STAVANGER, Norway (AP) – The spirit of transparency that has propelled Britain’s top politicians to release their tax returns is already a fact of life in Norway, where the annual financial details of every taxpayer are published online in a searchable database.
With the recent spotlight on the opaque world of offshore finance, some are looking to Norway as an example to follow – at least for public figures.
“We believe transparency contributes to legitimacy and trust in the tax system,” said Mariken Holter, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Tax Administration.
Tax payments are also considered public information in Finland and Sweden, which like Norway are consistently ranked among the least corrupt countries by Transparency International. But unlike Norway their tax authorities don’t post that information in a searchable online database. Also, they don’t have a wealth tax, which in Norway provides snoopers with an insight into total worth.
An annual tax list has been available to the public in Norway since 1863. In 2001 it was published online, turning a paper curiosity into a powerful database.