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In Search of a Tax Haven to Stash Your Cash? Look No Further Than the US!

© AP Photo / Richard DrewAn IMC specialist works at his post where Bank of America is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014
An IMC specialist works at his post where Bank of America is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 - Sputnik International
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The United States jumped up a global list to become one of the top three tax havens for super-rich individuals and businesses looking to hide financial assets, according to the Tax Justice Network (TJN).

Only Switzerland and Hong Kong are ranked higher in TJN's financial secrecy index. But, the biennial study noted, if Great Britain and its affiliated tax havens, like Jersey, were treated as one unit, it would top the list.

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The United States climbed up from sixth in the 2013 list despite the work of President Barack Obama's administration to compel offshore banks to hand over information on hidden assets.

The US uses its own system of data collection that takes information from banks around the world, but shares little data with other governments.

"Though the US has been a pioneer in defending itself from foreign secrecy jurisdictions it provides little information in return to other countries, making it a formidable, harmful and irresponsible secrecy jurisdiction," the TJN report said.

The report criticized the United States for not taking part in a new system for exchanging information between countries, which TJN has described as the "only credible way" to share such data.

"Washington's independent-minded approach risks tearing a giant hole in international efforts to crack down on tax evasion, money laundering and financial crime."

States such as Oregon, Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming have been criticized in recent years for hosting shell companies that allow overseas corporations to hide assets, the Portland Business Journal reported.

"The United States' hypocritical stance of seeking to protect itself against foreign tax havens while preserving itself as a tax haven for residents of other countries needs to be countered," the report said.

TJN's 2015 financial secrecy index rankings (2013 rankings):

1. Switzerland (1)

2. Hong Kong (3)

3. United States (6)

4. Singapore (5)

5. Cayman Islands (4)

6. Luxembourg (2)

7. Lebanon (7)

8. Germany (8)

9. Bahrain (13)

10. United Arab Emirates (16)

11. Macao (22)

12. Japan (10)

13. Panama (11)

14. Marshall Islands (23)

15. United Kingdom (21)

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