Image: International Monetary Fund The G20 Development Working Group (DWG) has released a document outlining its call to action for countries to adopt what it terms voluntary and non-binding high-level principles for combating illicit financial flows (IFFs). The DWG falls under the G20’s Sherpa track and is the key G20 forum for the discussion of Read more >
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The Tax Justice Network (TJN) released the 2025 edition of its Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) on 3 June 2025, following on the previous edition released in 2022. The key finding, says the organisation, is that those countries who provide the most financial secrecy are clearly moving towards autocracy. Of this year’s top 10, says TJN, Read more >
The concept of a wealth tax is a current hot topic of discussion around the world. There are numerous arguments for and against the practice, with some saying a wealth tax might be inequitable and place more of a burden on the middle class than the rich, and others saying a moderate, progressive tax is Read more >
For those who wonder why such a fuss is made about illicit financial flows in the form of tax abuse, here is the reason – countries around the world are losing US$492-billion in tax a year because multinational corporations and wealthy individuals are able to use tax havens to avoid or underpay tax. Nearly half Read more >
Image: International Monetary Fund Illicit financial flows (IFFs) have been, and continue to be, a huge problem for developing countries, especially. They hinder countries’ ability to meet the UN sustainable development goals, because they undermine the fiscal systems which are in place to collect government revenue, and reduce the amount of funds available for development Read more >
Image: Flickr/Ryan Morrison Just weeks ago we reported on moves by UN member countries to begin the development of a UN tax convention under resolution 78/230. This would shift the responsibility for setting global tax rules from the OECD to the UN, a move which is expected to help to cut down on global tax Read more >
Image: Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism The global system of taxation is profoundly unequal, and long overdue for change. Global tax rules tend to favour developed countries, to a large degree because the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is the de facto rule setter, and has been for over 60 years. Those Read more >
When corruption is exposed, it is a given that the corrupt will fight back tooth and nail, clinging with all their might to that easy and lucrative source of income or power. A new report, released in April 2024 by the Tax Justice Network, reveals how those who operate in secrecy have found a strategy Read more >
By Mark Bou MansourFirst published on the Tax Justice Network On 22 November countries at the UN adopted, by a landslide majority, a resolution to begin the process of establishing a framework convention on tax and completely change how global tax rules are decided. The framework convention can eventually move decision-making on global tax rules Read more >