Is Gulf Emerging as the New Tax Haven after Switzerland for Indians?

Mumbai, Mar,12. The past few months have seen an unusual spurt in deposit flows into several banks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UAE financial centres. Interestingly, the surge in deposits has come about following a pact between India and Switzerland on August 30 to exchange sensitive information on tax-evaders. The treaty was viewed as India’s first step towards obtaining information on funds stashed away in Swiss banks’ accounts. A similar agreement with Bermuda, another tax haven had been reached too.

If data compiled by the Central Bank of UAE is any indication, total bank deposits surged more than $11 billion in October compared to an average monthly growth of $2.7 billion since January 2010.

Speculation is rife that money is moving out of Swiss banks and Dubai is an obvious choice for Indians as there is no tax. The modus operandi for such transaction is often floating of a firm staffed with local directors (many of them being Indians working in the Gulf) in Dubai Free Trade Zone. Subsequently, funds are wired from a tax haven (say, Switzerland) to a bank account opened in the firm’s name. The money finally ends up in a local bank and the newly-established firm receives and shows it as consultancy fee from international clients or as trading income