DOJ Offers Swiss Banks a Deal

In 2013, The Justice Department (DOJ) announced a program that is designed to encourage Swiss banks to cooperate in their ongoing investigations of the use of foreign bank accounts to commit tax evasion. DOJ also released a joint statement with the Swiss Federal Department of Finance, stating that Switzerland will encourage its banks to participate in the program. This program was designed to offer certain participating Swiss banks the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution in the U.S. for tax violations as a result of their providing services to U.S. account holders. According to published reports, 106 Swiss banks have indicated their interest in participating in the program prior to the deadline for doing so, which was December 31, 2013.