Russian Government Will Negotiate Tax Information Exchange Agreements

On July 29, 2003, the Russian Taxes and Levies Ministry announced it would start negotiating agreements on exchange of tax information and will enter into agreements with Latvia, France, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. Russian officials explained the move by pointing to an integrating economy that increased opportunities for tax evasion. In the past, Russia did not have the experience or capability for electronic information exchange regarding taxes. The change reflects the influence of international organizations, including the Council of Europe, and an already strong capability for exchanging information.