Deutsche Post CEO investigated for tax fraud

Well Gids... two points really. First, is it acceptable to break your own laws to catch somebody else breaking your own laws. Meaning, do two wrongs make a right? And second, in the vain hope that any official from Liechtenstein might be reading this dross I may dream that I have improved my chances of becoming a naturalised Liechtensteiner and thereby achieving my lifelong goal of not paying any taxes to politicians who'll just fritter the funds away on things I don't particularly want or agree with in the first place.

Ask a forensic accountant if you don't believe me.

Liechtenstein - Taxes

Well heck let's just start waterboarding people. After all we're bound to uncover some tax cheats somewhere.

*THUNK!*

Did I say Liechtenstiener? Shallow criminal bastards that they are. Sorry, it must have been a typo. I meant to say Monégasque.

Mind you, I could say English and be done with it. I have an uncle who avoided paying any taxes for 37 years and then died peacefully of old age in his sleep a couple of years ago.

No one gives a toss when the government use sneaky tactics to catch benefit fiddlers.
It's only now that some of their own are under threat that some politicians are lwyers are squealing like pigs about the purchase of this CD.

I'm not a fan of the government doing sneaky stuff but I'm not going to lose a hug bunch of sleep over this investment of EUR 5 million.

That crown Prince Bighead has a point though:

An easy to undertsand income tax system for ALL on ALL income.
The country is always broke and the tax gouge on those on middling incomes so severe becasue the rich dodge paying their share, whether individuals or companies.

So, you do support tax simplication after all (preferably a flat tax with personal exemptions since I am sure you don't want to see every euro from the first taxed).
The tax burden in Germany is more strongly weighted towards the middle class than the US, due to the prominence of the MwSt and the complexity of the system; however, let's not assume without proof that only wealthy people and companies cheat on taxes.

Now, MT, what does your far left mind consider the fair share of rich individuals and companies, and how to define who is rich and who isn't? Under the current complex system, should anyone voluntarily pay more in taxes than the tax laws legally require?

Heh? Wherever have I opposed a simplification of tax law in Germany?
The major problem I see with the taxation system in Germany are the write offs whereby the wealthy are allowed to dodge taxation.

First X EUR tax free then a gradual rise in % to a standard level.
One could argue whether over a certain standard level the % should rise for the seriously wealthy.

Sadly such a tax simplicifcation would go againsta lot of interest groups and they would lobby against it.

Reuters


According to Spiegel that newspaper would be the Times, but I couldnt find the original article. Seems as if USA, Kanada and Australia also bought the data. Did they wish to settle those cases quietly? If only german prosecutors had kept their mouths shut.

Germany very publicly nicked Zumwinkel and is banging the drum to get this bunch of thieves worried (even if there is no evidence against them) to admit their tax fraud.
I ead in the SZ last week that there have already been 2 Selbstanzeige in Munich alone for 5 figure sums.
It's a good investment of public money innit.

Daily Mail article on the UK buying their share of the Liechtenstein data.

The thing I do not like is the fact that inefect the tax authorities in Germany and the UK are saying that I cannot choose where I place my cash.

My money does not belong to the governments of either country, I just choose to have cash in bank accounts there. I do not see how placing my money in another country and not paying tax on it here is anything to do with them.

They already tax me on when I am paid, tat should be the end of the matter. Then again, I think its a cheek that I am taxed on any interest I get form money that I have allready paid tax on.

As for the fact that they bought private and confidential information from someone who has broken the law of the country they work in, well, I do not like the idea of governemtns buying confidential financial information.

To me it is just another examle of how governments look at the poeple they govern. Cash cows!

In the case of the US, in a criminal tax matter they conduct the investigation secretly without notifying the target(s). By the time they (or the public) hear about it, the investigators have an airtight criminal case and are ready to proceed either with an indictment or a plea bargain.

According to "Handelsblatt", Feb. 20th USA zwingen Liechtenstein auf Steuer-Linie, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a tight grip on banks in Liechtenstein (and Switzerland, Luxemburg) anyway and bank secrecy virtually doesn't exist for US citizens or greencard holders. Not only do the banks have to forward withholding tax, but they also have to disclose the identity of customers. The banks act as "Qualified Intermediaries" on the basis of contracts they have to conclude with the IRS, otherwise they would be excluded from substantial business with the US. Experts reckon that because of this control exerted by the IRS it is very unlikely that any banks would still "help" American customers with hiding money in Liechtenstein foundations.

so in an easy to understand way, please explain what the benefit is of a lichstenstein, swiss, jersey, cayman account for someone living, working and paying tax in germany?

thankyouplease