Liechtenstein registered Companies with participations in EC countries benefiting from European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgements? Is this the end of dividend withholding taxes, even if Liechtenstein does not have any double tax treaty, apart from that one with Austria? Is this the end of double tax treaties at all in order to minimize double taxation for dividend payments?

On 6 October 2011, Switzerland and the UK have signed a Tax Agreement regarding the regularisation of existing untaxed assets of UK taxpayers with UK principal address of Swiss accounts.

Liechtenstein has come to an agreement with the European Union on the EU Savings Tax and will therefore retain the same withholding tax as Switzerland.

The treaty between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Federal Republic of Germany for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and fortune (DTT), including the minutes, was signed in Berlin on 17 November 2011.

The recent developments and changes in the last two years in the Principality of Liechtenstein underline the attractiveness for international asset protection for international clients.

The Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) between Liechtenstein and France has been in force since 19 August 2010. The TIEA applies to tax periods from 1 January 2010 or, where no tax period applies, to all tax claims arising on or since that date.

"The LDF (Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility) is based on the MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN ("Government of Liechtenstein") AND HER MAJESTY’S REVENUE AND CUSTOMS ("HMRC") of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland RELATING TO COOPERATION IN TAX MATTERS (in the following "MOU")."

The Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein) and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) have signed an Agreement on Tax Information Exchange (TIEA) on 11 August 2009.

With effect on 1 January 2011, Liechtenstein has introduced the new Tax Law.

A discussion on Liechtenstein's responsibilities to address both the tax claims of other jurisdictions and the trust of its clients.

The Liechtenstein government has released a good information sheet on the most important changes between the existing and the new foundation law becoming effective as at 1 April 2009.

On 19 February 2008 the Report and Application by the Government concerning the total revision of the law on foundations was approved by the Government and adopted by the Parliament of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

On 7 February 2012, Liechtenstein and the UK initialled a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) in Vaduz and also extended operation of the sole disclosure programme currently in place, the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility (LDF), by a further year up to 2016.

Contrary to Switzerland where the Swiss Financial Market Authority (FMA) transferred client data on the basis of “fishing expeditions” (John Doe-summons - UBS case), Liechtenstein has never done this without court order, and only on the basis of sufficient case-by-case specification.

Liechtenstein will enact the new law on asset management (VVG) as at 1 January 2006. This makes Liechtenstein fully compliant with the EU Directives 2004/39/EG of the European Parliament and European Council dd. 21 April 2004 on markets for financial instruments (to amend earlier EU Directives 85/611/EWG and 93/6/EWG and 2000/12/EG and to cancel the EU Directives 93/22/EWG).

The agreement and the implementation guidelines will define them thoroughly. The definition should be identical to that one in Switzerland as Liechtenstein will not be in a position to introduce an own definition on the grounds of electronic data processing performed by banks.

The Liechtenstein law provides for foundations of two kinds: private law (privatrechtliche) and public law (öffentlichrechtliche). The present overview is confined to family foundations established under private law.

The trust in Liechtenstein law may be set up for an indefinite period. It can be used in the same way as a foundation, but permits more flexible arrangements as its purpose is not limited in any way, as is the case under foundation law (there may be certain restrictions as to the purpose trust).