Tag Archives: bank secrecy

When It Comes To Banking, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Is The Best Policy (offshore accounts)

by Brian Mahany
Government tax authorities asking banks and credit card companies for information on foreign account holders is hardly news these days. The I.R.S. does it, so do Germany, Britain and many other countries. Officials want to know when their citizens transfer wealth overseas or open foreign accounts. Generally the practice is legal if the

Scam or Legit? Pre-Paid Offshore Debit Cards with No Personal Details

by Brian Mahany
Sounds too good to be true. A Master Card debit card with no name on it. Issued by a bank in Central America, the card does not bear the cardholder’s name. Not on the front of the card or in the magnetic strip.  Apparently the bank requires some identification details but claims those

Let’s Make A Deal - the Swiss Dept. of Justice & Police Edition

Let’s Make A Deal - the Swiss Dept. of Justice & Police Edition by Brian Mahany (www.mahanylaw.com)
Tax attorneys, privacy advocates and the asset protection professionals have been closely watching the litigation between the United States and Swiss bank, UBS. The case started when the IRS sought the identities of U.S. taxpayers behind 52,000 secret accounts

Swiss Bribe Probe - How it Impacts on Investors with Foreign Accounts

Buried in the back of the Wall Street Journal was a tiny article about prosecutors in Switzerland opening an investigation into a government official who allegedly was bribed by a client of Swiss bank, USB AG. The bribe was in return for seeking confidential tax information.
Earlier this year I reported on the case of

“Tax Havens Pledge to Ease Secrecy Laws”

That was the headline on the cover of the Wall Street Journal on March 13, 2009.  And since that headline, virtually every country has given in to the demands of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  As cash strapped governments seek ever dwindling tax monies, the once popular “tax haven” nations are facing