Also is it beneficial to set up your business headquarters in another country?
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You are currently browsing the archives for the Offshore banking and tax category.
June 7th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 3 Comments »
Also is it beneficial to set up your business headquarters in another country?
June 2nd, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 1 Comment »
I’m 16 and run a business, do I have to pay tax yet? I’m the registered director of the company. What about offshore banking (cayman islands for example)? Basically I want to avoid paying tax in a legal way.
May 28th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 2 Comments »
I would like the ability to provide clients with a confidential service and have them post my fee to an account number while retaining my anomitity.
May 23rd, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 2 Comments »
Where is a safe place to keep money? Do you know any Offshore banking unit ?
Banks cannot be trusted 100% because they share their information with government and credit reference agencies. Do you know any anonymous bank accounts (possibly offshore) ?
May 18th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 1 Comment »
Just wanna get the best home and value for my money.
May 13th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 3 Comments »
Money to invest , don’t want to have to pay taxes on ./limited income
May 8th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax No Comments »
Constant news that these accounts are used for illegal money dealings scares us away. Hollywood has done its fair share of publicity portraying offshore banking in a negative way.
Actually offshore bank accounts are legal and more than half the world’s wealth is owned through them. However if an individual or a corporation uses this facility for illegal purposes then it becomes illegal. Just like on shore accounts!
Banks that are located in another foreign country are known as offshore banks and offshore banking is done by these banks. You cannot have an offshore bank in your own country but a bank of your country can be termed as an offshore bank for others who are not residents of your country.
For offshore bank accounts Switzerland happens to be one of the oldest and most preferred countries with its legendary bank privacy laws. There are many advantages associated with offshore banking that attracts people.
* It offers privacy and stability and helps increase savings.
* Individuals who have offshore bank accounts do not access it often; rather they spend money from their accounts in a local bank.
* Offshore deposits are kept for future or emergency uses and as such these accumulate considerably over a period of time.
* One more advantage of offshore banking is that anyone irrespective of wealth can open an account. There may be certain regulations regarding the amount of money required to open an offshore account but contrary to belief it is not a massive sum. Along with the wealthy clients even a small business owner or a middle class individual can have offshore bank accounts.
Offshore banking also provides other advantages such as offshore credit cards processing services. Businessmen can accept and process payments and multiple currencies through this offshore credit card and thereby reach out to a worldwide clientele.
Offshore banking with its offshore credit card facility results in sales increase for clients and this process features zero taxation. The reason for this is that in an offshore destination normal tax rules do not apply and thus gives an extra benefit to clients. With speedy processing and a constant support system offshore credit cards makes your business work 24/7 and gives it an edge while striving to make business transactions easier.
Similarly offshore debit card transactions are also faster, authorization is quick and clients receive confirmations at the same time. The processing charges are also less and feature various online security and fraud screening. Often clients do not have to pay any gateway fee for processing.
Considering these various advantages offshore debit card processing has become all the more popular throughout the world. Increasingly, with new businesses looking for competitive innovation and focusing on maximizing customer attention, offshore banking has become an important business tool to further business interests and profits.
Businessmen are opting for offshore banking to develop their existing business and no doubt the credit/debit card facilities of offshore banks offer high security to them, and not just for savings!
Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius and BVI. You can also visit his blog, http://www.ramapatisinghania.com
May 3rd, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax No Comments »
An offshore bank is generally in a low tax jurisdiction (or a tax haven) that provides financial and legal advantages. These advantages typically include:
* greater privacy (see also bank secrecy, a principle born with the 1934 Swiss Banking Act)
* less restrictive legal regulation
* low or no taxation (i.e. tax havens)
* easy access to deposits (at least in terms of regulation)
* protection against local political or financial instability
While the term originates from the Channel Islands “offshore” from Britain, and most of them are located in island nations to this day, the term is used figuratively to refer to such banks regardless of location e.g. Switzerland, Luxembourg and Andorra in particular are landlocked.
Offshore banking has often been accused of helping the underground economy and organized crime, via tax evasion and money laundering; however, legally, offshore banking does not prevent assets from being subject to personal income tax on interest. Except for certain persons who meet fairly complex requirements, the personal income tax of many countries makes no distinction between interest earned in local banks and those earned abroad. Persons subject to US income tax, for example, are required to declare on penalty of perjury, any offshore bank accounts which they may have.
Following September 11, 2001, there have been many calls for more regulation on international finance, in particular concerning tax havens and their banks, and clearing houses. Defenders of offshore banking have criticized these attempts at regulation. They claim the process is prompted, not by security and financial concerns, but by the desire of domestic banks and tax agencies to access the money held in offshore accounts.
They cite the fact that offshore banking offers a competitive threat to the banking and taxation systems in developed countries, suggesting that Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are trying to stamp out competition.
Advantages of offshore banking
* Such entities provide access to politically and economically stable jurisdictions. This may be an advantage for those resident in areas where there is a risk of political turmoil who fear their assets may be frozen, seized or disappear. However, developed countries with regulated banking systems offer the same advantages in terms of stability but not of taxation.
* Some of them may operate with a lower cost base and can provide higher interest rates than the legal rate in the home country due to lower overheads and a lack of government intervention. Advocates of offshore banking often rightly characterize government regulation as a form of tax on domestic banks, reducing interest rates on deposits.
* Offshore finance is one of the few industries, along with tourism, in which geographically remote island nations can competitively engage. It helps developing countries source investment and create growth in their economies, and can help redistribute world finance from the developed to the developing world.
* Interest is generally paid by them without tax deducted. This is an advantage to individuals who do not pay tax on worldwide income, or who do not pay tax until the tax return is agreed, or who feel that they can illegally evade tax by hiding the interest income.
* Some offer banking services that may not be available from domestic banks such as anonymous bank accounts, higher or lower rate loans based on risk and investment opportunities not available elsewhere.
* Offshore banking is often linked to other structures, such as offshore companies, trusts or foundations, which may have specific tax advantages for some individuals.
* Many advocates of offshore banking also assert that the creation of tax and banking competition is an advantage of the industry, arguing that tax competition allows people to choose an appropriate balance of services and taxes.
Critics of the industry, however, claim this competition as a disadvantage, arguing that it encourages a “race to the bottom” in which governments in developed countries are pressured to deregulate their own banking systems in an attempt to prevent the offshoring of capital.
Disadvantages of offshore banking
* Offshore banking has been associated in the past with the underground economy and organized crime, through money laundering.
* Following September 11, 2001, tax havens and their banks, along with clearing houses, have been accused of helping various organized crime gangs, terrorist groups, and other state or non-state actors. However, offshore banking is a legitimate financial exercise undertaken by many expatriate and international workers.
* Offshore jurisdictions are often remote, so physical access and access to information can be difficult. Yet in a world with global telecommunications this is rarely a problem for customers. Accounts can be set up online, by phone or by mail.
* Offshore private banking is usually more beneficial to those on higher incomes, because of the costs of establishing and maintaining offshore accounts. However, simple savings accounts can be opened by anyone and maintained with scale fees equivalent to their onshore counterparts. The tax burden in developed countries thus falls disproportionately on middle-income groups. Historically, tax cuts have tended to result in a higher proportion of the tax take being paid by high-income groups, as previously sheltered income is brought back into the mainstream economy.
Banking services
It is possible to obtain the full spectrum of financial services from these banks, including:
* deposit taking
* credit
* wire and electronic funds transfers
* foreign exchange
* letters of credit and trade finance
* investment management and investment
Custody
* fund management
* trustee services
* corporate administration
Not every bank provides each service. Banks tend to specialize between retail services and private banking services. Retail services tend to be low cost and undifferentiated, whereas private banking services tend to bring a personalized suite of services to the client.
Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius and BVI. You can also visit his blog, http://www.ramapatisinghania.com
April 28th, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax 2 Comments »
Do you know a good Offshore bank that does no background checking and no taxation with the possibility to use a debit or credit card?
April 23rd, 2010 darlees Posted in Offshore banking and tax No Comments »
Offshore banking is becoming increasingly popular as more people recognize exactly how they could benefit from an offshore bank account and because the set up process is straightforward. If you’ve ever wondered whether you could benefit from an offshore bank account, or you’re considering opening an account but you’re not sure which one to go for, this guide has been written with you in mind. Generally speaking anyone is free to open an offshore bank account. In fact, offshore banking has been widely used for many years by both individuals and organizations worldwide. Specifically an offshore bank account can also be of benefit to some expatriates residing in low or no tax countries as any interest earned on offshore bank deposits is paid without the deduction of taxation.
What is Offshore Banking?
Simply defined, an offshore bank account is an account held in a bank that is located outside your country of residence.
Asset Protection Structures
If you’re going to go out now to get your offshore asset protection started, consider the best offshore banking structure: The foundation/corporation. A foundation is an offshore asset protection tool that can be used in the form of a trust. A foundation can hold all your assets and have a bank account, but a foundation can not conduct business. When a foundation owns a corporation, which owns a bank account, this is the only powerful privacy protection offshore structure you will ever need. So if you have your offshore corporation within a foundation, you can conduct your business through the offshore account and plan your income taxes accordingly.
Panama has a number of unique attributes that make this a great asset protection jurisdiction for corporations, foundations, banking and stock brokerage accounts. It is also known as one of the world’s greatest haven for keeping and securing the cash assets of corporations, businessmen and individuals.
Tax Considerations
Most countries have no restrictions on where your business interests, investments or bank accounts are located; it is simply your responsibility to report any income you earn to the appropriate tax authority. You will need to establish a suitable structure in a tax friendly country to gain access to some of the better opportunities available, which is reason enough to go offshore for some even ignoring the tax benefits. Any business that is conducted outside of Panama is not taxable through Panamanian income tax.
Offshore Banks
Virtually all offshore banks want to receive some form of evidence of the account signatories’ identity. Many offshore banks, but not all, request that letters of reference from another bank is provided by account signatories. Some offshore banks go even further: they demand that a bank reference each be given by all directors and shareholders of the company. Sometimes an introduction by a party known to the offshore bank (such as an existing customer) is accepted instead of a reference. A fair number of offshore banks still happily open company accounts without any references at all. Some offshore banks provide their own resolutions for the directors to sign.
Internet Banking Security Concerns
You can shield your internet movements using an anonymising service. Privacy, on the internet, is created by technological means. In fact, the internet has become the global, no barriers, free market.
Privacy
Most (maybe all) traditional jurisdictions are no longer suitable for asset protection, privacy and confidentiality. When a foundation owns a corporation, which owns a bank account, this is the only powerful privacy protection offshore structure you will ever need.
Jurisdiction
Usually such an account is located in a low tax jurisdiction and offers certain financial and/or legal benefits to the holder of the account. If you believe that an offshore bank account structure could benefit you, the next step is selecting the right bank, the right jurisdiction and of course the right account type. There are jurisdictions where banks are under legal obligations to seek references, and there are banks that request references despite any legal obligation to do so. Policies vary greatly across offshore banks and jurisdictions, so make a choice that is acceptable to you.
Belize
Offshore banks in Belize provide their customers with various services including internet and international banking services. You don’t have to worry about confidentiality though; Belize banks will strongly protect any information you provide. The government has created banks secrecy laws which provides harsh penalties for anyone who would violate the secrecy provisions, except when a client is under a criminal investigation in Belize.
Panama
Panama has a number of unique attributes that make this a great asset protection jurisdiction for corporations, foundations, banking and stock brokerage accounts. Any business that is conducted outside of Panama is not taxable through Panamanian income tax. Panama is the most secure banking jurisdiction today, because Panama backs up its strong bank secrecy laws with real life enforcement. Other jurisdictions like Belize (mentioned above) have been known to be lax in their enforcement. Its one thing to have strong banking secrecy laws and its quite another to enforce them.
As a general guide it is often more discrete to establish your offshore structure in a location far from your residential jurisdiction. Panama has a number of unique attributes that make this a great asset protection jurisdiction for corporations, foundations, banking and stock brokerage accounts. Some call Panama the Switzerland of Latin America but this is not fair, Panama is far better than Switzerland and any other jurisdiction. With regard to reliability and stability make sure to investigate the laws and regulations for each jurisdiction you are investigating. Stable governments help to keep investor trust which in turn further adds to the credibility of the banks in that jurisdiction. Some offshore jurisdictions, such as Panama, have rock solid privacy laws governing banking while others such as Switzerland no longer protect their clients in the same fashion as in the past.
To learn about other offshore bank account considerations visit Offshore Legal.