international system for the automatic exchange of tax information – known as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) – to which around 100 countries have committed. For some taxpayers, the CRS is already “live”; for others it is imminent. The goal of this worldwide exchange of tax information is tax transparency, and has aroused concerns about privacy and data breaches due to the sheer volume of information that is going to be exchanged. Expanded Worldwide Planning (EWP) is an element of international taxation created in the wake of tax directives from government tax authorities after the worldwide recession beginning in 2008. At the heart of EWP is a properly constructed Private placement life insurance (PPLI) policy that allows taxpayers to use the regulatory framework of life insurance to structure their assets. These assets can be located anywhere in the world and at the same time can be brought into compliance with tax authorities worldwide. EWP also brings asset protection and privacy benefits that are set forward in the six principals of EWP. See also Public finance List of countries by tax rates Tax equalization Functional currency Tariff Minimum corporate tax rate Notes References Further reading Malherbe, Philippe, Elements of International Income Taxation, Bruylant (2015) Thuronyi, Victor, Kim Brooks, and Borbala Kolozs, Comparative Tax Law, Wolters Kluwer Publishers (2d ed. 2016) Lymer, Andrew and Hasseldine, John, eds., The International Taxation System, Kluwer Academic Publishers (2002) Kuntz, Joel D. and Peroni, Robert J.; U.S. International Taxation The International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation offers subscription services detailing taxation systems of most countries, as well as comprehensive tax treaties, in multiple languages. Also available and searchable by subscription through Thomson subsidiaries. CCH offers shorter descriptions for fewer countries (at a lower fee) as well as certain computational tools. At least six international accounting firms (BDO, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, KPMG, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers) and several law firms have individual country and multi-country guides available, often to non-clients. See the in-country web sites for each for contact information External links Hong Kong IRD India Income Tax Department UK HM Revenue & Customs (formerly Inland Revenue) UK International Manual (non-technical guidance) U.S. law by code section U.S. regs USTC post-94 decisions USSC cases 1937-1975 OECD - Centre for Tax Policy and Administration United Nations Taxation Committee International taxation