Taxes

Berlin drafts law aimed at shell company tax cheats

Germany is looking to intensify its crackdown on tax evaders who are stashing their assets in offshore companies, according to a draft law seen by AFP on Thursday.

Taxes

Swiss charge banker who helped nab German tax cheats

Switzerland has charged a former employee of the country's largest bank UBS with allegedly selling German authorities the files of wealthy clients suspected of tax evasion, officials and media said Tuesday.

Police

Police raid DFB over 2006 bribery allegations

Police have raided the offices of the German Football Federation (DFB) in connection with a €6.7 million payment to Fifa allegedly used to buy votes for the 2006 World Cup.

Taxes

German firms cut secret Luxembourg tax deals

Dozens of German firms are among the 340 international companies revealed to have struck secret tax deals in Luxembourg, allowing them to reduce tax bills despite having minimal activity in the tiny duchy.

evasion

German rich and famous in taxman's crosshairs

Many of Germany's rich, powerful and famous have hit trouble recently, not because of drugs or sexual escapades, but because the taxman has found out about their Swiss bank accounts.

Taxes

'Champagne socialist' mayor loses his fizz

Pressure is mounting on Berlin’s long-serving mayor over revelations he knew a close political ally had avoided paying taxes on money stashed in a Swiss bank. The mayor has tried to avoid the scandal while on a ski break.