Switzerland to provide details of secret banks accounts held by Indians

22 Sep 2011 Evaluate

Switzerland has agreed to share the information of the secret banks accounts held by Indians, if it is in the framework of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).  Switzerland Ambassador Philippe Welti said that his country would share details of the secret bank accounts held by Indians, provided everything is within the framework of the revised double taxation treaty between the two nations.

In June, Switzerland’s Parliament approved the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India allowing access to details of its citizens having unaccounted money on Swiss banks. After the Parliament’s approval, treaty is been open to the study by Swiss people for 100 days, which is getting over on October 6.

India had inked a treaty with Switzerland to review the DTAA in August 2010. After the implementation of DTAA, India will be able to access the information for cases related to tax evasion too. As per the data of Swiss National Bank, by the end of 2010, the total deposits of Indian individuals and companies with all the Swiss banks was collectively around $2.5 billion.  The activities and civil societies have been pressuring Indian government on the issue of black money. The government is looking at many options including renegotiation of existing bilateral agreements to bring black money stashed by Indians in bank’ accounts abroad.

However, on the legality of assets held by Indians in Swiss banks, Philippe Welti said 'We assume that everything is legal'. It is for the Indian Government to make a case if they think that something out of this is illegal, he added.

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