The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is updating its anti-corruption policy to address tax secrecy, tax evasion and aggressive forms of tax planning – collectively referred to as tax integrity issues – in the wake of recent global developments.
Globally, it is estimated that developing countries lost around $5.6 trillion as a result of illicit tax flows between 2001 and 2010, including tax evasion, with Asia accounting for over 60% of the total.
“Tax evasion, including the misuse of offshore structures for concealing wealth, deprives countries of badly needed tax income and can also become a potential vehicle for illicit activities like money laundering and terrorism financing,” said Clare Wee, Head of the Office of Anti-corruption and Integrity at ADB.
“The ADB as an international financial institution has a global and regional role to play to promote global tax transparency and to help its developing member countries to combat tax evasion and to protect their tax bases against aggressive forms of tax planning.”
Ms Wee said the policy update would set out ADB’s commitment to provide assistance to its developing member countries, to adopt best practices at a project level, and to assess and mitigate the risk of tax evasion and other tax integrity issues.
Significant progress has been made in recent years on global measures to increase tax transparency. However, the misuse of offshore vehicles and aggressive forms of tax planning by multinationals are of pressing concern. Many developing countries, including a number of them in Asia and the Pacific, lack the resources and expertise to comply with international standards for tax transparency and to protect domestic tax bases against aggressive forms of tax planning.
The updating of ADB’s anti-corruption policy will include measures to strengthen and promote tax integrity at country and project levels. It includes a commitment to provide technical assistance to ADB’s developing member countries to stem tax evasion, meet international standards for tax transparency, and participate in global initiatives against aggressive forms of tax planning.
ADB’s update supports the work of organisations including the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United Nations.
The ADB has posted on its website a draft consultation paper to gather feedback from relevant external stakeholders on its proposed policy update.
The policy update will go to ADB’s board of directors for consideration and approval in the fourth quarter of 2016.
The ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
Established in 1966, the ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totalled $27.2 billion, including co-financing of $10.7 billion.
