Tax evasion
Tax evasion is criminal activity to evade taxes. It may be done by trusts, persons or organizations. The main way taxpayers evade taxes is by deliberately misrepresenting the actual state of their affairs to tax authorities to reduce their tax liability. This includes dishonest tax reporting, such as declaring less income or profit than the amounts which were actually earned. Tax evasion is an activity connected with the informal economy.
Tax Evasion Media
The ratio of German assets in tax havens in relation to the total German GDP, 1996–2008. The "Big 7" shown are Hong Kong, Ireland, Lebanon, Liberia, Panama, Singapore, and Switzerland.
U.S. Treasury Department estimates of unpaid taxes indicate that over half of all unpaid taxes are attributable to the top 5% of earners.
Tax campaigner Richard Murphy's estimate of the ten countries with the largest absolute levels of tax evasion. He estimated that global tax evasion amounts to 5 percent of the global economy.
The size of the shadow economy in Europe, 2011
A "Lion's Mouth" postbox for anonymous denunciations at the Doge's Palace in Venice, Italy. Text translation: "Secret denunciations against anyone who will conceal favors and services or will collude to hide the true revenue from them."
Poster issued by the British tax authorities to counter offshore tax evasion
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