UBS Strike Deal With US To Hand Over Biggest Accounts

A preliminary agreement has been reached in the tax evasion dispute between Swiss Bank UBS and US authorities.

UBS has agreed "in principle" to hand over records of 5'000 of the biggest accounts that allegedly conceal unreported wealth.The agreement diffuses a potentially embarrassing conflict between Swiss and US authorities.

Although the US government originally sought up to 52'000 names, the expectation that these accounts will reveal the most blatant offenders allows them to save face.

The worry for offshore account holders now, is whether this tentative agreement will serve as the launch pad for further probes into other offshore banking centers.

Swiss officials maintain that this development does not compromise the country's bank secrecy laws.

Leave a comment

Recent Entries

  • The Untapped Energy Riches of Uzbekistan

    While many Western investors remain fixated on somehow acquiring a slice of Turkmenistan's natural gas riches, despite a recent scandal over the country's actual reserves,...

  • Macau Gaming Industry

    Macau was both the first and last European colony in China. Gambling in Macau was legalized in 1850, under Portuguese rule, and since that time...

  • Status of Uruguay Bank Secrecy Delicately Balanced

    Uruguay bank secrecy hangs delicately poised after conflicting statements of intent from rival candidates ahead of October presidential elections.Just a week after Frente Amplio candidate...

  • Swiss Banker Wegelin Weighs-in

    Wegelin & Company have been Private Bankers since 1741. Recently they provided some insightful commentary about the agreement between the USA and Switzerland related to...

  • Swiss Private Banks Accept End Of Bank Secrecy For Tax Evasion

    Swiss private bankers will in future insist that their clients are tax compliant, if remarks made by banking heads at a private banking conference in...

Tag Cloud

Close