Finance Tax Time

This is an introduction to offshore banking and incorporation a world that you may or may not be familiar with. There are many countries that are considered to be tax havens of one sort or the other. Each jurisdiction has its own reasons in extending a warm welcome to non residents. The aim of this article is to introduce to offshore banking and give you an idea of the benefits of going offshore.

Offshore banking makes many people think of money laundering and many other illegal activities. However, most illegal activity happens onshore. Newspaper headlines are the main reason for these misconceptions. Legal activities are not headlines, so few reporters write about the above-board side of offshore finance.

Proof that using offshore banking and companies are not illegal is the large number of known international trading and finance companies that have an offshore presence. Some countries tax you on a global revenue basis. If you are a resident or a citizen of such a country it would be crime for you not to declare your offshore holdings. Declaration does not mean taxation. Consult with your tax lawyer to find out the latest legislation on this.

Is there really a secret to successful offshore banking? Yes, there is and it is very simple. “Knowledge” is the secret key.

To set up your offshore infrastructure, it is necessary to start by exploring the low tax and asset protection opportunities that are offered in various countries. These can range from low tax to 0 taxes, tax treaties, special corporate structures, free zones etc. Studying the aforementioned will allow you to put together a complete offshore solution.

There is no one size fits all packaged solution. Every business is unique. Everyone who wants to establish an offshore banking presence must take into consideration the countries that he will be doing business with to obtain the maximum benefit of going offshore.

What are the most common benefits to going offshore?

• Tough bank secrecy and privacy laws

• Fewer restrictions on financial transactions
• Low taxation or 0 taxation
• Asset protection

Even the United States and Canada can be tax havens. Though this is only promoted usually for non-citizens and non residents.

As you can see from the above, you have multiple reasons for wanting to explore all the possibilities that an offshore incorporation linked to an offshore bank account will give you. No matter which aspects of the offshore world you choose to use you will find the find that there are many benefits.

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Many believe that if you open a bank account offshore at any of the popular jurisdictions such as Panama or Belize, then that bank account would be out of the reach of home tax authorities and you can pretty much do as you please with it. Further it is thought by some that any earnings from said account need not be reported.

This line of thought is further bolstered by offshore hucksters who claim the above is true.

Fact is that opening a bank account offshore is not illegal but lying on your tax form is.

Remember those direct questions about offshore bank accounts and trusts on your income tax form? They are there for a reason. The government wants to know where your assets are so that they can tax them or seize them as they feel is appropriate.

On shore banks do not know the meaning of customer privacy and now function as agents of the government by reporting everything you do according to a bizarre set of reporting rules forced upon them.

Ferreting lawyers want to know how big and where your assets are too and this is easy for them to ascertain in the US or Canada.

It is well documented in the US that opportunistic lawyers actually prey on wealthy folks by crafting and instigating law suits knowing that many targets will settle out of court just to be rid of the trumped up problem.

Opening a bank account in Panama is fine but how are you going to get any sizeable amount of money into your shiny new account without sending up red flags all over the desk of your friendly tax official?

Your local bank is a snitch!

Governments under cover of excuses referring to terrorist threats and their possible money laundering activities now keep close watch on farmers in Saskatchewan and vintners in California in case they are doing something that is a national threat!

Privacy has never more threatened than it is today and as a direct result has never been more important. However privacy is now only for those who insist upon it, create it and defend it.

Forget about opening an offshore bank account as that alone will accomplish nothing.

Consider the proper creation of a competent offshore structure that is lawful, powerful and very, very private.

A good offshore structure will still do today what it has done for generations and that is to provide privacy and asset protection for assets which if left unprotected onshore may soon no longer be yours to protect.

And yes. Depending on the situation there may be some tax efficiencies as well!

The author has been involved in the financial arena for most of his adult life, latterly as the CEO of a successful financial services company which he sold a decade ago to devote his time to advising a select group of clients in prudent and cautious uses of offshore structuring. He has traveled extensively among many offshore jurisdictions over a span of 25 years and acquired hands on experience together with high quality contacts and resources in the better jurisdictions. He provides consulting services and can be reached at http://www.offshoreandprivate.com.

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