 |
Sunday 29/1/2012
IO
News: Finance Malta Launches 'Sector Guides'
Finance Malta, the public-private partnership set up to promote Malta's financial
services sector, has launched a set of technical and promotional guides in support of local practitioners to aid prospective investors considering operations in Malta.
|
|
Friday 27/1/2012
IO
News: Liechtenstein Aligns Investment Laws With EU The Liechtenstein government has recently adopted a proposal to
amend the principality’s Securities Prospect Act, Disclosure Act, and Asset Management Act, to bring them into line with
European Union guidelines.
Thursday 26/1/2012
IO
News: Managed US ETF Assets Surge Total assets in United States exchange traded fund managed portfolio strategies rose by 43% in 2011, according to a new report by Morningstar.
IO
Daily News Page | RSS
 | IO
By Email
Being An Expat In 2012 - A Financial Primer
by Investors Offshore editorial staff
To believe the surveys, half the world is either already an expat, or planning to become one. Tens of millions of people work abroad, or have retired there, or have property in a foreign country.
Read:
Being An Expat In 2012 - A Financial Primer
Jurisdiction Special Focus: Malta
by the Investors Offshore editorial
team, December, 2011
Malta is an independent nation, having split from the UK in 1964. The Maltese Islands are 100 km south of Sicily, with a population of 408,000; the climate is warm. Malta has a Westminster-style democracy, but has been politically fractious since independence. 15 years of post-colonial adolescent flirtation with Communism and the third world has however been succeeded by a more mature attitude.
Read:
Jurisdiction Special Focus: Malta
The EU Savings Tax Directive
by the Investors Offshore editorial
team, December, 2011
The European Union Savings Tax Directive (STD), which went into effect on 1st July, 2005, in fact forms merely one part of a major tax reform package launched by the European Commission in 1997. As originally drafted, the STD aimed at a uniform 'information exchange' regime to apply across the Union, with all countries agreeing to report interest on savings paid to the citizens of other Member States to those States' tax authorities.
Read:
The EU Savings Tax Directive
Investors Offshore Special Reports: Gibraltar
by the Investors Offshore editorial
team, December, 2011
Gibraltar is a small peninsula located on the southern coast of Spain.
It covers a total area of 6.5 sq km and its coastline stretches for 12 km only; there is a 1.2 km
borderline with Spain. The Strait of Gibraltar links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean. Gibraltar enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Its highest point is the rock of Gibraltar
which reaches 426m and is surrounded by narrow coastal lowland. The supply of fresh water is limited
and there is no agriculture.
Read:
Investors Offshore Special Reports: Gibraltar
QROPS
- Qualified
Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes
by the Investors Offshore editorial
team, November, 2011
Pity the poor pensioners, in their 50s or 60s, approaching
retirement. Annuity rates are falling so fast that anything but a really large
pension pot will hardly deliver enough income to pay for the family car, never
mind that cruise they had set their hearts on. And in many countries the tax
authority will not allow you to cash in your pension pot on the grounds that
it is tax-privileged money, plus a dose of nannying - if you take the money
and spend it, goes the reasoning, you will fall back onto state support.
Read:
QROPS - Qualified
Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes
International Property Investment - Are REITs Righting Themselves Again?
November 2011
While many international investors choose to invest directly in their own homes (first, second or third, as the case may be!), one very interesting way of putting surplus funds into real estate is through a REIT.
Read:
International Property Investment - Are REITs Righting Themselves Again?
Jurisdiction Special Focus: JERSEY
October 2011
The largest and most southerly of the Channel Islands between England and France, Jersey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, with a population of around 94,000 (July 2011 est.) expatriates and residents. Despite being only 45 square miles, it is as bustling and active as offshore jurisdictions many times its size, and the moderate climate means that outdoor activities such as golf, swimming, water-sports and cycling are enjoyed by all its citizens.
Read:
Jurisdiction Special Focus: JERSEY
Emerging Market Investments
- Into Calmer Waters?
October 2011
Come rain or shine, as regards the global economy, the emerging markets, or developing nations (there is no consensus on what word to use) have consistently outperformed developed nations for a number of decades. Even in the depths of the financial crisis, the emerging economies posted overall GDP growth of 2.5% whereas the world economy as a whole shrank by 0.5%.
Read:
Emerging Market Investments
- Into Calmer Waters?
International Offshore Banking
October 2011
In an increasingly globalised world, in which more and more of the population are becoming internationally mobile, there is a growing need for financial services which reflect people's circumstances, and consequently the market for offshore and international banking services is probably larger and more diverse now than it has ever been.
Read:
International Offshore Banking
|
Jurisdiction Special Focus: Cyprus
by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, January 2012
Cyprus is an independent sovereign republic in the Eastern Mediterranean, with a population of 1.1m (July 2011 est), of whom the majority are ethnically Greek, living in the southern part of the island. More than 200,000 Turkish Cypriots and Turkish immigrants live in the northern part of the island, separated from the south by a UN-supervised buffer zone. The official languages in the two zones are Greek and Turkish, but many Cypriots speak English, which is extensively used in business and commerce.
Read:
Jurisdiction Special Focus: Cyprus
|
| Network News |
|
29/1 US Treasury Aims To Lower FATCA Burdens During her remarks at the New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Acting
Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, Emily McMahon, indicated that regulations
for the implementation of the provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act are in the final stages of clearance at the United States Treasury and
the Internal Revenue Service.
29/1 India Signs Multilateral Tax Cooperation Convention India is the latest signatory to join the multilateral Convention on Mutual
Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an agreement drafted to promote international
tax cooperation.
29/1 St Kitts And Nevis Budget Consolidation On Track Saint Kitts and Nevis has made marked process on debt reduction under a program supported by the International
Monetary Fund.
27/1 Malta Signs TIEA With Gibraltar Malta has welcomed the signing of a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Gibraltar,
which will provide both countries with tax information on request when there is evidence of fiscal crime.
27/1 Guernsey Remains Leader In Non-UK Listings Guernsey remains home to more non-UK entities listed on the London Stock Exchange than any other jurisdiction globally, according to figures from the market
authority.
27/1 EU Modifies Derivatives Proposals In an effort to achieve a rapid agreement with the European Parliament, the
European Council has adjusted its position on a draft regulation aimed at
increasing transparency on all derivatives and reducing risk in the over-the-counter derivatives market.
27/1 Maltese Banking Sector Concerns IMF With public finances being given a clean bill of health, the International Monetary Fund in its latest assessment of Malta has warned that safeguards must be introduced to protect the Maltese banking sector.
27/1 Danish Presidency's Fiscal Priorities Don't Include FTT Denmark’s Economic and Interior Affairs Minister Margrethe Vestager
recently explained to the European Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee that
the key priorities for the Danish Presidency of the European Union Council of
Ministers are increasing surveillance of budgetary policies, and the economic
and fiscal surveillance of eurozone member states facing serious financial instability.
26/1 French Wealth Tax Yields Surprising Revenues France’s solidarity tax on wealth, which was radically reformed by the government in
June last year, has served to yield much greater fiscal revenues for the state
than initially predicted.
26/1 Barbados Modernizes Land Tax Administration Barbados has announced that it will soon roll out its online portal for taxpayers to view and pay their land tax bills online, although the system is not yet available for foreign property owners.
26/1 Swiss Financial Centre 'Faces Uncertain Times' According to a recent study conducted by the Swiss independent economic research
institute BAK Basel, the Swiss financial sector will decline in importance at
international level over the course of the coming years, resulting in thousands
of job losses in the sector.
26/1 Greece Publishes List Of Tax Evaders True to its word, in a determined bid to clamp down on rampant tax evasion,
the Greek government has recently published a list of individuals alleged to
have evaded taxes in Greece to the tune of almost EUR15bn (USD19.5bn).
26/1 Isle Of Man Facing Fiscal Challenges The Isle of Man Chief Minister Allan Bell has issued the strongest warning yet
that the island must face up to some difficult changes if it is to overcome the
current economic challenges.
25/1 India Raises Precious Metal Duty India has raised the import duty on silver and gold, in a move set to increase revenues with prices for the precious metals expected to remain buoyant.
25/1 Bermuda Signs TIEAs With South Korea, Turkey Tax information exchange agreements, which incorporate the internationally-agreed
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development standard for the exchange
of information for tax purposes, have been signed between Bermuda and both South
Korea and Turkey.
26/1 Ireland Launches Immigrant Investor Programme The Irish government is to introduce two major new immigration initiatives aimed at encouraging non-European migrant entrepreneurs and investors.
25/1 Banks Need Bespoke Accounting Rules, BoE Says Andrew Haldane, the Executive Director for Financial Stability at the Bank of
England, has called for a rethink of reporting requirements for the banking industry,
due to inconsistencies in how banking assets are quantified when the market value is unknown.
25/1 Guernsey Outlines 2012 Financial Sector Agenda Guernsey's Commerce and Employment Department has outlined its agenda for the
forthcoming year, which includes concluding legislative programs to allow for
the creation of Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and Foundations
in Guernsey.
25/1 IMF Recommends Permanent VAT Hike For Barbados The International Monetary Fund has suggested that the Barbados government should raise more money from tax in reviewing
its medium-term fiscal strategy, aimed at eliminating the territory's deficit
by the fiscal year 2014/2015.
25/1 Taiwan Eases Expat Worker Rules A revision to the Employment Services Act passed by Taiwan’s parliament
has not only extended the maximum number of years that foreigners may work in
Taiwan from nine to twelve years, but also lowered the fine for late payment of
their employment stabilization fees.
|
|
|
| Your Views |
| US resident seeking...not to be! |
I'm a US resident seeking to terminate my residence in the next coupe of years - thinking of moving to sunnier shores. Anyone got any recommendations (young, free and single and moderately independently wealthy, if it helps!)
Also, how long will my association (for tax purposes) with the US last? Please tell me not forever...!Rick |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| Hong Kong etc. |
I've been recieving this recently,
"I am sorry to inform you that according to our internal bank policy, we are unable to open account for US person.."
Is there a way around this?
Will I get the same if I appear in person, money in hand?phomsanuk |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| Best offshore banking country? |
Hi,
I live and pay tax in the UK. I have non-salary remuneration coming to me from freelance work from other countries. Can anyone recomend a good international bank account that offers visa or mastercard debit, in a jurisdiction that is safe from the savings tax directive or other reporting duty involving the UK? Ideally the account would offer decent interest too, and no tax on this interest! It would also be good if it could be managed online.
Just to be clear, I fully intend to fulfil my duty to the UK tax authorities, and declare this income. I simply have no faith in the UK banking system and its relationship with the UK government, or their Indian call centres. I also intend to travel and emigrate once I have a decent purse.
Thanks for any help or suggestions. Simon |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| waste management (green technology) |
Hi my name is Richard Marcolini,
I am seeking start up capital for a venture in Panama City, Republica de Panama. The project is designed to provide education, manipulation,recollection,transportation and sterilization of medical waste( by green technology) . I previously developed a similar project for the government in Costa Rica. This will be a private venture in Panama. As I am sure you are aware, Panama offers multiple tax benefits and incentives to business developers.
Please review my website at www.biomedicalinternational2012.com and contact me if you have further interest at 904-373-7033 or biomedical2012@gmail.com
Thank you for your interest in this project.
Sincerely,
Richard Marcolinirichard Marcolini |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| Waste management (green technology) |
Hi my name is Richard Marcolini,
I am seeking start up capital for a venture in Panama City, Republica de Panama. The project is designed to provide education, manipulation,recollection,transportation and sterilization of medical waste( by green technology) . I previously developed a similar project for the government in Costa Rica. This will be a private venture in Panama. As I am sure you are aware, Panama offers multiple tax benefits and incentives to business developers.
Please review my website at www.biomedicalinternational2012.com and contact me if you have further interest at 904-373-7033 or biomedical2012@gmail.com
Thank you for your interest in this project.
Sincerely,
Richard Marcolini |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| Joint Account at Jersey |
Hi.
I am an entrepreneur, during this month of november 2010, I'm opening a joint account at Citi International Personal Bank of Jersey's Island.
I am looking for potential investors from 1 to 5 U.S. million or more, per month, to start a new business partnership.
Further information ierpassos@hotmail.comMr. Eduardo Passos |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
| Health care package |
| I've been offered a position at my current UK employer's associate company in Dubai for 2 years. The package looks quite good but as this is my first overseas/expat experience I'm not sure if the healthcare portion is okay. My wife and our two young kids will be with me and the package only appears to include 75% basic cover with me having to top it up. Is this a standard sort of deal?angus |
| Read
Replies | Reply | Start
New Thread |
|
|
|
Lowtax Network Portal