Archive for October, 2010

Offshore Bank Account Tips & Issues

Doug Snistola asked:

Are you looking for a personal offshore bank account? Maybe you are looking for a corporate offshore bank account. Generally speaking, any bank account opened outside of one’s native country can be considered an offshore bank account. The appeal of an offshore bank account is much more apparent during tax time, when assets and income must be reported to the IRS or other government revenue agencies abroad. This is why some companies and wealthier individuals prefer to open an offshore bank account in small sovereign states which allow account holders to remain virtually anonymous. For many years, an offshore bank account was indeed a convenient way to hide profits from illegal activities or under reported business earnings. Many people consider opening an offshore bank account for very legitimate financial reasons.

Bank

There is usually not much difference in service or benefits between the bank on the corner and a bank located in the Cayman Islands. These banks which are well established institutions offer an online corporate offshore bank account, with offshore credit card or debit card, and which can be operated via the internet, fax or phone. All bank accounts can be opened via courier post. None of the shelf offshore corporations have ever been in use or ever held a bank account.

Account

These banks which are well established institutions offer an online corporate offshore bank account, with offshore credit card or debit card, and which can be operated via the internet, fax or phone. The offshore banks were not obligated to report the existence of these accounts, and the account holders could legally pay little to no taxes to the host country. In recent years, however, the rules governing an offshore bank account have become much stiffer. Any bank account containing over $1,000 USD must be reported as income to the IRS, even if that bank account is in the Cayman Islands or Ireland. This is why some companies and wealthier individuals prefer to open an offshore bank account in small sovereign states which allow account holders to remain virtually anonymous.

Panama

One of the greatest advantages of having an offshore bank account in a favorable jurisdiction like Panama is that no one needs to know it exists. With a Panama bearer share corporation, wires moving through the wire system are not associated with any natural persons for more privacy. There is no capital gains tax in Panama on stock market trading gains making Panama a superb offshore stock brokerage jurisdiction. Bearer Share Corporations (Sociedad Anonima) Asset Protection with a full range of effective strategies including Panama Foundations and Corporations Providing corporate nominee directors and resident agent Offshore Bank Accounts in Panama with online banking Anonymous ownership of real estate anywhere. Anonymous ownership of boats and planes anywhere Real Estate Investment (Panama real estate appreciating 58% per annum) Panama Passport Program Panama Residency, Citizenship, Visas Stock Trading Accounts in Panama with secrecy Offshore Visa, MasterCard from Panama Bank and other countries Offshore Merchant Accounts for high risk or low risk accounts. Bank secrecy laws in Panama call for prison sentences and/or fines for any bank employee, officer or owner who divulges any information about a bank account or account holder(s). The only way the bank can legally divulge any information about you or any bank account associated with you is by court order from a court in Panama.

Banking

It is important that the proper jurisdiction be selected when deciding which jurisdiction to use as an offshore banking jurisdiction. It may also be far more appropriate for an individual to consider structuring their offshore banking affairs through an offshore company so that they can gain greater confidentiality in their banking affairs. Offshore banking accounts are generally opened under the name of offshore companies or corporations. Offshore banking accounts need to be opened with an initial deposit to activate your account.

Tax

Companies incorporated in the Great Britain must pay tax on their worldwide income regardless of the country in which this income is generated. With the exception of charitable companies, there are no tax-exempt companies in the United Kingdom. Offshore companies or offshore trusts are not the illicit hideaways from tax authorities as sometimes presented. The tax-free status of the jurisdiction being used is always a major consideration. When selecting an offshore jurisdiction for your foundation one must take into account the following: freedom from taxes including inheritance taxation, anonymity of the foundation, ease of passing assets to beneficiaries, ease of operation and reasonable cost. Our overriding aim is to minimize your tax liabilities whilst maximizing your company’s income.

Companies

As more and more people worldwide discover the risk-free benefits of placing their business and personal financial-affairs well away from their own countries, offshore companies are being created on their behalf at a rate of over 150,000 per year. Many owners of offshore companies tend to operate the companies directly by themselves. It is absolutely critical that any client seek the information necessary to make a strong decision when opening an offshore account and forming offshore companies. Offshore banking accounts are generally opened under the name of offshore companies or corporations. To assure complete privacy, the shares of International Companies are often held by a discretionary trust.

Offshore banking has been routinely and legally used for many years by individuals and organizations worldwide. As with any type of bank account you have a choice when it comes to determining which offshore bank account best suits your needs and requirements. An offshore bank account will allow you to safely and privately explore, with few restrictions, the far reaches of the vast and diverse financial universe; from the bond markets of Korea to the stock exchanges of Eastern Europe; from ultra-private Liechtenstein trust arrangements to the most successful funds; from unique commodity investments to Caribbean corporations; from Israeli nanotech start-ups to age-old European blue-chips; from the mysterious and secretive world of offshore mutual funds to tax-free Swiss gold accounts; from Isle of Man Insurance contracts to Danish multi-currency investment accounts; from uniquely structured tax-free Austrian funds to Bulgarian mortgages; and much more beyond.

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Real Estate Buying & Selling Guide in Singapore

Singapore is situated in southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a total area of 692.7 sq km, including 10 sq km water area. The country has a coastline of 193 km and it is about 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

Singapore became a British trading colony in 1819 and eventually developed into one of the empire’s most important trading centers. Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 and remained part of the federation for two years. The country became independent on August 9, 1965. Now Singapore is one of the world’s wealthiest countries with strong international trade. Singapore’s seaport is one of the world’s busiest ports in terms of volume handled. The country has a per capita income equal to that of the leading nations of the world.

Singapore has a population of 4,553,009, and a population growth rate of 1.275%, according to latest statistics available. The population consists of 76.8% Chinese, 13.9% Malaysians, 7.9% Indians and 1.4% others, according to 2000 census.

A number of commercial and industrial property services and agents are available in Singapore. Most of them offer comprehensive real estate property listings of office, factory, land, shop, warehouse, retail space, building, hotel, restaurant, coffee shop and food court available for sale or rent. If you are buying, selling or renting your commercial property, it is advisable that you hire the services of a reliable real estate agent. Owners very often list their real estate properties with these agents for sale, rent and lease. They help owners market their property with maximum exposure and commitment. You can also resort to online search.

If you are buying a private property or housing development board (HDB) unit in Singapore, ensure that you understand all the pitfalls before you sign the deal. That would help you avoid getting into legal or financial tangles during and after the transaction. Find an agent who is familiar with your preferred location and the nature of property you have in mind. It is highly recommended that you hire the services of an agent from a listed real estate agency. Also ensure that he is a member of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEA). Discuss your requirements with the agent and let him know your preferences in detail. This will help him take the right decisions and serve you in a professional manner.

It is also highly recommended that you ascertain that the seller is the actual owner of the property. You can also request for proof of ownership before signing the documents. Also, verify if the seller is legally eligible to sell the property. In the case of a mortgaged private property, the bank may not allow an owner who is unable to top up the shortfall on his bank loan to go through with the transaction.

Remember that HDB development units have several restrictions for resale. The government has fixed a minimum period of occupancy for the seller before he would be eligible to sell the unit. In the case of a flat bought directly from the housing development board or bought with a Central Provident Fund grant, the owner must have physically occupied the flat for at least five years before it can be sold.

The owner of a resale unit must have physically occupied it for a period of 30 months before he can sell it. Remember that real estate transaction is a legally binding contract. You must first ensure your eligibility to purchase a property. Foreigners have certain restrictions to buy Singapore properties. Only an experienced real estate agent can help you avoid legal complications.

Once you have finally decided on the location and size of the commercial property that you would buy, consider the amount of money you are able to invest. A number of software exists to help your agent accurately calculate the cost of buying a property. It is important that you provide your agent with accurate data regarding your financial position. That will help him chalk out a proper financial plan for you. If you are going for a bank loan, it is a good idea to talk to two or three banks and find out a financial plan that suits you most.
If you need some help understanding mortgage terms and loan options, here’s a list to help you. You may even want to print it and keep it handy when speaking to mortgage consultants.

Debt Free Solution

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How to Get a High Certificate Deposit Interest Rate

If you are interested in making money from your existing money, but you are not too fond of possibly losing it all in the stock market, then you should instead turn your attention to certificate deposits. Often called CDs for short, certificate deposits are one of the top ways to make money from your existing money, as they are safe, secure and offer you a peace of mind that other investments simply cannot match. However, your experience with a certificate deposit is almost totally reliant on how high your certificate deposit interest rate is and how long you are stuck with that particular CD.

There are two things that you want to be aware of when you are looking for a certificate deposit – the interest rate that the CD can offer you and how long you have to be stuck with whatever CD you choose. These two criteria can make or break your experience with a certificate deposit, as you could be stuck with a CD that provides high interest rates but prevents you from accessing your money for years or your could end up with a short, but not very beneficial certificate deposit. Therefore when looking for a high certificate deposit interest rate you should always look for one that provides a happy medium between high payouts and short term duration.

But what exactly is a high certificate deposit interest rate? That is an excellent question, and it really totally depends on when you decide to put your money in a certificate deposit. After all, because interest rates in general fluctuate so often you cannot be certain as to when is a good time to invest your money in a CD. Therefore, instead of looking for a good interest rate right now, wait until you are ready to invest in a certificate deposit and then search for the highest rate you can find.

Choosing to build a nest egg utilizing certificates of deposit is a great way to save for the future in a way that is more or less risk free. By doing some shopping, you can find the best terms for the certificate deposit interest rate as well as the duration of the CD. Take your time, and find the deal that will work best within your circumstances. Remember this is a decision that will impact your financial picture both now and in the years to come, so looking for the best deal is imperative.

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I need to open an offshore bank account fast. can anyone recommend me one with lowest opening fees available?

Jormar asked:

I am in need of opening an offshore account where I can transfer my funds there because I am getting ready to retire. I need to know which bank is best to open an account with offshore and if its with a lower fee to open an individual account, where I’ll be able to use electronic transfers, check card and so on between inland and offshore banks and that I can transfer all of my funds to it. If anyone knows this, please let me know. I appreciate your help! Jormar.

Stock Trading Options

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Purchasing Workers’ Compensation Insurance: A High Cost Expense For Businesses


As a business owner or employer, you have a legal responsibility to the people who work for you. If an employee is injured at work, there could be considerable costs. Workplace law and employer responsibilities vary from state to state and country to country, but an all states (except Texas) employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for employees. Even in Texas it is advantageous to purchase the coverage because in most cases if an employee receives workers’ compensation, they cannot sue the employer. It is said that workers’ compensation is a “bar” to civil lawsuits against the employer.

Workers’ compensation is also called employers’ liability. It used to be called “workman’s ” compensation and although the name has changed, many people still refer to it as workman’s or workmen’s compensation.

Workers’ compensation insurance is usually purchased by the employer from an insurance company although in a few states an employer must purchase it from the state. These states are called “monopolistic states.”

When purchasing workers’ compensation insurance coverage, it’s important to find the best arrangement possible. In addition to the cost of premiums, there are considerations such as how much collateral the insurance company requires and the payment schedule.

The cost of workers’ compensation insurance is determined by each state. Although base rates vary slightly from state to state, the basic process each state uses to calculate base rates is similar. The premium depends on the number of employees and cost of payroll. Each occupation is assigned a risk classification and each company is a little different. Risk is determined by the historical experience of two factors: the frequency of on-the-job injury and the severity of injury of the industry.

When you purchase workers’ compensation insurance for your business, it is important to remember your employees won’t be contributing to the premiums as they do with social security and unemployment benefits. This is one expense that employers are required by law to pay.

Large businesses usually purchase insurance through an insurance broker who finds coverage and a variety of payment plans depending on many factors including the size of the deductible and whether payment is made in one sum or monthly. Sometimes large companies self-insure or use alternative types of insurance such as captive insurance programs.

In Florida, for example, roofers have the highest occupational risk classification, and office clerks have the lowest. Obviously, the hazards of being a roofer are much different and quite a bit higher than those of an office clerk. Therefore, workers’ compensation rates are much higher for roofing companies than for administrative companies.

To arrive at a base rate for workers’ compensation insurance, each classification is translated into a dollar amount, which is then multiplied by 1% per $100 of the total payroll for the employee. For example, the office clerk classification in California is roughly $1.25 per $100. Therefore, if that employee is paid $500 per week, the workers’ compensation insurance premium for the employee costs roughly $6.25 per week.

Workers’ compensation insurance carriers can reduce or increase rates based on a number of factors. The most important factor is the employer’s safety history. Another important factor is whether the employer offers health insurance to their employees.

To get the lowest cost workers’ compensation insurance coverage, you will have to know the number of employees, the amount of your payroll and your revenue. Depending on your jurisdiction, workers’ comp rates may or may not be predetermined. Even in regions where they are predetermined, quotes may differ depending on a broker’s or agent’s approach.

Keep in mind once you buy workers’ comp coverage, you can be mistakenly overcharged. That is why you should make annual checks, called premium audits, to ensure your employees are classified correctly, and your business is being charged the correct amount for each employee. If rates ever go up unexpectedly, it is up to you to look into the situation and get an explanation as soon as possible. And, in some cases, the insurance company has the right to review your payroll, and if it’s substantially higher than they were told, they can charge you a higher premium in arrears.

Where to Buy

Work comp coverage is available through local agents, regional insurance brokers, or online. Buying coverage online makes sense for the small to medium size employer. There are certain employers who will only be able to get coverage from the risk pools in their states, but that can be coordinated through our affiliate. By purchasing insurance through our insurance center, you can find competitive rates and special policyholder services.

If you want to keep premiums down, it’s a good idea to provide a safe and healthy environment for your employees. It’s also important to have a post-injury process so when there is an accident, the procedures are clear from the time the injury occurs until the time the employee returns to work on either full duty or light duty. A light duty program minimizes the impact of the indemnity portion of the claim. That is the best and only way to keep your record clean, and prevent claims against your policy.

Visit: http://www.workerscompkit.com/gallagher/QuoteCenter/workers-compensation-insurance.php for more help and information.

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