Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes

1. S. 263Introduction

On 15 February 2011, the European Council adopted the new Council Directive on Administrative Cooperation in the Field of Taxation (the Administrative Cooperation Directive, which needed to be transposed into the national law of the Member States by 1 January 2013.

Before the Administrative Cooperation Directive was adopted, the Exchange of Information Directive (the Exchange of Information Directive) concerning Mutual Assistance by the competent authorities in the field of direct taxation and taxation of insurance premiums was in force. Under the Exchange of Information Directive, Member States’ competent authorities were required to exchange any information, which appeared relevant for the correct assessment of taxes on income and on capital as covered by the directive.

The Exchange of Information Directive was amended several times. First, Council Directive 79/1070/EEC extended the substantive scope to value added tax, second Council Directive 92/12/EEC extended the scope to excise duties and third Council Directive 2003/93/EC extended the scope to taxes on insurance premiums to better protect the financial interests of Member States and the neutrality of the inte...