OECD chief tells Swiss to face up to 'harder' tax climate

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GENEVA, Apr 18 (AFP): OECD chief Angel Gurria told Switzerland to face up to a new "harder" international climate surrounding tax secrecy, in an interview published today.
"When Switzerland raised objections, we understood but our reaction was to say: there's a new, much harder, climate. Rather than being offended, try to understand what it means," Gurria told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
The Swiss government moved to ease banking secrecy last month by seeking selective exchange of information with foreign countries, following months of pressure in a crackdown on tax evasion triggered by the financial crisis.
But Switzerland protested at being placed on the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development's 'grey' list of about 40 financial centres that "have committed to the internationally agreed tax standard, but have not yet substantially implemented" it.
Gurria suggested that the criteria for moving out of that section into the list of compliant states or territories were rather loose.
"My idea is to have proof that they act very quickly to fulfill their commitments," said the OECD chief.
"Even if a country still has zero treaties in six months, because of its political process, that won't mean nothing has been done."