12 Best Tax Haven in the World | Offshore Tax Havens | Tax Havens Countries

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• published: 29 May 2017
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The world of offshore accounts, shell companies and tax havens extends far beyond the fictional legal thrillers you see on the silver screen. Offshore tax havens — countries or territories where taxes are assessed at a low or nonexistent rate — are very much a reality, and U.S.-based multinational corporations play a starring role in the real-life drama. According to a 2016 report by Citizens for Tax Justice, 367 companies in the Fortune 500 operate subsidiaries in tax-haven nations around the globe. Just like major corporations, individuals can take advantage of the web of financial loopholes and legislation that foreign countries offer. Click through to discover 12 of these tax havens, which might help you pay less on your tax bill this year or at some point in the future. BERMUDA Bermuda earned the dubious distinction of ranking No. 1 on Oxfam’s 2016 list of the world’s worst corporate tax havens. Bermuda features a zero percent corporate tax rate, as well as no personal income tax rate. Due to the lack of corporate taxes, U.S. multinational companies have raked in huge amounts of money in Bermuda, notably recording profits of $80 billion in 2012. That amount exceeded their profits reported in Japan, China, France and Germany combined. NETHERLANDS The most popular tax haven among the Fortune 500 is the Netherlands, with more than half of the Fortune 500 reporting at least one subsidiary there. Oxfam’s list of the worst corporate tax havens placed this Benelux country at No. 3. National governments often use tax incentives to lure businesses to invest in their country. However, far too often tax incentives have been found to be ineffective, inefficient and costly, according to Oxfam. In the Netherlands, one such tax incentive cost an estimated 1.2 billion euros in 2016. That is equivalent to 7.6 percent of what the Netherlands receives in total income from corporation tax. LUXEMBOURG Like the Netherlands, Luxembourg is one of the three countries that form the Benelux countries, which also have a reputation for being tax shelters. Luxembourg’s tax-haven status comes from its business-friendly laws that allow international companies to park portions of their business in the nation and dodge billions in tax bills. Tax-friendly characteristics include tax incentives, zero percent withholding taxes and evidence of large-scale profit shifting, according to Oxfam. CAYMAN ISLANDS The Cayman Islands offer “probably the biggest (tax) loophole now for individuals as well as the multinational corporations,” said Crystal Stranger, Los Angeles-based tax operations director at 1st Tax Inc. The Cayman Islands come in at No. 2 on Oxfam’s list of the worst tax havens. The Caymans are a British Overseas Territory, a designation that seems to be a common thread running through several tax havens on the Oxfam list. The Caymans and other countries with laws that allow a corporation to be formed and retain assets without paying tax, Stranger said. “When held for business purposes, this is perfectly legal and not a tax-avoidance strategy,” she said. However, the tax advantages and implications are complex, and a professional is probably best equipped to handle them, she said. The tax benefits can be worthwhile to the many businesses from the U.S. and around the world that have assets in the Caymans. In 2012, American multinational companies reported $46 billion in profits from subsidiaries based in the Cayman Islands, according to a report by Citizens for Tax Justice. That compared to a gross domestic product of just $3 billion for the territory. SINGAPORE This tiny sovereign city-state was once a British colony, and now is a hub for multinational corporate subsidiaries. Like the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Singapore actually has “reasonable” nominal corporate tax rates, according to Oxfam. Yet, like those nations, Singapore still finds a way to be one of the top tax havens in the world. Singapore circumvents its “reasonable” corporate tax rates through tax incentives, lack of withholding taxes and what appears to be substantial profit shifting, according to the Oxfam report. CHANNEL ISLANDS Located between England and France, the Channel Islands host hundreds of international corporate subsidiaries. For example, Morgan Stanley alone has 33 tax haven subsidiaries in the Channel Islands, according to a report by the Citizens for Tax Justice. The Channel Islands consist of two British Crown dependencies: The Bailiwick of Jersey, consisting of Jersey The Bailiwick of Guernsey, consisting of three separate jurisdictions: Guernsey, Alderney and Sark Crown dependencies are not part of the United Kingdom, but are instead self-governing territories. Jersey’s status as a tax haven rose in the mid-20th century, when many rich British citizens moved their wealth to the island. At that time