The list comprises 3 different categories:
- Annex I: or the "black list" includes jurisdictions considered to be non-cooperative and not very committed to tax transparency.
- Annex II: or the "grey list" includes countries that are in the process of committing to improving their tax practices, but have not yet reached the level of compliance required for inclusion on the white list.
- The "white list": i.e. all other jurisdictions that comply with international tax standards.
The aim of the grey list is to encourage jurisdictions to take steps to improve their tax transparency and cooperation with the EU, while avoiding the immediate imposition of severe sanctions.
Of note:
- Antigua and Barbuda have been added to the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, along with Belize and the Seychelles (previously on the grey list);
- The Marshall Islands have been removed from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions;
- The British Virgin Islands and Costa Rica, which were on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, have been removed from it to join the grey list; and
- Jordan, Montserrat, Qatar and Thailand have left the grey list.
The "black" list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (Annex I) now comprises 16 jurisdictions:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Russian Federation, American Samoa, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands and Vanuatu.
The 'grey' list (Annex II) comprises 14 jurisdictions:
Albania, Armenia, Aruba, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominica, Eswatini, Hong Kong SAR, China, Israel, Malaysia, Turkey and Vietnam.
For further information, please contact your local office.