Dutch taxpayers report 1 bln euros in offshore assets

AMSTERDAM, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Dutch keeping money in
offshore accounts have reported more than 1 billion euros ($1.5
billion) in assets so far since steps were adopted this year to
better track money held in tax havens, the Dutch government
said on Wednesday.

Some 4,400 people reported assets overseas before fines
will be introduced from Jan. 1 for those who do not report
assets abroad, Dutch Deputy Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager
said in a statement.

De Jager, when announcing an agreement with Switzerland
earlier this year to exchange information to crack down on tax
evasion, indicated that at least 7 billion euros was being held
abroad.

The United States, Netherlands and other OECD countries
have adopted stricter measures this year to track taxpayer
money held in overseas accounts, as they seek greater
transparency and a way to bring money back onshore into
economies at a time when it is most needed.

Penalties for evading the reporting of offshore assets will
start at 15 percent of assets and eventually reach 300 percent,
the government said.

On average, a citizen had 186,000 euros in reported savings
abroad, the ministry says.
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(Reporting by Reed Stevenson; Editing by Kim Coghill)
((reed.stevenson@thomsonreuters.com; +31 20 504 5002; Reuters
Messaging: reed.stevenson.reuters.com@reuters.net))
($1=.6629 Euro)