LKY's $$$$ Laundering Bank = UBS SHIT BRICK!

[uncleyap]

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/event/fc/20090220/inubs.html

逃稅天堂已死 瑞銀行認助逃稅罰款60億

電視劇電影中經常出現的對白「將錢存入我瑞士銀行戶口」恐怕要改寫，皆因瑞銀向美政府承認助客戶避稅，被罰款60億，並同意提交百計可疑美國客戶的資料，令瑞士銀行業「馳名」的保密制面臨崩潰...
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重點文章

• 高層教富戶買珠寶瞞資產（明報）(05:05)

瑞銀指美當局打壓或被迫倒閉
(星島) 2月21日 星期六 15:20
涉嫌協助美國客戶暪稅的瑞士銀行（UBS）周五發出警告，聲稱如果該銀行遵照美國當局所發出的命令，提供及披露數以千計有份暪稅的客戶名單，該行可能會倒閉。...


瑞銀要向美提供客戶資料
(明報) 2月21日 星期六 11:05
瑞士法庭裁定，最大銀行瑞銀需向美國當局提供客戶資料，裁決將令美國更易向在海外銀行有帳戶的人士追稅。...


瑞士傳媒轟政府向美國「投降」
(明報) 2月21日 星期六 05:05
【明報專訊】對於華府再次要求瑞銀提交涉嫌逃稅的美國客戶資料，瑞士傳媒及專家都痛斥華府弄垮瑞士的銀行保密法，並指摘瑞士政府向美國「投降」。...


瞞稅代碼曝光 1隻天鵝等於100萬
(明報) 2月21日 星期六 05:05
【明報專訊】根據美國國稅局調查人員呈交的法庭文件，瑞銀多年來以不同手段，秘密為富有客戶隱瞞資產及海外證券交易。而瑞銀亦一直承認此舉會引致美國當局介入調查，便有可能導致它喪失美國銀行牌照。...




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• 瑞銀助逃稅 罰款60億 向美交帳戶資料 保密制瀕崩潰（明報）2月20日 星期五 05:05

 

[uncleyap]

Re: LKY's $$$$ Laundering Bank SHIT BRICK!

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090219/4/arxc.html

避稅天堂已死 重挫瑞士

(明報)2月20日 星期五 05:05

【明報專訊】銀行帳戶保密機制，向被視為瑞士 在全球銀行業競爭中最重要優勢。有分析形容，瑞銀交出帳戶資料，勢重挫瑞士銀行業，亦令其離岸（offshore）金融服務市場的前景亮起紅燈。但瑞士政府仍試圖派定心丸，聲稱瑞銀只提交涉及稅務詐騙罪行客戶的資料，瑞士銀行保密制「依然完整」。


西方國家07年底掀起追稅風暴，夾處瑞士與奧地利之間的列茲敦士登率先遭殃。這個迷你小國靠低稅與銀行保密政策立足於歐洲，追稅風暴掐斷這一經濟命脈，令該國陷入數十年最嚴重經濟危機。但這對全球金融業的影響，比不上美國 政府狙擊瑞銀。


瑞士是全球最大離岸金融中心，管理7萬億美元 相 關資產中的1/3。瑞士銀行業吸引外國富豪使用其服務的法寶，是實施帳戶資料保密不申報制度，令客戶私隱得到極大保障。根據瑞士法律，單純逃稅不算刑事犯 罪，除非有清晰證據顯示存戶捲入稅務詐騙案時，銀行才可向外國稅務當局轉移涉案者的帳戶資料。《新蘇黎世報》形容，瑞銀交出客戶名單，等同「投降」，前國 會議員蓬切特更道﹕「這是瑞士最重要產業的大災難。」


為西方政府開先例 恐掀索償潮


美林 分 析員指出，這次事件為資金緊絀的西方政府開了先例，它們將來可用類似協議，向那些當逃稅幫兇的銀行索償。瑞銀承認，「隨着美國跨境逃稅事件被揭露，不同地 區的稅務與監管當局，可能把矛頭指向由瑞銀或其他金融機構提供的跨境財務管理服務」。有瑞士稅務專家稱，瑞士將來仍可實施一些保密政策，但對那些來自嚴打 逃稅國的潛在客戶來說，瑞士的「離岸金融服務已死」。
路透社/法新社

 

[uncleyap]

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090219/4/arx9.html

瑞銀助逃稅 罰款60億 向美交帳戶資料 保密制瀕崩潰

(明報)2月20日 星期五 05:05

【明報專訊】瑞士 將不再是「富豪避稅天堂」。該國最大銀行瑞銀（UBS）被美國 司法部門指控透過離岸金融服務，幫美國客戶逃稅。瑞銀周三承認指控，宣布與美國達成和解，同意繳付7.8億美元 （逾60億港元）罰款。瑞銀還打破帳戶保密傳統，同意向美國當局提交百計可疑美國客戶的資料，令瑞士銀行業保密制有可能崩潰。


經過年半的高調訴訟，瑞銀承認協助美國納稅人逃稅，瑞銀主席庫勒爾（Peter Kurer）發表聲明說﹕「我們要對這些不當行為負上全責。」美國司法部當初展開調查時，因瑞士政府對透露客戶資料有保留，令調查進展緩慢。但瑞士金融監 管機構FINMA昨發表聲明稱，這宗官司已危及瑞銀的資金流動性，令它處於「存亡危急關頭」，這一威脅迫使FINMA推動瑞銀與美方和解。


利用香港等地空殼公司避稅


這是美國同類案件歷來最大宗和解協議。根據協議，瑞銀需向美國支付7.8億美元罰款及賠償。消息人士指這筆罰款比預期的10億美元低，因華府考慮到 瑞銀在金融危機中嚴重虧損，才網開一面。瑞銀承諾盡快結束向持有秘密戶口的美國客戶提供理財服務，另需提交可疑客戶的身分及戶口資料。儘管美國司法部沒透 露瑞銀將交出多少客戶資料，但瑞士財長透露，約250至300名客戶涉案。


瑞銀被指幫約1.7萬名美國客戶向美國稅局隱瞞身分和帳戶，協助他們逃稅。檢控當局估計，單在02至07年，瑞銀便幫美國客戶隱藏200億美元資 產，令當局每年少收3億美元稅款，瑞銀每年則透過向美國客戶提供離岸金融服務，賺取約2億美元。據瑞銀前高層比肯費爾德稱，瑞銀會為美國客戶在避稅天堂如 香港、巴拿馬 、列支敦士登等地，利用假帳戶及開設空殼公司等手法避稅。


匯控稱未受美政府調查


對於瑞銀向華府交出帳戶資料作為和解，會否影響本港客戶，瑞銀在香港的發言人不予置評。若有外國政府要求本港的機構提供帳戶資料，以協助調查逃稅事宜，會由稅務局 負責協調。


匯控（0005）在英國 總部的發言人回應本報查詢時說，集團至今沒收到被美國政府調查的消息，強調集團是依足法律程序，及根據各地不同的規例，為客戶提供金融服務。


和解協議雖中止美國司法部對瑞銀的刑事調查，但對其民事起訴仍將繼續。美國稅局已向瑞銀發出傳票，要求交出1.9萬名涉嫌逃稅的客戶資料。

 

[uncleyap]

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090220/4/as0s.html

華府再就逃稅案狀告瑞銀

(明報)2月20日 星期五 09:10

美國 政府提訟控告瑞士 銀行，以逼使對方披露5.2萬名持秘密戶口的美國客戶身分，指逃稅金額可達148億美元 。


剛在此前一天，瑞銀才與美國稅局達成和解，同意支付7.8億美元(約61億港元)，以脫掉涉嫌幫助客戶逃稅的刑事案。


但美國司法部周四表示，瑞銀以瑞士銀行保密法為由，拒絕披露部分5.2萬名美國客戶的身分。
如今美國再次提訟，將令雙方陷於法庭戰。
（法新社）

 

[uncleyap]

http://www.financialpost.com/money/taxes/story.html?id=1303239

UBS fined US$780-million in U.S. tax dispute

Reuters Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Related Topics

• Thomson Reuters Corporation
• UBS AG
• Financial Services Sector
• Internal Revenue Service

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WASHINGTON -- Swiss bank UBS AG will pay US$780-million and hand over the names of some U.S. customers in an agreement to resolve criminal charges that it defrauded U.S. tax authorities.
The Justice Department said on Wednesday that Switzerland's largest bank has entered into what is known as a deferred prosecution agreement on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States by impeding the Internal Revenue Service.
In an unprecedented move, UBS, based on an order by the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority (FINMA), agreed to immediately provide the U.S. government with the identities of, and account information for, certain United States customers, the department said.
UBS has also agreed to expeditiously exit the business of providing banking services to United States clients with undeclared accounts, it said.
UBS agreed to pay a total of US$780-million in fines, penalties, interest and restitution, the department said. The agreement was accepted by a federal judge in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
John A. DiCicco, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's Tax Division, said in a statement, "The veil of secrecy has been pulled aside and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who shirk their federal tax obligations or assist others in doing so."
© Thomson Reuters 2009

 

[uncleyap]

http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=7181226&subject=companies&action=article

(AFX UK Focus) 2009-02-22 14:17
US Senate delays tax haven hearing over UBS-paper

ZURICH, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has delayed a hearing on tax haven banks and a bid to get details of U.S. clients with Swiss accounts after a settlement this week with UBS.

<tt> Switzerland's Sonntagszeitung newspaper said the hearing had been delayed to allow the events of the last week to be "digested", according to an unnamed source.</tt>

<tt> The Senate committee's website said the hearing had been rescheduled to March 4 from Feb. 24, without giving reasons.</tt>

<tt> UBS, Switzerland's biggest bank, agreed on Wednesday to pay a $780 million fine and hand over some client names to settle U.S. criminal charges that it helped rich Americans dodge taxes.</tt>
<tt> But U.S. tax authorities said on Thursday they were still pursuing a civil case seeking access to 52,000 more names of U.S. citizens it says are hiding assets in secret Swiss bank accounts.</tt>

<tt> Earlier this month, the panel said the hearing would focus, in part, on a summons served by the Internal Revenue Service on UBS.</tt>

<tt> The hearing will mark the next step in a long-running probe by the committee into offshore tax havens.</tt>


(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Erica Billingham) Keywords: UBS/SENATE (Zurich Newsroom, [email protected], +41 58 306 7336)

 

[uncleyap]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090222/bs_nm/us_ubs_2

UBS chairman attacked over U.S. tax fraud probe: paper

<!-- end: .tools --> <cite class="vcard"> By Emma Thomasson Emma Thomasson </cite> – <abbr title="2009-02-22T06:42:19-0800" class="recenttimedate">44 mins ago</abbr>
<!-- end .byline -->
<!-- end: .hd --> <cite class="caption"> Reuters – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss bank UBS Peter Kurer gestures as he makes a speech during … </cite>

<!-- end .primary-media -->
<!-- end .related-media --> ZURICH (Reuters) – Pressure mounted on Sunday on the chairman of UBS (UBSN.VX) (UBS.N) to step down after the Swiss bank was engulfed in a storm of criticism over its handling of a U.S. probe into tax fraud.

The Sonntag newspaper said it had surveyed the 246 members of the upper and lower houses of parliament and 23 said they wanted Peter Kurer to go, while 16 of them also thought Chief Executive Marcel Rohner should step down.

"I am disappointed by the whole UBS leadership. Communication is lacking. The top management no longer feels what moves the people. Peter Kurer should take the consequences," Thomas Hurter from the Swiss People's Party (SVP) told the paper.

Philipp Mueller, a parliamentarian from the pro-business Free Democrats, said Philipp Hildebrand, vice-president of the Swiss National Bank who masterminded a rescue package for UBS in October, would be the perfect replacement.

"Hildebrand is an absolutely trustworthy figure. He is highly competent ... and has precise and razor-sharp analysis," he said, adding his view was shared by the rest of his party.

However, the newspaper noted Hildebrand had been a candidate to replace former chairman Marcel Ospel when Kurer took over in April last year, but had not had enough support on the board.

A UBS spokesman rejected reports in Swiss newspapers on Sunday that suggested that Kurer and Rohner had been aware of illegal offshore structures, saying neither U.S. nor Swiss authorities were accusing them of this.

"The assertion that Mr Kurer or Mr Rohner knew about tax fraud via offshore structures is false," he said in a statement, noting that the Swiss financial regulator had concluded that top UBS management had no knowledge of fraudulent business.

NO END TO BANK WOES

UBS agreed on Wednesday to pay a $780 million fine and hand over some client names to settle U.S. criminal charges.

But U.S. authorities said on Thursday they were still pursuing a civil case seeking access to 52,000 more names of U.S. citizens it says are hiding assets in secret Swiss bank accounts.

The news pushed UBS shares down to record lows on Friday, dampening hopes the settlement of the criminal case would end uncertainties hanging over the troubled company, which has made more writedowns in the crisis than any other European bank.

The UBS spokesman added that since the agreement with the U.S. authorities no new documents or facts had come to light.

"How much longer, Kurer?" asked the mass-circulation Blick tabloid on Saturday, noting that Kurer was warned about irregularities in the U.S. offshore business in 2006 when he was the bank's general counsel.

But Eugen Haltiner, head of the Swiss financial regulator, defended the UBS chairman.

"Our investigations have shown that Mr Kurer acted immediately when he became aware of this situation as head of legal and compliance. He acted responsibly. That can be confirmed," he told the Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Saturday.

The irregularities within the bank were a failing of a few people in a company of 75,000 employees rather than a general problem, Haltiner added.

(Editing by Chris Pizzey and Jon Loades-Carter)