threat to all countries, both developing and developed. The sums are vast. Estimates have put total proceeds from all illicit activities at 3.6% of global GDP.

OECD Working Party No. 6 releases a discussion draft on the Transfer Pricing Aspects of Intangibles

OECD Working Party No. 6 releases a discussion draft on the Transfer Pricing Aspects of Intangibles

OECD Working Party No. 6 releases a discussion draft on the revision of the Safe Harbours section of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines

OECD releases a discussion draft on the revision of the Safe Harbours section of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines.

Colombia and Mexico sign international tax, human rights and clean business standards

Colombia and Mexico are a step closer to beneffiting from cross border tax co-operation and information sharing. Colombia has signed, and Mexico has deposited its instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

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• Colombia y México firmarán los estándares de tributación internacional, derechos humanos y negocios limpios
• Colombia y México firmarán los estándares de tributación internacional, derechos humanos y negocios limpios

Tax: the average tax burden on earnings in OECD countries continues to rise

The average tax and social security burden on employment incomes increased in 26 out of 34 OECD countries in 2011 according to the new OECD Taxing Wages publication. Tax payers in Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Slovak Republic were among those hit with the largest increases.

Tax evasion: Pressure to end tax evasion grows as the Global Forum publishes new reviews

The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes has just completed peer reviews of 11 jurisdictions. This brings to 70 the number of peer review reports completed since March 2010.

Tax: India ratifies Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters

India has ratified the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, a multilateral agreement developed jointly by the Council of Europe and the OECD that was opened for signature to all countries in June 2011.