January 26, 2011 - US to offer amnesty for Caribbean offshore accounts
The United States says it plans to announce a new amnesty programme aimed at encouraging wealthy Americans with hidden offshore bank accounts in the Caribbean to come forward, declare the funds and pay the necessary taxes.
January 25, 2011 - A 2nd I.R.S. Amnesty for Offshore Accounts
The Internal Revenue Service said on Monday that it would soon announce a new amnesty program aimed at encouraging wealthy Americans with hidden offshore bank accounts to come forward, declare their money and pay taxes owed.
January 24, 2011 - Information thieves help catch tax evaders
But industry experts say action by whistleblowers and the theft of confidential information from banks has done far more in the past two years to prompt tax evaders into voluntary disclosures.
January 24, 2011 - WikiLeaks founder Assange slams Swiss banker arrest
Swiss media have speculated that the data Elmer handed to WikiLeaks on Wednesday concerned Julius Baer operations in the Cayman Islands, where Elmer had headed its operations, and are therefore not covered by laws protecting Swiss banking secrecy.
January 24, 2011 - Swiss ex-banker Elmer held on remand-defence lawyer
A Zurich court decided former Swiss banker Rudolf Elmer should be held on remand after police questioned him last week over possible breaches of Swiss bank law, his defence lawyer's office said over the weekend.
January 20, 2011 - “Whistleblower” avoids jail sentence at Swiss trial
“This information is of historic interest only,” said Anthony Travers, chairman of Cayman Finance, referring to the “long and established record of banking transparency and a willingness to share information – not only with the United States and 20 other jurisdictions with which it has tax information exchange agreements, but with all 27 members of the European Union.”
January 19, 2011 - Swiss arrest ex-banker for giving data to WikiLeaks
Swiss police arrested ex-banker Rudolf Elmer on Wednesday for giving data to Wikileaks, hours after he was found guilty of breaching strict Swiss bank secrecy laws in another case.
January 19, 2011 - Swiss ex-banker linked to WikiLeaks found guilty
A Swiss banker who publicised private client data on WikiLeaks was found guilty on Wednesday of breaching strict banking secrecy and threatening former colleagues, but was given only a suspended fine.
January 19, 2011 - Swiss banker who turned to WikiLeaks admits errors
Still, the case helped spur the discussion in Switzerland about why the country's banks are setting up branches on Caribbean islands if not to help clients exploit tax loopholes, said Thelesklaf.
January 19, 2011 - Swiss arrest ex-banker for giving data to WikiLeaks
At 1830 (1730 GMT) Mr. Elmer was taken into custody by police, having just been found guilty of breaching strict banking secrecy for publicising private client data and of threatening an employee at his former firm Julius Baer.
January 19, 2011 - Tax Leak Consequences Depend on Details
Whether the more than 2,000 wealthy investors and companies from the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere get a knock on the door from the Internal Revenue Service or other American agencies will depend in large part on if the documents contain detailed records showing criminal tax evasion...
January 19, 2011 - Bank WikiLeaks contributor Elmer has his day in court
He acknowledged breaking Swiss bank secrecy laws, part of data protection laws in Switzerland, however, when he admitted that he shared the bank data with “authorities”.
January 19, 2011 - Elmer trial reopens bank secrecy debate
"We were under surveillance. The situation was very threatening. We were very scared and I thought the bank was behind it. That is why I sent the emails," he told the court.
January 19, 2011 - Swiss banker linked to Wikileaks on trial over secrecy
The hearing is expected to last only one day. Prosecutors have asked for Mr Elmer to be sentenced to eight months in jail and fined 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,300; $2,080).
January 19, 2011 - Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks on trial over secrecy
Elmer, a certified auditor who also worked at Credit Suisse and KPMG, said he did not breach Swiss bank secrecy, since the documents he leaked referred to accounts in Cayman, where Swiss courts have no jurisdiction.