LOWTAX.NET
CONTACT | ABOUT | LEGAL | LINKS     
   NETWORK SITES:
   LOWTAX   
   TAX-NEWS   
incorporatebelize.com Belize Offshore Companies

from the Source

Belize Company
formation Fees

IBC Shelf-list

Jurisdiction Home Pages

Andorra
Anguilla
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Canada
Cayman Islands
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Denmark
Dubai
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guernsey
Hong Kong
Ireland
Isle of Man
Jersey
Labuan
Latvia
Liberia

Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Madeira
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Monaco
The Netherlands
The Netherlands Antilles
Nevis
New Zealand
Panama
Portugal
Russia
Seychelles
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
St. Kitts
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Switzerland
Turks & Caicos Islands
USA
UK
Vanuatu

Newsletter

To receive monthly updates on new features in lowtax.net and tax-news.com just enter your e-mail address below:

Daily Tax Quote

The Network

3,000 free pages of accurate, timely information

Tax-News.com


Daily, updated news about tax and offshore from our team of 20 international journalists

Lowtax.net

'Low-tax' business and investment in the top 50 jurisdictions covered in exceptional detail

Investors offshore.com


Global information and advice for expatriates and international investors

Offshore-e-com.com

A topical guide to offshore e-commerce focused on tax and regulation

LawAndTax-News.com


Daily news and background data on tax and legal developments for international business

OFFSHORE BUSINESS REVIEW - COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT

LINKS IN THIS SECTION RELATED INFORMATION
  OTHER BUSINESS SECTORS
DESCRIPTION OF OFFSHORE
JURISDICTIONS SECTION
TAX-NEWS - TAX COVERAGE
TAX-NEWS - LEGAL COVERAGE
TAX-NEWS - POLITICS AND ECONOMICS COVERAGE


International Offshore Financial Centres (IOFCs) often provide a welcoming environment for investment companies. Offshore investment vehicles may take a variety of forms: unit trust, mutual fund or investment company, and may be open-ended or closed. They will be referred to generically in this section as 'offshore funds'. In all cases the key reasons for being offshore are that the gains from investment are untaxed or very lightly taxed in the IOFC concerned, and that the regulatory regime in the IOFC is lighter than in the high-tax countries where the investors and often the promoters (owners) of the fund are to be found.

IOFCs vary greatly in the legal and fiscal regimes they provide for offshore funds. The most widely-used jurisdictions are Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Luxembourg.

Just because offshore funds offer greater returns and often greater risks than onshore funds, many countries restrict investment in such funds by their citizens, and restrict marketing by offshore funds on their territory or to their citizens. The USA is particularly fierce in this regard, and offshore funds take great care not to offend against US law, refusing to accept investment from US residents. The UK's regime is more permissive while still not very flexible. The laws and regulations of high-tax countries in respect of offshore funds are directed not just to limiting the behaviour of their citizens but also to preventing 'money-laundering' and other illicit uses of IOFCs.

Of course, individuals or companies who are tax-resident in a high-tax country may not be able to benefit much from the tax advantages of an offshore fund if they are taxed on their world-wide income, as is usually the case. Some funds 'roll up' income and capital gains for this reason, at least allowing the tax-payer to defer taxation until the fund eventually distributes gains, or units/shares are sold.

In the Lowtax.net jurisdictions section, information is given about the financial sector for each of the following completed jurisdictions:

Andorra, Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dubai, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Labuan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, The Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Seychelles, Switzerland, Turks & Caicos Islands and Vanuatu.

To be kept updated as to our progress click here.


 

 

 


THE LOWTAX LIBRARY

One of the web's largest and most authoritative business and investment information sources. Alongside topical, daily news on worldwide tax developments, you can receive weekly newswires or access up-to-date intelligence reports on a range of legal, tax and investment subjects.

FREE TRIAL NEWS SUBSCRIPTION

Our 16 constantly updated intelligence reports cover every important aspect of 'offshore' and international tax-planning in depth, including banking secrecy, the EU's savings tax directive, offshore funds, e-commerce, offshore gaming and transfer pricing. Reports are available for immediate downloading or as subscription services with news pages.

Advertising & Marketing

With over 50,000 qualified readers every month our web-sites offer a number of cost effective, targeted advertising, sponsorship and marketing opportunities:

Display advertising - from 'skyscrapers' to 'buttons'
Content/article submission and sponsorship
Opt-in email marketing
On-line Services Directory listings

Click here to learn more or contact Peter Wiggins on +44 1424 425933 or email him at peter@lowtax.net

News & Content Solutions

Could your corporate web-site or newsletter benefit from incorporating regularly updated news and content tailored to serve your clients' interests? We can provide a variety of maintenance-free news and content solutions that can be seamlessly integrated and dynamically delivered:

Customised, personalised 'own-brand' news services
Newsletter content and management
News Headlines Tickers

Click here to learn more or contact Peter Wiggins on +44 1424 425933 or email him at peter@lowtax.net

IMPORTANT NOTICE: TAX-NEWS.COM has taken reasonable care in sourcing and presenting the information contained on this site, but accepts no responsibility for any financial or other loss or damage that may result from its use. In particular, users of the site are advised to take appropriate professional advice before committing themselves to involvement in offshore jurisdictions, offshore trusts or offshore investments. All materials on this site copyright TAX-NEWS.COM 1999 to 2004. Contact us for further information.