From the Panama Papers to the Kiwi Connection

From the Panama Papers to the Kiwi Connection
By Euronews with REUTERS
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Wealthy Latin Americans are using secretive, tax-free New Zealand and trusts to help channel cash around the world, according to a report based on leaks of the so-called Panama Papers.

ADVERTISEMENT

New reports claimed wealthy Latin Americans are using secretive, tax-free trusts in New Zealand to help channel money around the world.

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager, together with Radio New Zealand and TVNZ, broke the story after analysing the leaked documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key said there will now be a review of disclosure rules for foreign trusts but denied his country is a tax haven calling that “utterly incorrect”.

He told reporters: “It’s important to note the existing rules already require foreign trusts to be registered and to keep detailed financial and other records. These can be requested by Inland Revenue and passed onto tax authorities in other countries.”

Key added New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice is moving quickly to tighten anti-money laundering requirements for lawyers, real estates and accountants.

He also attacked journalist Nicky Hager as “a left-wing conspiracy theorist”.

This may come back to haunt the NZ Prime Minister on #panamapapers: “New Zealand is barely even mentioned” https://t.co/r6OjY8knM9

— PeterBale (@PeterBale) 9 May 2016

Foreign trusts in New Zealand are not subject to tax and have minimal disclosure requirements which makes them a possible link in international tax avoidance structures.

There are currently nearly 10,700 such trusts in the country, up from fewer than 2,000 a decade ago and a 300 percent increase since 2008.

Mossack Fonseca actively promoted New Zealand as a good place to do business due to its tax-free status, high levels of confidentiality and legal security according to the investigative report.

The company maintains it has always complied with international rules, but this latest report sheds more light on how the world’s rich take advantage of offshore tax regimes.

Share this articleComments

You might also like