On 20 October 2026, the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Kingdom (FIU-the Kingdom) convened its annual seminar in Aruba, bringing together regulators, financial institutions, and tax authorities from across the Dutch Kingdom — Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, and the Netherlands. The event focused on strengthening the Kingdom-wide anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) framework, with particular emphasis on emerging risks in virtual assets, cross-border tax evasion, and beneficial ownership transparency. Discussions referenced the latest FATF Mutual Evaluation Report for the Kingdom, the EU’s sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD), and the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), highlighting the convergence of tax transparency and financial integrity agendas.
Key Takeaways
- Unified Beneficial Ownership Registers: The seminar underscored the mandatory implementation of interconnected, accurate beneficial ownership (UBO) registers across all Kingdom jurisdictions by 1 January 2027, requiring Aruban entities — including free zone companies and international business companies (IBCs) — to verify and update UBO data in real time to avoid sanctions.
- Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Supervision: New licensing and ongoing monitoring requirements for VASPs were detailed, aligning with FATF Recommendation 15 and the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Aruba’s Central Bank will enforce enhanced due diligence, transaction monitoring, and suspicious transaction reporting (STR) obligations for crypto exchanges and wallet providers operating from or servicing Aruban clients.
- Cross-Border Tax Crime Cooperation: A joint task force between the FIU, Tax Inspectorate (DIMP), and Public Prosecutor’s Office was announced to investigate complex tax fraud schemes involving shell structures, trade-based money laundering, and misuse of treaty benefits. The initiative leverages the Kingdom’s Multilateral Administrative Assistance Agreement and the OECD’s Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters for spontaneous information exchange.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement