Estimates for the total cost of cum-ex trades in Germany vary wildly, from €5.5bn to €31.8bn. Across Europe, losses are thought to be as high as €55bn
Big global banks may have to repay millions made in “cum-ex” deals
Germany's biggest post-war tax fraud trial
The CumEx-Files is a tax fraud scheme discovered in 2017 by a collaboration between a number of European news media outlets.[1] A network of banks, stock traders, and lawyers had obtained billions from European treasuries through suspected fraud and speculation involving dividend taxes. The five hardest hit countries may have lost at least $62.9 billion.[2] Germany is the hardest hit country, with around $36.2 billion withdrawn from the German treasury.[3] Estimated losses for other countries include at least €17 billion for France, €4.5 billion in Italy, €1.7 billion in Denmark and €201 million for Belgium.[4]
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Method[edit]
The network stole several billion Euros from the treasury, through what Correctiv calls a "cum-ex" trade:
The participants in the network would lend each other shares in large companies, so that to tax authorities there would appear to be two owners of the shares, when there was only one. The bank that was used in stock trading would then issue a "confirmation" to the investor that tax on the dividend payment had been paid, without it being done. "It’s a bit like parents claiming a child benefit for two – or more – children when there is only one child in the family." writes Correctiv.[1] This practice was outlawed in 2012.[5]
The name "cum-ex" is derived from Latin, meaning "with without", and refers to the disappearing nature of the fraudulent dividend payments.[6][7]
