UK in Liechtenstein tax data deal

The UK says it is trying to protect the UK exchequer

The UK's tax authority has confirmed that it has paid an informant for data regarding British citizens who have accounts in tax haven Liechtenstein.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirmed the move after a Sunday Times report, but would not say how much it had paid the informant.

HMRC said it was seeking "to protect the UK exchequer from those who seek to hide behind secrecy laws".

Separately Germany is involved in its own probe over Liechtenstein accounts.

The Sunday Times newspaper claimed the amount paid to the informant was £100,000 - but that figure was not confirmed.

HMRC said it had made the move in a bid to protect the UK against those trying to "deprive the UK of tax revenues to which it is entitled".

Meanwhile, Germany has launched a probe into tax evasion using data also from an anonymous informant, who was reportedly paid 5m euros (£3.7m; $7.4m).

In response, the country's head - Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein - has argued that Germany's move is illegal.

Liechtenstein is now conducting its own investigation on the subject.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development lists Liechtenstein as one of only three states remaining on its blacklist of "uncooperative tax havens".

Deutsche Post appoints new boss

Mr Appel's predecessor resigned after allegations he evaded taxes

Deutsche Post has named a new chief executive after former boss Klaus Zumwinkel found himself at the centre of a tax evasion scandal.

The firm's board named logistics head Frank Appel as its new chief after accepting Mr Zumwinkel's resignation.

Prosecutors said he was suspected of not paying 1m euros (£750,000) in taxes, by using banks in Lichtenstein.

The allegations are part of a wider tax evasion scandal that has grabbed headlines in Germany.

The finance ministry said its investigation was targeting hundreds of suspects believed to have defrauded tax authorities of hundreds of millions of euros through secret bank transactions.

Tax haven

German leaders said they would discuss financial transparency with Liechtenstein's Prime Minister Otmar Hasler when he visits Berlin later this week.

"I will be evaluating very carefully whether we need further initiatives at a European level to break up tax havens," Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said.

Mr Zumwinkel is the only suspect to have been named so far. but police raided homes and offices across Germany on Monday.

One of Germany's most influential business figures, Mr Zumwinkel, 63, is credited with transforming the postal service into a logistics giant, as well as developing its retail banking arm, Postbank.

He had been chief executive of Deutsche Post for 18 years.

Mr Appel, 46, joined Deutsche Post in 2000 and had been tipped as a favourite to succeed Mr Zumwinkel.

The German government is a major shareholder in Deutsche Post, which also owns the global delivery firm DHL.