Tax Havens: International Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Abstract

The federal government loses both individual and corporate income tax revenue from the shifting of profits and income into low-tax countries, often referred to as tax havens. Tax havens are located around the world with concentrations in the Caribbean and Europe. Corporate profit shifting may cost up to $60 billion in revenue and remedies are likely to involve tax law changes. Individual income tax losses more often arise from tax evasion, and are facilitated by the lack of information reporting; remedies involve administrative changes, especially in requirements for information reporting. Losses may be as much as $70 billion per year.