Posted by offshorepedia on Feb 13, 2011 in Dictionary | 0 comments
The term offshore company is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean either a company incorporated outside of the jurisdiction of its primary operation or any company that is incorporated in a tax haven or offshore financial center.
Most often the definition of ‘offshore company’ is a mix between the two above and an offshore company is defined as a company that:
a) is incorporated in a jurisdiction where the owner not is domiciled at the time of incorporation,
b) do not perform any business in the jurisdiction where it is incorporated,
c) is incorporated in a jurisdiction with low taxes, and
d) is incorporated in a jurisdiction with strong secrecy laws.
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Posted by offshorepedia on Feb 22, 2010 in Company Formation, Guest Articles | 0 comments
Why Incorporate an Offshore Tax Haven Company?
An Offshore, International Company is commonly set up in a tax haven like the British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Caymans Islands etc, where there are no corporate or personal income taxes, capital gains taxes, reporting requirements, or restrictions on company employment policies.
As the “world” becomes global, fewer businesses are local and many corporations are increasing going internationalization. Corporate structuring and planning have achieved higher levels of complexity than ever before while the need for anonymity remains strong.Corporation must keep pace and be constantly on the look out for new ways to profit. One way is to have a clear understanding of the characteristics offshore foreign corporations and how they may be put to advantageous use.
Offshore Companies are only applicable if you are doing business overseas and not in the country where you’re offshore was incorporated. All income derived in and from the incorporated country is normally taxable. eg. An offshore incorporation in Bahamas, doing business in Bahamas will require to pay taxes in Bahamas, where else, if the business was done in USA or Hong Kong, all profit are not taxable.
Singapore and Hong Kong although not typically regarded as tax haven, has a favourable tax regime which effectively means that correctly structured, managed and administered these companies can be utilised for offshore business and international business without paying tax in Singapore or Hong Kong provided that any profits arising are not made in the respective country (non resident company) and the earned money can be remmitted back. This type of tax regulation is known as “territorial taxation”. With the strict rule in place for prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, opening bank account for other tax haven jurisdictions can be difficult. On the contrary, to open a corporate bank account for companies in Singapore or Hong Kong is easier as these companies are more transparent due to the strict compliance control by the government.
What is Tax Haven?
A tax haven is normally known as a jurisdiction, which actively makes itself available for the avoidance of taxes, which would otherwise be paid in a higher tax jurisdiction. A more correct term to use would be tax mitigation or planning, because there are ways of mitigating taxes without breaking the law, whereas tax avoidance is generally classified as a crime.
Is it legal for me to have offshore companies, and bank accounts?
Yes, because most nations encourage international trade and enterprise, there are usually no restrictions on residents doing business or having bank accounts in other countries. Reporting requirements on such accounts however, differ from country to country. Sophisticated and reputable high-net-worth individuals and corporations routinely use offshore investment vehicles worldwide.
Main keys benefits for having your an offshore company.
The main reasons to incorporate offshore are:
Asset Protection – Protect assets in combination with a Trust, an offshore company can avoid high levels of income, capital and death taxes that would otherwise be payable if the assets were held directly. It can also protect assets from creditors and other interested parties. From competitors, adverse claimants and other parties from whom you wish to keep your business interests private and to secure against future claims such as bankruptcy, judgment creditors and other litigants, etc.;
Confidentiality – Keep business affairs confidential, Offshore Companies offer complete privacy. If the company shares are held by a Trust, the ownership is legally vested in the trustee, thus gaining the potential for even greater tax planning advantages.
Estate Planning – Family and Protective Trusts (possibly as an alternative to a Will) for accumulation of investment income and long-term benefits for beneficiaries on a favorable tax basis (without income, inheritance or capital gains taxes);
Simplify the transfer of assets and properties held in several countries: The sale or probate of properties in different countries can become complex and expensive. If an offshore company collectively holds these, ownership can be transferred by company shares rather than transferring the actual properties owned by the company.
International Tax Planning – Conduct business without corporate taxes: Tax havens, such as British Virgin Islands, allow the formation of International Companies that have no tax or reporting responsibilities. This means you save money not only from the absence of corporate taxes, but also from reduced compliance and other regulatory costs. Reduce payroll and travel expense administration: Allow employment or consultancy fees to accumulate in a low tax area: Offshore corporations can contract the services of professionals to employers resident in high tax locations or politically unstable areas. This allows the fees to accumulate in a low tax jurisdiction.
Conduct business as an international entity: International Companies have the same rights as an individual person and can make investments, buy and sell real estate, trade portfolios of stocks and bonds, and conduct any legal business activities – so long as these are not done in the country of registration. Offshore Companies set up in offshore need not pay social security, withholding tax, or associated expenses of employees working in other foreign countries.
Major savings for companies that have staff working on overseas projects. Minimize tax exposure when dealing with international transactions: An offshore corporation can buy or lease products from one country and then sell or lease them to a company in another country so the profits of the transaction are accumulated in the offshore company where there is no taxation on profits. Maximize profits from intellectual property rights, franchising and licensing: An offshore company can franchise or license intellectual property rights in other foreign countries allowing the profits to accumulate in a tax-free environment.
Protect investments in other foreign countries: International Companies can loan funds to corporations in other foreign countries. Investors may set up, but not directly own, an offshore company that loans funds to a development company set up in another country and charge interest rates that will lower tax obligations and protect the long term ability to repatriate investment funds. This can be especially important when working in countries with strict exchange controls and high tax profiles.
Own or lease ships or pleasure craft: Shipping companies may own or lease ships or pleasure craft and pay no taxes on income derived from the vessels. Registration fees are low and vessels are welcomed in ports worldwide.
Set up an Offshore Company:
Rikvin International will set up an offshore company anywhere in the world on your behalf. It normally takes 24 hours to register an offshore company. An offshore bank account can be set up, although it will take longer for full access due to the need to have original signature cards (providing you wish to have direct access to the bank account in your own name.
Rikvin Offshore offers a convenient way to incorporate your company. We provide a comprehensive range of services to both local and international clients. When you want to set up an offshore company, you can rely on us to be there every step of the way for you.
For more information, please visit http://www.rikvinint.com or call us at 65- 64388887
Tags: offshore Incorporation, offshore business registration, setup offshore company
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Why Offshore Tax Haven Company Incorporation
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Posted by offshorepedia on Jan 20, 2010 in Belize, Company Formation | 0 comments
There are many features that set Belize apart from other locations for IBC creation and incorporation. Below are some of the major features:
- Competitive prices for incorporation and annual fees for a Belize IBC;
- The incorporation process for Belize Offshore companies will not take longer that 3 working days;
- A Belize offshore company is exempted from all taxes;
- The names of the shareholders and directors for offshore Belize are not a part of the public record;
- The bearer share is allowed for offshore Belize;
- Minimum of one director and shareholder required for Belize incorporation;
- To incorporate in Belize, the director(s) and the shareholder(s) can be physical person or a company;
- The director and the shareholder can be the same person;
- There is no requirement to appoint a local or any secretary for Belize companies;
- The first director of the company is appointed at the organizational meeting of the Belize corporation;
- For Belize corporations, there is no requirements to file any accounts or to provide annual audits reports;
- The register of shares has to be kept and up to date;
- A registered agent and a registered office are required;
- Annual fees are due to be paid by the 31st of July, starting from the second year of incorporation and each subsequent year thereafter;
- The Belize IBC cannot derive any income from activities in Belize;
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Posted by offshorepedia on Dec 28, 2009 in Company Formation | 1 comment
When selecting some service online what is the first thing we pay attention to? Yes, exactly, company origin. When some new online payment system appears, what do we check first of all? Yes, registration. So, in any case those few lines of address play a great role for us, and we perceive them as a key factor determining our choice. However, when choosing some product, e.g., a pack of milk in supermarket we tie the country of the manufacturer with some quality level and make purchases basing on it. But then it comes to some internet financial service we in most cases find some obscure names and addresses in some unknown countries, widely known as offshore countries. So, why are those countries are so attractive for the online businesses? Why do they need it? And how much does it cost to run business in some exotic country?
First of all let’s go to the term “offshore business” itself. According to encyclopedia offshore company is a company which is incorporated outside the jurisdiction of its primary operations. There are three characteristics of offshore companies:
• it should be incorporated under the offshore companies regulations of relevant offshore jurisdictions.
• it should be incorporated by incoporators outside the offshore jurisdiction where it is incorporated.
• it should not conduct substantial business within the offshore jurisdiction where it is incorporated.
Today there is a great number of territories have officially a status of the offshore zone: Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dublin, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Jersey, Labuan, Malaysia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Niue, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, the Seychelles, Singapore, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tangier, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, Uruguay, Vanuatu and the United States (particularly, Delaware, but some other states have offshore characteristics).
The main advantage of offshore companies is easiness of running the business. The benefits of offshore companies are evident: easiness of business set up, low taxation, loyal laws and protection of the foreign jurisdiction. Such form of business became a real heaven for the organizations and especially for financial institutions such as online payment systems. Being protected by the law of some offshore country such companies can operate worldwide without any fear of being prosecuted.
So, how to open a company in offshore? Actually it is not a long procedure. You needn’t to go to any exotic country and to speak to local agencies in their language to get the desired address. Today it is enough just to open your favorite browser, choose one of the numerous companies dealing with registration in offshore jurisdictions, select the offshore country you like and contact the registering company. What happens later is not your trouble since the company will do everything itself.
Today the most popular offshore jurisdictions are Panama, the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Singapore, Switzerland, Belize, Cyprus, Hong Kong, USA Delaware and others. Every customer has his or her own preferences and the choice of the jurisdiction depends solely on the consumer, since only he/she knows what will be the best for their business.
What about the registering companies? As we have already stated today there is a great number of companies providing services in the sphere of offshore business registrations. One of such companies is CSR-corporation offering registration and formation of offshore companies in all reputable jurisdictions. The company offers a full rage of services starting from consultations and ending with additional services to your company, such as virtual office and etc. Besides CSR today we can see significant activity of such companies as OCRA, SeychellesOffshore, FletcherKennedy, and others. Actually all of them have almost the same range of services, however the prices varies.
Usually the formation of offshore company is performed as follows:
If you are a newbie and do not anything it would be better for you to address the company advisors. They, knowing the offshore jurisdictions to a nicety will help you to find the best jurisdiction for your business, including money aspects.
Having chosen the company you need to make a written request, or order the company. Usually companies provide ready made forms and you will need just to complete them and indicate such key factors as prices, services and terms, and your precise contact details. Also, here you can choose where to select from the list of ready-made companies or to create a new one. Actually all the companies have that list of ready-made companies. Those ready-made companies are the same companies that have already been created but have the so-called “open” configuration, and are to be finalized in accordance with client’s requirements. Having made an order you need to wait for a while to let the company staff to process your order. Usually this procedure takes up to one business week however, the terms depend on the company.
After completion of your order processing the company will address you for payment. Here, advance payment is a usual thing and not a single company will work under other terms and conditions. The only exception is the regular customers. For payments the companies send the invoices and there specify all the payment options available. Usually payments are made via bank transfers, or credit cards. However, the latter ones are not so popular along with the online payment systems.
The prices of the companies range. First of all they depend on the company type, jurisdiction chosen, additional services and the registering company itself. Usually the prices for the whole registration start from $600, the upper level is determined by the customer. However it rarely exceeds 10-12 thousand USD. The most common price is about $1,000. However, some companies offer special suites which include various services and provide some discount. So, for example, SeychellesOffshore offers its clients wishing to open business in the Seychelles Premium Incorporation Package for $999 which includes all the fees, preparation of all documents, legalization, provision of a corporate nominee director and shareholder, registration of office and provision of Registered Agent, delivery cost. CRS corporation offers to register your company in the Seychelles just for 680 Euro.
Once the payment is accepted the registering company starts fulfilling its obligations. The registrar collects the necessary papers (in addition to the papers provided by you), files them to the appropriate government bodies and pays all the necessary fees and capital duties.
Usually such procedure lasts 1-10 business days, sometimes longer. The period needed for company formation depends on the created company itself. Sometimes, especially if it comes to some financial institutions it is necessary to pass several certifications and verifications which are carried by various bodies, hence the registration and company approvals may be drawn out.
After obtaining the necessary approvals and passing the certifications the registrar sends you by a regular mail or courier all the documents confirming your authority and legality of the company.
And… our congratulations! You’ve become the owner of the offshore business with all its benefits and advantages. Now you can run your business and get great profits from it however you should keep in mind that some jurisdictions such as the Seychelles, for instance, demand paying annual renewal fees. However it doesn’t mean that you will be required to pay the whole amount you paid to get the registration. It usually varies from $500 – $3000 depending on company type and jurisdiction. Non-payment of those fees results in annulment of the registration and loss of the offshore registered company status. Though usually government thinks of its “businessmen” who usually busy and sometimes forget paying their taxes and fees and changes them together with your professional fees.
And if the government of the offshore cares about you, why not to care about yourself and make your company even more profitable by lowering your taxes and obtaining more freedom in business? Of course, offshore businesses have such disadvantages as impossibility to make deals with the local companies. But actually having refused servicing the population of Panama, for example, you open new horizons and eliminate the borders of all the countries worldwide. And it makes sense to consider…
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Posted by offshorepedia on Dec 5, 2009 in Offshore Banking | 0 comments
Author: Doug Snistola
One of the misnomers about an offshore bank account is that it is only for the very wealthy. An offshore corporation plus offshore bank account is more economical than one might think. An offshore bank account is an account that you open in a country or jurisdiction outside your own. Thus opening an offshore bank account is a good place to begin on the freedom road and such an offshore banking relationship can provide the foundation of what follows. The most obvious legitimate reason for opening an offshore bank account is the cash-flow advantage of getting interest on deposits paid gross, without the withholding tax usually imposed on non-resident bank accounts. One of the numerous benefits of opening an Offshore Bank Account is that they are often situated within tax havens, which means that the individual pays less tax.
Offshore Bank Account
Most offshore bank accounts come with a cash card that can be used to withdraw funds anywhere in the world. Offshore Bank Accounts the Ultimate Protection Seeking to protect you money in an offshore bank account once someone has laid a claim to your assets just won’t happen, its already too late. An additional benefit of an offshore bank account is that if you are not willing to leave a high tax nation you can benefit by moving money to a tax free secure and private haven. Asset security and privacy is what the offshore bank accounts and the financial world are designed to accommodate.
Opening an Offshore Account
To actually open an overseas bank account, you must firstly do some research – which country and which bank will be most suitable for your needs. Although you may not need any of these things; opening an offshore account can be as straightforward as just having a checking or savings account. Most people who open an overseas bank account want to enjoy the significant tax breaks that this will give them. A passport, a driving license, and a untilty bill are all you need to open an offshore account.
Privacy
Offshore privacy can no longer be taken for granted. Having a offshore bank account may be something you can explore in regard to banking privacy, being insulated from predatory lawsuits, building your assets and to legally avoid excessive taxation. This is a popular choice for people who are very particular about their privacy and anonymity. For maximum privacy and asset protection, however, the best advice is this: Establish an offshore corporation to own your offshore bank account. The Anonymous Panama Corporation adds in a nice thick layer of privacy protection. Right now, a secure, private bank account is reserved for your personal use in countries with some of the strongest bank privacy laws on earth.
Investment
An offshore account is an excellent way to diversify investments and take advantage of global tax savings. Sure you have to report your earnings in most places and pay taxes, but you can still open up an offshore bank account for greater investment possibilities, protection from domestic lawyers who might want to sue you for your life savings and for greater financial privacy. And, you must report any interest payments or dividends you have received from any offshore investments made using that account. You can have instant access to the world’s best investment opportunities, including currencies and precious metals without concern about your home nation’s legal restrictions.
Legal
The proper way to open an offshore bank account is through an experienced law firm offering offshore legal services. As a matter of principle the rights to privacy can be suspended when a criminal investigation is underway. Don’t rely on banking secrecy being upheld if you are engaging in illegal activites. Some countries like Panama are more tolerant than others.
Services
Typically a tax free haven is offered by countries that have little or no means of exporting goods and services to offset the imbalance they would otherwise have in terms of their overall currency exchange. You may want to consider other services the bank offers, such as different types of accounts, credit cards and safety deposit boxes. There are advantages either way here – a larger bank may offer greater security and more services, but with higher fees. Many offshore banks offer a full range of private banking services, but have certain terms and conditions that need to be met by their clients. An offshore corporation combined with the quality banking and commercial services found in Panama consistently meet the needs of diverse types of clients.
International
If you’re in regular receipt of international transactions it can make sense to establish an offshore company structure in a jurisdiction like the Seychelles where no tax is levied on income generated outside the jurisdiction and where such a company is not required to fill out annual financial or activity reports. Such a company can then open and hold an account which can be used for international personal OR business transactions. If you’re moving overseas you have a number of choices available to you – you can let your current bank know and they may change your account type to be an international account. You can then use this account to pay bills back home and conduct international transactions.
Visa
The way these programs work is Visa and MasterCard do not know who the actual card holder is – no date of birth, no address, no tax id numbers etc. So a subpoena to MasterCard or Visa would produce very little and since the bank is in a country with bank secrecy this avenue is going to be a long burdensome process that would be unlikely to be pursued and could only be pursued by a government in a criminal matter. The more private way of doing this is to get a Visa or MasterCard debit card from another bank, not your Panama bank.
Bank ATM Debit Card
Some people obtain an ATM card from another unrelated financial institution. These cards typically have no name imprinted on them which right away adds to your privacy protection. These cards also do not leave a trail to your real bank. Money can be transferred to the ATM card by wire from your Panama or other bank account and then withdrawn as needed. Some people are fond of using these cards to cover corporate expenses like travel, entertainment and other business expenses. Usually the ATM card purchase requires a copy of a passport.
Offshore banking has many advantages, some of which include the access to politically and economically stable jurisdictions, and the lower cost and higher interest rate. You can use a foreign bank account as an integral tool in an aggressive, two-pronged offshore wealth strategy. In other words, an offshore private bank account is not just a place for safekeeping cash. You might think it is a bit odd at first to open an offshore account when away on holiday but if you are going to that destination anyway on holiday it makes something nice to do one day.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/top-9-offshore-bank-account-considerations-307494.html
About the Author:
To learn more about the Panama Offshore Bank Account and other Panama Offshore Banking issues, visit Panama Offshore Legal at http://www.offshorelegal.org/offshore-banking/swiss-switzerland-offshore-banking/offshore-bank-account-tips.html
