The European Commission announced an European consultation, that had as subject Tax fraud and evasion – better cooperation between national tax authorities on exchanging information and mainly focuses on new business models such as the digital economy.

This public consultation ends 6 April 2020. The subject is explained as follows:

Why we are consulting
This public consultation is the first step to prepare a potential initiative which the Commission is considering in the context of further improving cooperation between tax authorities of the Member States. In addition to addressing some identified shortcomings to existing elements of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation in Direct Taxation, this initiative should provide tax administrations with information on taxpayers who generate income (revenues) through digital platforms. For the purposes of this consultation, the expression “digital platform” is to be interpreted as encompassing a wide range of activities whereby digital platforms facilitate transactions between individuals and/or entities. This includes for example rental or transportation services. This aims at ensuring the adequate taxation of such revenues while streamlining and updating exchange of information more generally. It also will ensure consistency with ongoing work at EU and international level on taxation of the digital platform economy.

It will be interesting to see if Europe will be able to prevent the shadow sides of exchange of information between governments as is seen in the case of the Accidental Americans (reed the FATCA posts on this blog). There undesirable legislation from a foreign country (the US) is exported to EU-countries.

Read more:

• Introduction page Tax fraud and evasion – better cooperation between national tax authorities on exchanging information.
• Page on the public consultation.