The OECD’s Global Forum has published eight peer review reports on transparency and exchange of information on request for tax purposes covering Belize, Cambodia, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Montserrat, Niue and Vanuatu. The reviews assess compliance with the EOIR standard, with ratings ranging from “Compliant” to “Non-Compliant” and highlight areas requiring legal and implementation improvements.
The OECD has published new peer review reports on transparency and exchange of information on request for tax purposes covering Belize, Cambodia, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Montserrat, Niue, and Vanuatu.
This announcement was made on 29 April 2026.
The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum) has published eight new peer review reports, including two reassessments, on transparency and exchange of information on request (EOIR) for tax purposes for Belize, Cambodia, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Montserrat, Niue and Vanuatu. The reports were approved by the Global Forum’s Peer Review and Monitoring Group in March 2026 and subsequently adopted by the Global Forum members.
Due to their limited practice of EOIR, the reviews of Guinea, Montserrat and Niue only provide an assessment of their legal and regulatory frameworks (Phase 1 of the review process), which were found to be overall in place. The second phase of their reviews will focus on the implementation of the EOIR standard in practice and are due to start by 2028 for Guinea, and 2029 for Montserrat and Niue.
The reviews of El Salvador and Gabon were carried out in two phases. Their Phase 1 reports were adopted in 2022. With the adoption of their Phase 2 reports, both jurisdictions have now been fully reviewed. El Salvador was rated overall as “Largely Compliant” with the standard, while Gabon was rated overall as “Non-Compliant”.
Belize, Cambodia and Vanuatu were assessed through a combined assessment of their legal and regulatory frameworks and the implementation of the standard in practice and have been rated overall as “Largely Compliant”.
Since 2016, 132 jurisdictions have been fully reviewed by the Global Forum and the ratings assigned are generally positive: 91% of the jurisdictions are rated “Compliant” or “Largely Compliant” with the standard, 6% are assessed as “Partially Compliant”, and 3% as “Non-Compliant”.
A summary of the jurisdiction-specific findings and recommendations are as follows:
Belize joined the Global Forum in 2009. In this in-depth review, Belize was reassessed and rated overall as Largely Compliant with the standard. This improvement in overall rating (it was rated as Partially Compliant in 2023) stems from Belize’s important progress to address the deficiencies identified previously in its legal and regulatory framework and in its implementation. Belize improved its ability to provide information to its treaty partners and increased the staff and resources dedicated to the exchange of information, which was reflected in an improved EOIR experience for most of its treaty partners. Nevertheless, Belize’s effectiveness in exchanging information continued to be affected by the non-availability of complete accounting information in many cases. In this regard, Belize should fully implement its amended legal and regulatory framework in respect of accounting information. More generally, Belize should continue to strengthen its oversight and enforcement mechanisms in respect of ownership and accounting information, to enable it to provide all requested information, in an effective manner, to its treaty partners. Access the report
Cambodia joined the Global Forum in 2017. In this first assessment, Cambodia is rated as overall Largely Compliant with the standard. Despite a small exchange of information network, Cambodia has a sizeable volume of incoming requests for information. Since commencing exchanges in 2019, Cambodia strengthened its exchange practice with a notable improvement in the timeliness of exchanges, which it should continue to improve. Cambodia’s legal and regulatory framework contains requirements relating to the availability of legal and beneficial ownership and banking information, although certain areas of improvement have been identified, including availability of information on inactive or unregistered companies, and identification of beneficial owners. The supervision of entities with respect to their reporting requirements, as well as use of enforcement measures to compel the timely production of information, are noted as important areas of improvement. Enhancements to its application of the confidentiality safeguards for exchanged information are also expected from Cambodia. Access the report
El Salvador joined the Global Forum in 2011. This is the second review of El Salvador’s EOIR practice and it maintains its Largely Compliant rating against the standard. Although El Salvador recently strengthened its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework, areas for improvement have been identified, particularly with regard to supervision to ensure the availability of adequate, accurate and up-to-date beneficial ownership information, as well as the availability of ownership and accounting information for inactive companies. Furthermore, while El Salvador’s legal and regulatory framework and practices provide for access to and the exchange of information in line with the EOIR standard, the authorities should monitor that information held by banks can be accessed and exchanged in all cases in line with the requirements. Access the report
Gabon joined the Global Forum in 2012. This is its second peer review in relation to EOIR. Gabon is found to be overall Non-Compliant with the EOIR standard. This rating is mainly due to the country’s limited exchange of information network. Gabon signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters in 2014, but it has not yet entered into force. This means that 140 potential exchange partners are unable to send requests for information to Gabon. The continued lack of entry into force has led to a deterioration of Gabon’s rating on this aspect of the standard from Compliant at the time of the Round 1 review in 2016 to Non-Compliant in 2026. Gabon’s legal framework also contains gaps with regard to the availability of beneficial ownership information. Moreover, due to the absence of detailed information on supervision and enforcement, it was not possible to obtain evidence of the effectiveness of the practical implementation and enforcement of obligations ensuring the availability of legal and beneficial ownership information, accounting records and banking information. This has notably led to a decrease in ratings regarding the availability of accounting information and banking information, from Compliant in 2016 to Partially Compliant in 2026. The availability of legal and beneficial ownership information remained Partially Compliant. Gabon should also improve its communication with partners to respond to requests in a timely and effective manner. Access the report
Guinea joined the Global Forum in 2019 and has now undergone its first EOIR peer review. Due to its limited EOIR practice, the report covers Phase 1 of the review process only, an assessment of the legal and regulatory framework. Guinea’s framework is found to be overall in place, with several areas identified for improvement, notably on the availability of beneficial ownership information on all relevant entities and bank accounts and the consistency of this information with the standard. Guinea is also recommended to ensure it can fully use the existing access powers and to ratify its international treaties that are not yet in force before the second phase of its review. The Phase 2 review, assessing implementation of the standard in practice, is due to commence by the second quarter of 2028. Access the report
Montserrat joined the Global Forum in 2002. This second review of its legal and regulatory framework (Phase 1) shows that Montserrat has undergone significant changes in most areas since its last review in 2014. Montserrat repealed the former Companies Act, the International Business Companies Act, the Limited Liability Act and the Limited Partnership Act, and passed the new Companies Act in 2023. As a result, all local companies, limited liability companies (LLCs) and international business companies (IBCs) previously established were required to re-register under the Companies Act of 2023. However, further work is necessary to address the deficiencies identified in the legal framework, notably with respect to the availability of beneficial ownership information and ownership and accounting information for struck-off entities. Montserrat should also lift the limitations on the tax use of the exchanged information it provides, which do not align with the EOIR standard. The practical implementation of the legal framework (Phase 2 review) is due to be launched by the second quarter of 2029. Access the report
Niue joined the Global Forum in 2010. This EOIR peer review concludes that, while Niue has further developed its legislative framework to enhance transparency since its last review in 2016, there remain areas for improvement to ensure the availability of information. With its recently updated tax law, Niue has taken an important initial step towards ensuring the availability of beneficial ownership information on relevant legal entities and arrangements. However, further improvements are necessary to ensure the definition and approach are fully aligned with the EOIR standard, and that beneficial ownership information that is adequate, accurate and up to date for all types of entities and legal arrangements is available. Furthermore, the deficiencies identified in the previous review, with respect to the availability of identity information for trusts and the availability of accounting records, have only been partly addressed. The assessment of the practical implementation of the legal framework (Phase 2 review) is due to launched by the second quarter of 2029. Access the report
Vanuatu joined the Global Forum in 2009 and its practical implementation of the EOIR legal and regulatory framework (combined review) was last assessed in 2019. This 2026 reassessment upgrades Vanuatu to a Largely Compliant rating (it was rated as Partially Compliant in 2019), thanks to the progress achieved in addressing key deficiencies in its legal and regulatory framework, which prevented it from ensuring the timely availability of legal and beneficial ownership and accounting information. There has also been improved supervision of the practical implementation of the legal and regulatory frameworks. However, further work is needed to address issues identified in the legal framework, notably those related to the identification of nominee shareholders and those nominating them. Finally, Vanuatu continues to be recommended to strengthen its supervision and enforcement of the legal framework to ensure the availability of ownership and identity, accounting and banking information. Access the report
