Experience in conducting tax amnesty in developing countries before the introduction of automatic exchange of tax information

Abstract

The author provides a detailed overview of an article that examines tax amnesty programs within the framework of international tax initiatives like the BEPS Action Plan and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). The article argues that the integration of these global initiatives and domestic tax amnesties has complex and far-reaching implications for taxpayer behavior, government revenue, and fiscal policy at large. The key themes of the article focus on global tax initiatives, the effectiveness of tax amnesties, the criteria for a successful amnesty program, and their ethical and social implications. The article underscores the transformative role of global frameworks like CRS and BEPS in tax enforcement, pointing to unprecedented levels of transparency and international cooperation. While the short-term revenue boosts from tax amnesties are acknowledged, the article argues that the long-term impacts of these programs on tax compliance and fiscal integrity are less certain. This makes the article’s detailed set of conditions for an effective tax amnesty program particularly valuable for policymakers. The ethical and social implications of tax amnesties are also explored, emphasizing that public trust is crucial for the success of these programs. In terms of methodology, the article combines qualitative analysis with empirical data, such as the OECD survey conducted in 2015, to build its arguments. Its comprehensive approach integrates perspectives from economics, law, and political science, making the findings relevant for a broad audience. In conclusion, the article is a significant contribution to the growing body of literature on tax policy and international cooperation. It offers a nuanced understanding of how domestic tax amnesties interact synergistically with global tax initiatives to impact compliance and revenue collection.

Keywords

• taxes
• tax amnesty
• tax information
• BEPS
• Common Reporting Standard (CRS)
• tax liability