Funds of Indians in Swiss banks increased to over Rs 20,000 cr : Finance Ministry rejects claim

The ministry said that the figures reported by banks to the Swiss National Bank (SNB) are official figures that do not reflect the quantum of much-debated black money held by Indians in Switzerland, ANI reported.

Further, the figures also do not include the money that Indians or NRIs might have in Swiss Banks in the names of third- country entities, the ministry stated.

In fact, the customer deposits have reduced since the end of 2019 and also the funds held through fiduciaries have reduced by more than half since that time.

There has been an increase in "other amounts due from customers" in the form of bonds, securities and various other financial instruments.

India and Switzerland are signatories to the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance on Tax Matters (MAAC) which allows the two countries to share financial account information annually for calendar year 2018 onwards.

Because of the legal arrangement for the exchange of information of financial accounts which acts as a major deterrent on tax evasion through undisclosed assets abroad there does not appear to be any significant possibility of rise in deposits in Swiss banks out of undeclared incomes of Indian residence, the ministry said, according to the ANI report.

The finance ministry has also asked Swiss authorities to furnish relevant facts along with their opinion on possible reasons for the increase or decrease in funds.