A decision to buy the information risks further souring ties between Germany and Switzerland already damaged last year in a spat over tax evasion. Swiss Finance Ministry spokesman ’s statement yesterday that the authorities in Switzerland will offer no legal help on tax matters that involve stolen information.

 

Information on secret Swiss accounts held by German nationals could yield 200 million euros ($278 million) in lost tax revenue to the German government, Handelsblatt reported yesterday. Tax authorities were offered a CD that contained 1,500 names in exchange for 2.5 million euros.