25 February 2014
Last updated at 20:56 ET
Credit Suisse is one of the 14 Swiss
banks being chased by US prosecutors for allegedly helping wealthy
Americans avoid US taxes
It claims the bank opened Swiss accounts for more than 22,000 US customers, with assets totalling $12bn (£7.2bn) at their peak.
The report alleges bankers helped clients create offshore shell entities and design transactions to avoid arousing suspicion.
Credit Suisse declined to comment.
"From at least 2001 to 2008, Credit Suisse employed banking practices that facilitated tax evasion by US customers," the report by a US congressional committee said.
It said the practices included "opening undeclared Swiss accounts" or accounts to "mask their US ownership", as well as sending Swiss bankers to the US to recruit new customers and "service existing Swiss accounts without creating paper trails".
US prosecutors are chasing 14 Swiss banks for allegedly helping wealthy Americans dodge US taxes.
Secretive methods?
Credit Suisse 'aided' US tax evaders
Credit Suisse is one of the 14 Swiss
banks being chased by US prosecutors for allegedly helping wealthy
Americans avoid US taxes
Credit
Suisse "helped its US customers conceal their Swiss accounts" and avoid
billions of dollars in American taxes, a report has alleged.
The report alleges bankers helped clients create offshore shell entities and design transactions to avoid arousing suspicion.
Credit Suisse declined to comment.
"From at least 2001 to 2008, Credit Suisse employed banking practices that facilitated tax evasion by US customers," the report by a US congressional committee said.
It said the practices included "opening undeclared Swiss accounts" or accounts to "mask their US ownership", as well as sending Swiss bankers to the US to recruit new customers and "service existing Swiss accounts without creating paper trails".
US prosecutors are chasing 14 Swiss banks for allegedly helping wealthy Americans dodge US taxes.
Continue reading the main story
John McCain US Senator"As federal regulators begin to crack down on these banks' illicit practices, it is imperative that they use every legal tool at their disposal to hold these banks fully accountable for wilfully deceiving the US government”
Credit Suisse's private banking
and wealth management division has already put aside 175m Swiss francs
(£118m) to fight a US investigation into hidden offshore accounts in
Switzerland.
The bank has said it was "working towards a resolution" with
US authorities but has not given a time-frame of when that resolution
might be reached.
The report has also published details of the way, it alleges, the bank worked to keep the accounts concealed from the US authorities.
It said some bankers even applied for US visa waivers, claiming they planned to visit the country for "tourism" instead of "business" purposes.
The report listed one incident where a client was handed bank statements hidden in a Sports Illustrated magazine.
It said the bank also used sponsored events, including the annual "Swiss Ball" in New York and golf tournaments in Florida, to recruit more customers.
Strict action
The report has also published details of the way, it alleges, the bank worked to keep the accounts concealed from the US authorities.
It said some bankers even applied for US visa waivers, claiming they planned to visit the country for "tourism" instead of "business" purposes.
The report listed one incident where a client was handed bank statements hidden in a Sports Illustrated magazine.
It said the bank also used sponsored events, including the annual "Swiss Ball" in New York and golf tournaments in Florida, to recruit more customers.
Strict action
The committee has called upon US regulators to take strict action against banks that help US customers avoid taxes.
"For too long, international financial institutions like Credit Suisse have profited from their offshore tax haven schemes while depriving the US economy of billions of dollars in tax revenues by facilitating US tax evasion," said Senator John McCain, a member of the subcommittee.
"As federal regulators begin to crack down on these banks' illicit practices, it is imperative that they use every legal tool at their disposal to hold these banks fully accountable for wilfully deceiving the US government and seek penalties that will deter similar misconduct in the future."
The US Justice Department issued a statement saying it was investigating various Swiss banks over the issue.
"We won't hesitate to indict if and when circumstances merit," it said.
"For too long, international financial institutions like Credit Suisse have profited from their offshore tax haven schemes while depriving the US economy of billions of dollars in tax revenues by facilitating US tax evasion," said Senator John McCain, a member of the subcommittee.
"As federal regulators begin to crack down on these banks' illicit practices, it is imperative that they use every legal tool at their disposal to hold these banks fully accountable for wilfully deceiving the US government and seek penalties that will deter similar misconduct in the future."
The US Justice Department issued a statement saying it was investigating various Swiss banks over the issue.
"We won't hesitate to indict if and when circumstances merit," it said.
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From other news sites
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Telegraph Credit Suisse helped Americans hide $10bn from taxman, government claims 4 hrs ago
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Yahoo! UK and Ireland Swiss bank accused of helping clients evade US taxes 5 hrs ago
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Wall Street Journal UK* Senate Report Blasts Credit Suisse 5 hrs ago
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Reuters UK UPDATE 1-U.S. Senate panel blasts government lawyers on Swiss tax crackdown 6 hrs ago
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USA Today Senators: Spy tactics in Swiss bank's tax scheme 7 hrs ago
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