CREDIT SUISSE PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSISTING IN TAX EVASION BY U.S. TAXPAYERS

/

By Armin Gray*

Credit Suisse AG pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist U.S. taxpayers with the filing of false income tax returns and other documents. Credit Suisse admitted to operating an illegal cross-border banking business that knowingly and willfully aided and assisted thousands of U.S. clients in opening and maintaining undeclared financial accounts and concealing their offshore assets and income from the IRS, thus evading U.S. taxes. The bank has agreed to pay $2.6 billion to the U.S. government, which will be divided among several agencies. 

Although the agreement does not require that Credit Suisse provide names of its U.S. clients who had undisclosed accounts with the bank, which was required under the plea agreement made by UBS in 2009, Credit Suisse agreed to:

  • Promptly disclose all evidence and information described in Section II.D.I. and II.D.2 of the U.S-Swiss bank voluntary disclosure program, which includes making a complete disclosure of its cross-border activities and providing all information (including the debits and credits on a monthly basis) with respect to its U.S. accounts other than the name of the individual; 
  • Provide testimony or information for admission into evidence of documents or physical evidence of any criminal or other proceeding as requested; 
  • Provide all necessary information for the U.S. to draft treaty requests to seek account records and other account information; 
  • Close accounts of account holders who fail to come into compliance with U.S. reporting obligations; 
  • Implement procedures to ensure compliance with U.S. laws including those under F.A.T.C.A. and relevant tax treaties in all its current and future dealing with U.S. customers.
  • As such, those with undeclared Credit Suisse accounts should promptly seek the advise of a competent professional. 

___________________

* The following article was published in Insights, by Ruchelman P.L.L.C.  Insights was originally designed, created, and edited by Armin Gray. Kyu Kim of Kyu & A LLC, a design company, substantially assisted in its design as well. Co-authors originally included Fanny Karaman and Cheryl Magat. We thank them for their support.