Bandit Gang Writ Large

Will Canada’s hard line on Eritrea’s ‘diaspora’ tax apply to the U.S.?

"There are only two countries in the world that levy income tax based on citizenship rather than residence; one is Eritrea and the other is the United States. But while Canada fulminates and threatens mayhem against Eritrea, it says nothing about the U.S. Even worse, it is actively negotiating with the U.S. to implement an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would have Canada Revenue Agency help the U.S. IRS track down its citizens in Canada and bring them into the U.S. tax fold. Could it be the power gap?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Canada’s hard line on Eritrea’s ‘diaspora’ tax apply to the U.S.?

Swiss government agrees to settle tax evasion dispute with US

"The Swiss federal government has accepted a United States demand to settle a dispute over the alleged complicity of Swiss banks in tax evasion by Americans that will reportedly cost the banks billions of francs. Swiss media have reported that the overall figure could hit 10 billion francs ($10.3 billion). 'If a bank has done a lot of business involving undeclared American funds, it will be a big problem for it,' Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said. She indicated that the Swiss government had been presented with a take it or leave it offer by Washington. 'It was a unilateral offer, one that we couldn't negotiate,' she said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwiss government agrees to settle tax evasion dispute with US

IRS targets First Caribbean International Bank thanks to ‘voluntary disclosure’ program

"A witness statement filed in support of the summons by IRS agent Cheryl Kiger details how, during her investigation into a leak of offshore data, she came across information suggesting FCIB and Barclays accounts may have been used by tax evaders. Kiger also disclosed information obtained from a programme allowing individuals who have previously evaded US tax to voluntarily disclose this information and receive less stringent penalties. She identified at least 129 such cases which had involved the use of bank accounts with FCIB 'its predecessors in the Caribbean'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS targets First Caribbean International Bank thanks to ‘voluntary disclosure’ program

Digital Currency Firms’ Sites Have Been Shut Down.

"One of the companies involved in digital currency transfers is Perfect Money. It just got a lot less perfect. The screws are tightening on digital money sites. Bottom line: the U.S. government reserves the right to shut down any website on earth, at any time — no appeal. Meaning: you can put your legal digital money into these sites. Then, without warning, these sites are defined by the U.S. government as money-laundering sites. They mysteriously go offline. Think of them as roach motels: your money goes in. It does not come out." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDigital Currency Firms’ Sites Have Been Shut Down.

Members Of LAPD SWAT Team Caught Selling Department Guns

"The FBI is investigating whether members of the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite SWAT and Special Investigations Section units violated the law by purchasing large numbers of custom-made handguns and reselling them for profit, according to interviews. The move comes after an earlier LAPD investigation found no wrongdoing on the part of officers. But on Friday, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck acknowledged that that probe was 'clearly lacking' and said the department has opened a second investigation of the weapons transactions that is still ongoing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMembers Of LAPD SWAT Team Caught Selling Department Guns

IRS Official Lois Lerner Refuses To Resign – Gets Paid Leave Of $3,557.69 A Week

"First she refused to testify. Now Lois Lerner, the IRS official at the center of the tax agency scandal, is refusing to resign, according to a top Republican senator. Sources confirmed to Fox News earlier Thursday that Lerner, the head of the IRS division that oversaw the unit targeting conservative groups, had been placed on administrative leave, with pay. But Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, claimed she was only put in that status after refusing to step down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS Official Lois Lerner Refuses To Resign – Gets Paid Leave Of $3,557.69 A Week

Julius Bär bank clients now targeted in US tax probe

"American clients of private bank Julius Bär were told recently that they are the focus of a US tax evasion probe, a Zurich-based daily reported on Tuesday. US tax authorities had requested administrative assistance from their Swiss counterparts to investigate a number of US citizens suspected of having undeclared funds at the Zurich-based bank. The United States has launched investigations into the dealings of around a dozen Swiss banks, including Julius Bär, prompting Switzerland to try to reach an overarching settlement with Washington to provide legal closure for its financial sector." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJulius Bär bank clients now targeted in US tax probe

Google no longer able to pay Android developers in Argentina, pulling apps on July 27th

"Developers in Argentina have begun receiving letters from Google informing them that 'Google Play will no longer be able to accept payments on behalf of developers registered in Argentina starting June 27, 2013.' The change applies to both paid apps and apps that use in-app purchases. The move appears to be related to new, restrictive regulations the Argentine government has imposed on currency exchanges, which The Telegraph detailed this past September. Twitter has quite a few developers complaining about the changes, but it's not clear how many people will be affected." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle no longer able to pay Android developers in Argentina, pulling apps on July 27th

Parking Tickets Issued on Wrecks while Stockholm Burns

"While the Stockholm riots keep spreading and intensifying, Swedish police have adopted a tactic of non-interference. 'Our ambition is really to do as little as possible,' Stockholm Chief of Police Mats Löfving explained to the Swedish newspaper Expressen on Tuesday. Swedish parking laws, however, continue to be rigidly enforced despite the increasingly chaotic situation. Early Wednesday, while documenting the destruction after a night of rioting in the Stockholm suburb of Alby, a reporter from Fria Tider observed a parking enforcement officer writing a ticket for a burnt-out Ford." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingParking Tickets Issued on Wrecks while Stockholm Burns

Original owner of Toronto ex-mayor’s alleged ‘crack’ video may have been killed

"Two separate sources said authorities interviewed a senior member of Ford’s staff regarding the possible link between the video and the killing of 21-year-old Anthony Smith, who is believed to appear in the video with Ford. Smith was shot dead in March. The video’s original owner was reportedly killed because of the potential value of its contents. Ford denied the existence of the video in a short statement on May 24, saying, 'I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.' CBC then reported that Rob Ford’s press secretary and deputy press secretary have both resigned 'on principle,' four days after the mayor fired his chief of staff, Mark Towhey." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOriginal owner of Toronto ex-mayor’s alleged ‘crack’ video may have been killed