Tax Justice Network

Activity

Research

The TJN has reported on the OECD Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) projects and conducted their own research that the scale of corporate taxes being avoided by multinationals is an estimated $660 billion in 2012 (a quarter of US multinationals’ gross profits), which is equivalent to 0.9% of World GDP.

In July 2012, following a study into wealthy individuals with offshore accounts, the Tax Justice Network published claims regarding deposits worth at least $21 trillion (£13 trillion), potentially even $32 trillion, in secretive tax havens. As a result, governments suffer a lack of income taxes of up to $280 billion.

In November 2020, the TJN published "The State of Tax Justice 2020" report. It claims $427 billion is lost every year to tax abuse. Further annual reports have subsequently been issued. Most recently in 2025.

Financial Secrecy Index

The Financial Secrecy Index is a biennial publication of the TJN which was started in 2009 and was last released in February 2020. It covers 133 global jurisdictions and produces a "Secrecy Indicator" score for each based on 20 qualitative criteria. Releases are widely covered in the media.

Corporate Tax Haven Index

The Corporate Tax Haven Index is a biennial publication of the TJN which had its inaugural publication in May 2019. It covers 64 global jurisdictions and produces a "Corporate Tax Haven Index" value by combining two core measures; first a "Haven Score" based on 20 mostly tax related criteria, second a "Global Scale Weight" showing the scale of activity. Release are widely covered in the media.

Publicity

Experts of TJN appeared at public hearings of the Finance Committee of the German Bundestag in 2016.

Funding

TJN has been rated as 'highly transparent' in its funding by Transparify and has been given an A grade for funding transparency by Who Funds You?

Leadership and authors

• John Christensen, founding director and chief executive 2003-2016, board chair 2016-2021
• Richard Murphy, co-founder and research director 2003-2010
• Alex Cobham, chief executive since 2016

Notable authors who have worked with TJN include accounting scholar Prem Sikka, activist Sony Kapoor, journalist Nicholas Shaxson, and legal scholar Sol Picciotto.

Notes

References

1. (9 November 2012). "Happy Birthday Tax Justice Network". TJN.
2. (2018). "Core Funding Prospectus 2018–2021". Tax Justice Network.
3. (23 March 2017). "Tax Avoidance Costing U.S. $189 Billion: Tax Justice Network". Bloomberg News.
4. (2015). "Base Erosion and Profit Shifting BEPS". Tax Justice Network.
5. (July 22, 2012). "13 trillion pounds in offshore tax havens: Report". The Times of India.
6. (July 22, 2012). "Super rich hold $32 trillion in offshore havens". Reuters.
7. (July 22, 2012). "Tax havens: Super-rich 'hiding' at least $21tn". BBC.
8. (20 November 2020). "The State of Tax Justice 2020". Tax Justice Network.
9. (20 November 2020). "$427bn a year lost to tax abuse by firms and rich individuals, study finds". The Guardian.
10. Sholli, Sam. (2025-11-07). "This week in tax: US public CbCR opposition caused $475bn tax loss, report claims".
11. (18 February 2020). "Financial Secrecy Index 2020 Results". Tax Justice Network.
12. (30 January 2018). "Report Says U.S. Is World's Second-Biggest Tax Haven". Bloomberg News.
13. (30 January 2018). "U.S. Becomes World's Second-Biggest Tax Haven". Wall Street Journal.
14. (30 January 2018). "UN urged to launch global effort to end offshore tax evasion". The Guardian.
15. (31 January 2018). "Australia a safe haven for illicit funds, but Switzerland the world's worst". Sydney Morning Herald.
16. (28 May 2019). "Corporate Tax Haven Index 2019 Results". Tax Justice Network.
17. (28 May 2019). "UK and territories are 'greatest enabler' of tax avoidance, study says". The Guardian.
18. (28 May 2019). "Channel Islands 'among worst tax havens' worldwide". BBC.
19. (28 May 2019). "U.K. Islands Unravel Global Corporate Tax Order, Group Says". Bloomberg Tax.
20. (June 15, 2016). "Öffentliche Sitzung des Finanzausschusses". German Bundestag.
21. (17 December 2018). "Round-Up of Transparify 2018 Ratings".
22. "Tax Justice Network {{!}} Who Funds You?".
23. ({{date). "John Christensen steps down as Tax Justice Network chair".
24. Richard Murphy. ({{date). "John Christensen quits the Tax Justice Network".
25. "Richard Murphy".
26. Alex Cobham. ({{date). "The past, present and future of Tax Justice Network".
27. "Our History".
28. "Sol Picciotto, ICTD Senior Fellow".