The ‘DAC 6’ and Its Compatibility with Some of the Founding Principles of the European Legal System(s)

Abstract

The current article has two main ‘centres of gravity’. First, it proposes a critical description of the primary points of the European Council Directive known as the ‘DAC 6’ for which the deadline for transposition into the domestic legislation of the Member States is rapidly approaching at the time of this writing. The description is contextualized in the findings of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project. Subsequently, the authors address some of the main points raised by scholars and commentators with regard to its contents, especially the possibility that the mandatory disclosure rules clash with the professional privilege of certain tax advisors, the principle against self-incrimination, or the risk that it will initiate a ‘race to the bottom’ in the sanctioning powers to be exercised by Member States. Administrative cooperation, Mutual Assistance, DAC 6, Directive 2011/16/EU, Directive 2018/822/EU, Professional Privilege, Self-Incrimination, European Convention on Human Rights, Penalties System, Race to the Bottom