KPMG and Tax Havens for the Rich : The Untouchables - the fifth estate

A story of money, secrecy and greed: a tax dodge for the wealthy dreamed up by one of the biggest accounting giants in the world

KPMG Canada devised what it called an “Offshore Company Structure” for a select group of rich clients: they would claim to give away millions of dollars to a shell company supposedly out of their control and therefore wouldn’t have to pay taxes on it.

In the U.S., top KPMG officials were convicted of tax evasion schemes concocted there. But in Canada, a different scheme led to a secret amnesty deal with the Canada Revenue Agency.
A federal government inquiry vowing to get to the bottom of it went nowhere

What was the accounting firm trying to hide?

With revelations from industry insiders, internal KPMG documents and corporate records from the Isle of Man offshore tax haven, we expose the details of the scheme and unveil the names of some of the wealthy clients.

A joint investigation by the fifth estate and Radio-Canada’s Enquete program

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About the fifth estate : For four decades the fifth estate has been Canada's premier investigative documentary program. Hosts Bob McKeown, Gillian Findlay and Mark Kelley continue a tradition of provocative and fearless journalism. the fifth estate brings in-depth investigations that matter to Canadians – delivering a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.

[Malamutes]

Investigative programs like this are one of the few remaining tools that citizens have to shine a light on corporate and government corruption, well done Fifth Estate!

[GetSwingIN]

One of the best pieces the Fifth Estate has done in a while! Excellent! Thank you!

[bobbybobby]

For the last 40 years, the Canadian government have lost over $500 billion from wealthy Canadians not paying their fair share of taxes. Here is the kicker, the Canadian government gave KPMG $92 million dollar of taxpayers money while KPMG were helping wealthy Canadians to evade paying taxes.

[free]

This has been going on for years now, I'm so ashamed. I have been audited numerous times by CRA, when I was in high school and college, making only about $15, 000/year or less, just struggling to survive. The weirdest thing is, when I did file my taxes I would always end up owing I went years upon years, always owing and paying back. It breaks my heart as an honest tax payer, who pays my part and always have, that I have been paying back for years, and the rich with millions get to pull scams like these and nothing happens to it's because of scams like these why so many people quit their jobs and decide to live on social assistance - for some reason the government only goes after poor people, who cannot afford high powered lawyers, while the rich get to pull as many scams as they want, yet, they go unpunished. Canada is subsidized by the poor for the benefit of the rich. We the poor are the ones who pay the police to harass us- we the poor we pay for the roads, that the rich could speed on and not get the poor are the back bone of the Canadian economy.

[diannemccarroll]

Trudeau speaks about equality for all Canadians. Clearly, this is not equally. One set of rules for the rich and one set of rules for the general population. The Finance Minister should be released of his duties. This tax payers money not the governments. This is not in the best interest of Canada.

[blahblahblahbloohblah]

this channel is great, deserves more subs, views and likes.

[shelleypoco]

"The difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion is the thickness of a prison wall."
- Denis Healy, Former British Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[Ghostintheshell]

This was great investigative journalism!!! Top notch

[dwmacneill]

Absolutely discusting! If the committee couldn't investigate without jeopardising the Court Case, then they should have had the RCMP do the investigation with a view to laying charges after the Court rendered its decision.Anew investigation needs to take place. This cannot be allowed to stand!

[adamkaufman]

The ads here are terrible watching this video for a class assignment. Thank you so much Dr. Ariail

[jayzen.a.m.]

The Last Real Investigation Show. Non bias Truth. All My Life I've been Watching.

[dadikkedude]

They came to my equivalent to a college in the Netherlands offering scholarships of €10, 000 to a handful of students. I was one of the students introduced for the scholarship. But I refused to be part of their philanthropy PR campaign and walked away from €10, 000 eventhough my bank account wished otherwise. It made me sick that they offered pocket change whilst inable people to steal millions in unpaid taxes from under our noses. Proud day for me.

[annawarner]

KPMG is still alive and well. Nothing really happened in US, even though it was criminal.

[JosieFG]

I'm sick to death of the good old boys clubs, protecting each other's wealth, having a different standard and immunity for their own actions.

[waimar]

Why my comment over the substantial absence of these issues in mainstream TV and newspapers keep on disappear? I posted it about 5 times and it's never shown ...a comment about the preventive systematic autocensorship in TV and newspapers is even censored on YouTube?

[bigbearn]

Put the IRS in prison and those politicians who concocted tax laws to feed the banksters.

[clam]

How wonderful the world would be without all these rich people.

[nefwaenre]

i'm watching tax evasion docu from you guys. That says something. That says The Fifth Estate know their stuff and they show it well! Thanks!

[Supernova]

Didnt even have to watch till the end, Going to guess: No charges laid, No jail time served, Minimal/No Fines paid?

[free]

The judges, the lawyers, the scammers, the rich dirt bags, and politicians - they are all on the same team, we the poor are the suckers.