Federal Council proposes relaxation of bank secrecy

The Federal Council has commissioned the Finance Department to work on a legislation project with the aim to relax the bank secrecy in case of tax evasion.
Currently, the cantonal tax authorities which are responsible for the assessment of federal and cantonal taxes on income and capital do not have access to bank data. Such access is only granted by a court order provided that sufficient evidence is given that a particular taxpayer committed tax fraud, or in case of severe tax evasion b…