Using distributed ledger technologies to improve and maximize the collection of property taxes
Abstract
Transparency regarding the beneficial ownership of legal entities means disclosing information on the true, natural, or human owners of all corporations and other legal entities. Concealment of beneficial ownership is a significant vulnerability for illicit financial flows (IFFs) — such as tax evasion, money laundering, terror financing, and corruption. Schemes designed to obscure beneficial ownership, including ownership by politically exposed persons (PEPs), often employ a “hide in plain sight” strategy, leveraging global trade and commercial infrastructures to appear legitimate. Many of the tools exploited in the process are designed to encourage business growth and development, such as limited liability corporations and nominee directorship services.