Tax Evasion: Bercy opens the list parliamentarians

The Minister of Budget, Eric Woerth, wants transparency in the case of tax fraud held in Liechtenstein.
Rebondissement in the "hunt" for tax fraud in Liechtenstein launched by the government: the chairmen and general rapporteurs of the Finance Committees of the National Assembly and the Senate may, if they wish, have access to the names of two hundred fraudsters Alleged awarded by the British authorities to France. The Minister of Budget, Eric Woerth, said yesterday would act "in the interests of transparency," should receive the parliamentarians Wednesday morning at Bercy, so that they can consult the record.

Inédite, this decision follows a request Wednesday evening to Minister of Budget by Didier Migaud (PS) and Gilles Carrez (UMP), respectively president and general rapporteur of the Committee on Finance of the Assembly. Both want to "get acquainted with the names held by the ministry (of the budget) as well as suites that (Bercy) intends to take on this matter."

The positive response from the Department of Budget is somewhat surprising. It could mainly worry a little more the two hundred taxpayers whose names appear on the list. According to the Finance Committee of the Assembly, this request is perfectly legitimate and governed by Article 57 of the Organic Law to the laws of the famous finance LOLF devoted to parliamentary scrutiny. "I will not go to Bercy Wednesday," said yesterday Jean Arthuis, chairman of the finance committee of the Senate. "I think the tax secrecy is stronger than LOLF. The names I am not interested. What I want to know is why and how this fraud has arrived, what are the amounts involved and what action will be given, "he added.

Criminal Investigation
Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue is continuing its investigations. Without knowing it, the two hundred French are already subject to a tax audit. They risk losing big if the procedure is completed: penalties, interest, fines and even prison sentences. According Bercy, no personality in order not included in this list. The french taxman has not yet before the courts. He has an interest in good lock individual files. In criminal law french, it is forbidden to produce parts that have been the subject of a theft or a stolen property. Even if it was not purchased by France, the list in the possession of Bercy comes, originally a robbery committed by a bank employee. "The way in which the information was obtained bank may have problems," argues the international tax expert Edward Chambost.

Germany has been less than gloves and did not wait for ruling that the legal debate on the origin of fraudulent documents to open a criminal investigation. And run some nine hundred warrants for searches of homes of taxpayers. According to several tax experts, such a scenario would be impossible in France.