Invitation to Seminar “US: A Tax Haven” – July 17, 2-4pm

Ethical MarketsConferences

On behalf of New Rules for Global Finance, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung and the FACT Coalition, it is my pleasure to invite you to our Seminar “United States: A Tax Haven,” to be held June 17, 2012 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779  Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

 

The public perception of tax havens as a tropical island with low tax rates is out-dated. The reality is that geography is irrelevant to low tax rates, lax regulation and financial secrecy. In fact, here in the United States, Delaware functions as an “onshore” tax haven for more than 60 percent of US corporations. Leslie Wayne, author of the Sunday, July 1, 2012, New York Times article “To Delaware, With Love” will join the Seminar’s panel to discuss the growth of tax havens in the US, focusing on Delaware.

 

This Seminar has three objectives: 1) The first objective will be to increase awareness of tax havens or “secrecy jurisdictions,” especially the ones operating in the US; 2) The second objective will be to explain tax havens. How do they operate? What does the law say about tax havens? What new laws or regulations can rein in tax evasion and banking secrecy?; and 3) The third objective will be to discuss the impact of tax havens. Who benefits? Who loses? What is the impact on public goods, both globally and in the US context?

 

We anticipate 4 or 5 panelists, each speaking about 12 minutes, followed by discussion with the audience. When the full panel is confirmed we will make another announcement. As of now the panel will include:

 

Leslie Wayne, Journalism Professor at Columbia and NYU (former reporter at NY Times)

Jack Blum, Chairman, Tax Justice Network USA

Liane Schalatek, Associate Director, Hienrich Boell Foundation

Erika Siu, Legal & Tax Policy Consultant, UNDP

Richard Geisenberger, Assistant Secretary of State, and Director of Corporations, Delaware (TBD)

 

RSVP to Nathan Coplin at [email protected].