Taxation: EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions

What is the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions?

The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

The EU is working to improve international tax governance. Given the global nature of unfair tax competition, this also means addressing external challenges to EU countries’ tax bases.

The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes is a tool to tackle:

Tax fraud or evasion: illegal non-payment or under payment of tax.

Tax avoidance: use of legal means to minimise tax liability.

Money laundering: concealment of origins of illegally obtained money.

It lists non-EU countries that encourage abusive tax practices, which erode member states’ corporate tax revenues.

By identifying these countries at EU level, member states can act together to put pressure for reform. The aim is not to name and shame countries, but to encourage positive change in their tax legislation and practices, through cooperation.

Jurisdictions that do not yet comply with all international tax standards but have committed to reform are included in a state of play document (Annex II). Once a jurisdiction meets all its commitments, it is removed from the annex.

As of 6 October 2020, the EU list is composed of:

American Samoa

Anguilla

Barbados

Fiji

Guam

Palau

Panama

Samoa

Trinidad and Tobago

US Virgin Islands

Vanuatu

Seychelles

EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (press release, 6 October 2020)

Source; consilium.europa.eu