• 23 Jul 2009 at 3:12 PM

Something Switzerland Is No Longer Neutral About

By

The UBS tax saga seems to have really thrown Switzerland out of its sweet spot. Having defined itself as a place that doesn’t choose sides and simply exists in a neutral, grey area, the heat the country has taken over the past several months for helping Americans (and many others) avoid the tax man has forced its hand. In a somber moment today, the Swiss initiated a double-taxation treaty with Finland which now sets the stage for the country’s removal from the G20′s “grey list” of uncooperative tax havens. For those looking to stash funds (real or fake) in a place that won’t automatically set off alarm bells, your remaining grey list choices are Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, and for the Latin American set, Chile.

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    Comments (29)

    1. 1
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:13 PM

      Hi Greggy, does the ointment feel good in the special place?
      Love,
      Mom

    2. 2
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:20 PM

      Greg – Do you completely ignore the constructive, helpful and supportive feedback you receive from your readers? I wouldn’t even bother to read your posts if I didn’t enjoy following the special relationship you have with your mom.

    3. 3
      Posted by sourceclosetodiscussions | July 23, 2009 at 3:23 PM

      nice headline, now work on the tag…
      -your creative writing instructor

    4. 4
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:23 PM

      Very clever spelling “gray” the way a Swiss would.

    5. 5
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:30 PM

      Not the whole problem, Greg. THIS is the G20′s opinion of where the money hides. and anybody who has followed the Madoff and Stanford scandals closely has been astounded by how many of these countries figure in one or the other or both?
      THE BLACKLIST (COUNTRIES THAT GIVE NO CO-OPERATION TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AUTHORITIES)
      Costa Rica, Philippines, Malaysia
      THE GREY LIST (COUNTRIES THAT HAVE COMMITTED TO CHANGE)
      Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrein, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Monserrat, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Niue, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, Vanuatu (Uruguay was oficially added to this list a few days later)
      NON-COOPERATIVE FINANCIAL CENTRES
      Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Singapore, Switzerland
      Presumably category 2 and 3 countries are thinking about it, like the old joke about the psychiatrists changing a light bulb (it has to want to change).

    6. 6
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:33 PM

      Not to mention some puzzling omissions from the list, like those fine upstanding independent nations Fiji and Tonga..

    7. 7
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM

      This is one of your better posts this week, Greg. However, I still want a picture. Here are some ideas off the top of my head: 1) a picture from somewhere in switzerland, 2) a picture of something switzerland is famous for or commonly associated with, or 3) a picture of a hot girl from, or dressed in the atire of, switzerland.
      On second thought, just go with number 3. It doesn’t really even need to be directly related to the post. Trust me, people will like you better* – I promise.
      *No guarantees.

    8. 8
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM

      @5:
      What are you implying wrt SV&G? Although I am only flying there occasionaly, and only for, ahem, corporate retreats… I have not seen, or heard of, such things, mate!
      BlackPoint

    9. 9
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:39 PM

      Yeah, sorry, I am a GM supporter, but this is pretty dry.

    10. 10
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:40 PM

      Dare I also mention the hidden, ahem/(cough), gems of PSV.
      BlackPoint

    11. 11
      Posted by bateman | July 23, 2009 at 3:41 PM

      “Daddy says I french kiss the best.”
      - Greg

    12. 12
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM

      Greggums,
      Its raining out and you know that makes Mom horny. Now I have a date later with Jamal but would you mind getting me warmed up before hand? That is if you are not too tired from all of your blogging. Anyway meatloaf for dinner, sweetie!
      Love,
      Mom

    13. 13
      Posted by NakedShort | July 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8NxAaat-7U

    14. 14
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:48 PM

      @1 and @12
      victims of childhood sexual abuse?

    15. 15
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:54 PM

      @14 – No why?
      DK

    16. 16
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 3:58 PM

      (@1+@2+@11+@12)= Siggy Freud fan club

    17. 17
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM

      Come on Bess, Gasparino is calling out the bloggers!!! He wants names!!! He is criticizing bloggers for telling “half truths!”
      He paid you a tribute. Where’s the story on Gasparino calling out the bloggers? He thinks they’re all losers and unprofessional, unlike him, and he looks like he wants to kick some ass.
      Pfluger

    18. 18
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM

      @17 he called out ZH, he praised Bess and called her brilliant. why should she do something on that?

    19. 19
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM

      why is everyone breaking Gregg’s balls? Dude is doing a great job.

    20. 20
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM

      Getting a shout out from the Gasper on CNBC — excellent. Your brilliance is now being recognized by one of the giants of the financial reporting game.
      Next up — a guest shot where “tits” Cabrera compliments you on your fashion sense

    21. 21
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:12 PM

      @20 he’s mentioned her like hundred times since the big dinner. sounds like gaspo has a crush.

    22. 22
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM

      I am now officially jealous of Gaspacino.

    23. 23
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:31 PM

      @22 for….?

    24. 24
      Posted by NAS Keflavik boi | July 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM

      wow I got a filthy mind I thought this post was about double-penetration treaties…

    25. 25
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM

      honestly, how does greg still have this job????

    26. 26
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:35 PM

      @18: Just my observation that everytime Chaz gets his testosterone up, and starts waving his arms and popping a few beads of sweat on his grizzled mug, Beth puts him on.
      But not this time. I think that maybe Beth didn’t come clean on that night out with Chaz, for dinner. Something might be blossoming here….
      Pfluger

    27. 27
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:37 PM

      Sorry Bess, I get so excited when I see Charlie, that I called you “Beth.”
      Apologies.
      (And, this fracking Switzerland story is weak, lame, and boring…..)

    28. 28
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 4:39 PM

      shit for brains@27 bess didn’t write it.

    29. 29
      Posted by guest | July 23, 2009 at 7:07 PM

      Pfluger = His Asness? What’s with all the Beth’s?
      - 2StopShop

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