On Friday, tax collectors from more than 30 countries reached an agreement to cooperate more closely to prevent international tax evasion and non-compliance. The 'Seoul Declaration', signed by the heads of national revenue authorities following the OECD's 3rd Forum on Tax Administration in South Korea.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said the group's 'forum on tax administration' intends to clamp down on a growing problem of non compliance with international tax laws.

These measures include developing a directory of tax shelters and 'aggressive tax planning schemes,' as well as strategies to combat such evasion. The group intends to study the role of lawyers, accountants, banks and other intermediaries in promoting such tax schemes.

It also intends to boost training of tax officials on international tax issues and develop new guidelines to improve corporate governance, which it called key to reducing with tax laws.


The statement identified four areas in which OECD tax authorities plan to focus in dealing with tax avoidance schemes, including the launch of an international study examining the role of tax-related institutions with regard to non-compliance, to be completed by 2007.

Nine non-member countries, including China, India and Malaysia also participated in the meeting.


PIctured Seoul and Isle of Man Finance London office.