So concludes an Australian expert on tax havens, Professor Jason Sharman. By doing a simple internet search, he solicited bids to set up shell companies. He was able to set up 17 without proof of identity, which makes tax evasion ridiculously simple. He was even able to set up 5 anonymous bank accounts, in Wyoming (through a since-closed loophole), Nevada, 2 in the UK, and only 1 in a classic tax haven, Liechtenstein.

Sharman concludes, "The United States, Great Britain, and other OECD states have chosen not to comply with the international standards which they have been largely responsible for putting in place." This is truly depressing, and the Obama administration needs to do something about it. Killing off tax havens begins at home.

 http://taxjustice.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-study-britain-and-us-may-be.html