13/02/2020
Investment Tools - 2
TAX HAVEN
It's an offshore country that offers limited or less tax liability to foreign individuals, corporates and businesses in an environment that enjoys relative stability socially, politically and economically. Most tax havens are not obligated by local or international laws to share any transactional information with other tax authorities.
Besides the transactional secrecy they provide, most monied individuals, corporates and pension funds prefer tax havens due to one major reason - they do not require residency or business presence. Hence, such countries gain most by drawing from relatively huge financial inflows by investors, who in turn reap from their tax relaxed policies
[Historically], in Africa, most dictators, [their] monied cronies, families, friends and associates have been known to plunder billions of dollars and stash in such tax haven countries as Switzerland, Andorra, the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, the Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Hong Kong, The Isle of Man, Mauritius, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Panama, Cayman Islands, Jersey Islands, etc.
One classic example is that of Sani Abacha. In his brief stint as President of Nigeria, he single handedly stashed away in various tax havens, over USD 5B - Kshs 500B!
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1. Please notice the clear spelling difference! - It is haven NOT heaven!
2. Offshore means, abroad - beyond the shores of your country of birth!
Now you know!