Explore by indicator
We use 20 secrecy indicators across four key areas to assess a country’s effectiveness at preventing financial secrecy.
Asset and ownership registration
Countries leave the door open to criminals when they allow the beneficial owners – the real people made of flesh and blood who ultimately own a company, partnership, trust or foundation – to remain concealed. Aiming to shed light on asset ownership and use, this category assesses banking secrecy and the requirements for legal vehicles, real estate and freeports to publicly register and keep updated their beneficial owners with a government authority.
Beneficial ownership of trusts →
Beneficial ownership of foundations →
Legal entity transparency
Countries make it easy for the beneficial owners – the real people made of flesh and blood who ultimately own a company, partnership, trust, or foundation – to disclose inaccurate information when ownership data is not publicly accessible online and concealed from public scrutiny. This category assesses whether countries are making key transparency data – like beneficial ownership, country by country reporting, and Legal Entity Identifier numbers – publicly available online at low or no cost to foster public accountability.
Transparency of partnerships with limited liability →
Transparency of company ownership →
Transparency of company accounts →
Integrity of tax and financial regulation
Countries invite tax abuse when their tax administrations lack the capacity, knowledge and means to enforce tax laws and apply a culture of compliance to the legal framework. This category assesses the capacity of tax administrations to address complex tax issues, and whether countries tax their residents’ income abroad and allow for the purchase of residency against investment. It also evaluates the extent to which the country obliges the publication of tax rulings and extractive industries’ contracts.
International standards and cooperation
Countries can provide legal vehicles and individuals with many means to hide their financial affairs when they do not exchange relevant information with other countries, and do not join international conventions and agreements to improve cooperation on judicial and tax matters. This category assesses countries’ adherence to cooperation mechanisms and international conventions that aim to shed light on financial affairs and tackle corruption and money laundering.
Automatic exchange of information →