Prime Minister signs FATCA agreement with US Government

PRESS RELEASE – On November 19, the government of St. Lucia signed an agreement with the Government of the United States of America to implement the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2010, FATCAtargets non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers using foreign accounts. FATCA requires foreign financial institutions to report to the Internal Revenue Service information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest.

This kind of information exchange is a top priority for the United States as access to information from international financial institutions is critically important to the full and fair enforcement of U.S. laws.

U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Larry Palmer commented, “Every year, tax evasion deprives governments of all sizes of much-needed resources to fund public services and investments.

The United States welcomes St. Lucia’s commitment to enhancing global financial transparency by improving international tax compliance. Today’s signing marks a significant development in our nations’ collaborative efforts to combat offshore tax evasion — an objective that mutually benefits our two countries.

FATCA is yet one more example of the deep and substantial ways in which the economies of St. Lucia and the United States are linked.”