For many years ‘going offshore’ was simply synonymous with the rich and famous - people we admired but could hardly relate to! Nowadays the tax havens of the rich and famous are popular offshore jurisdictions for us all and accessible to anyone seeking privacy, security and the offshore tax advantages.
Here’s a break down of some of the most favourite and glamorous offshore tax havens and the features and benefits they can offer all of us.
The Bahamas - 700 islands off the coast of Florida, stretching as far down as Cuba and popular with those seeking unrivalled sunshine and no taxation on their offshore IBCs!
This tax haven has an incredibly strong network of laws that offer unbreakable levels of secrecy and privacy to anyone utilising their offshore company, banking and trust services. The jurisdiction is most certainly glamorous and has been used over the years by a wide variety of rich and famous people for the absolute protection of assets and the highest levels of account and business secrecy.
Nowadays anyone can access the benefits offered by the Bahamian tax haven and these include re-mailing, fax, telephone and office facilities, bank accounts, dedicated telephone lines, trust services and of course company incorporation.
Barbados - this is one of the sexiest tax havens in the Caribbean where the joys of art, culture, nightlife, beach life, and the happy go lucky Bajan people mingle with the incredibly responsible yet inimitably attractive tax laws and create an ultimate tax haven for the rich and famous, not to mention the beautiful people too!
It’s a tax haven accessible to all and it offers low taxation, flexible corporate laws, privacy but not guaranteed secrecy.
Bermuda - Not only famous for shorts, historically Bermuda has been a very popular tax haven for the American glitterati and today it is a stable, almost local tax haven for many American companies seeking to reduce their overall income and profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax and inheritance tax liabilities. The legal system in Bermuda is similar to that used in America and so many Americans feel comfortable with this particular jurisdiction. Furthermore it is a jurisdiction attractive to Hong Kong citizens seeking a tax haven in which to establish an offshore company as the jurisdiction’s Exempted Companies have been approved by the Hong Kong stock exchange for listing purposes.
British Virgin Islands - With English the official language and the US Dollar the official currency, this Caribbean destination has long been a hot stop off for many rich and famous people seeking a glamorous hideaway for both themselves and their hard earned assets! With the availability of cheaper long haul flights this destination is physically far more accessible to us all today and the tax haven benefits of the British Virgin Islands are also very attractive to many more people since 1984 when the International Business Companies Act was passed.
Quite simply an IBC established in this glorious location will be 100% except from any local taxes.
Switzerland - possibly the most glamorous offshore haven of them all, famed for its secrecy, privacy, wealth, cows and status it has long been the home to substantial assets from rich and famous people throughout the world. Switzerland is an expensive country to visit or live in - but then it can afford to be as it has the best and most efficient banking system in the entire world! This is not a tax haven in the true sense of the word however, rather it is a place where you can squirrel away your hard earned assets and lock them up far away from prying eyes and be safe in the knowledge that no one can ever get their hands on them again!
If you want your assets and wealth to rub shoulders with the assets and wealth of the rich and famous and if you want to be assured of secrecy, privacy and maximum tax efficiency then these, the most glamorous tax havens in the world, will offer you the best of all worlds! If you want to take advantage of any of the banking, investment, company formation, trust or re-mailing, fax, telephone and office facilities or dedicated telephone lines offered in any jurisdiction, simply contact us, tell us your requirements and we will be in touch.
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