Integrating the Collection, Use and Exchange of Real Estate Ownership Information

This report explains the importance of beneficial ownership of real estate to tackle illicit financial flows. The report also explores all the potential sources of real estate information, considering the advantages and disadvantages of each one (e.g. the real estate registry, the tax administration, the financial intelligence unit, as well as banks, insurance companies, real estate brokers and public notaries subject to anti-money laundering requirements). On exchange of information, the report discusses the different frameworks for international exchanges (e.g. mutual legal assistance, sharing of financial intelligence and exchanges for tax purposes), illustrating how all new frameworks for automatic exchange of information (e.g. exchanges of information on immovable property, digital platforms, financial accounts and crypto-assets) could complement each other to offer information on foreign real estate held by nationals of each country. Finally, the report proposes how to integrate all this information into one platform to allow authorities as well as other stakeholders (e.g. investigative journalists, civil society organisations) to access and use this information to tackle financial crimes.