Oxfam Novib: Tax advisers too involved in Dutch policy

Developmental aid organization Oxfam Novib thinks that tax advisers are too involved with academia and politics in the Netherlands and play too big a part in policy making, NOS reports. According to the organization, the Netherlands is still the champion in tax evasion. Poor and developing countries lose out on billions due to multinationals evading taxes via the Netherlands. Very few improvements were made in this area, and that is partly because of the influence of tax advisers, Oxfam Novib believes. Oxfam Novib states that the Dutch Association of Tax Advisers do their best to influence the tax policy in politics, both in the open and behind the scenes. The organization points to VVD and D66 tax work groups, the chairmen of which are tax advisers of large offices. On the academic side, 40 of the 289 partners of large tax consultancy offices are connected to one or more universities. The organization wants to know from the Dutch government to what extent these advisers' advice plays a role in the formation of legislation. Marice de Kleer of the Dutch Association of Tax Advisers rejects Oxfam Novib's criticism. "It's almost honorable to get as much influence as ascribed", he said to broadcaster NOS. "We provide our expertise and experience, which we see as our contribution to society. We've done that in full transparency for more than 25 years.'