For many years offshore investing has been demonized by the media. In fact, it is seen as a way of investors investing their money with illegal companies located in certain areas where tax is quite minimal. Although, it is true that there are some shady offshore deals, the majority of offshore trading and investing is perfectly legal. This explains why you need offshore stock brokerage services. Depending on your situation, you are likely to find this type of trading having several advantages.
What is offshore trading?
This refers to a broad range of investment strategies, which capitalize on the benefits provided outside the inves
tor’s home country. Before you stash your hard-earned cash, you need to know its advantages and disadvantages. You will note that there is a large money market, equity assets, bonds, and stocks provided by reputable offshore companies. All these are time-tested, fiscally sound, and legal.
Advantages
Tax reduction
There are countries known as tax havens. These provide tax incentives to the foreign investors. Favorable tax rates in the offshore country are meant to promote a healthy environment for investing, which attracts outside wealth. It is true a tiny country with only a few resources and small population, which attracts investors dramatically increases economic activity. This means that offshore investment takes place when investors from outside the country form a company in another country. This company protects investor’s accounts and shields investors from higher tax burdens.
Asset Protection
There are offshore centers, which are popular destinations for restructuring ownership of the assets. Individual wealth can easily be transferred from persons to other legitimate companies. When you male on-paper ownership transfers, individuals are not susceptible to domestic troubles or seizure.
Confidentiality
The majority of offshore jurisdictions provide strict banking and corporate confid
entiality. If confidentiality is breached, then there are consequences for the offending party. Divulging customer identities is an example of breaching confidentiality in most
jurisdictions. Secrecy does not imply that these investors are criminals. It is true that high-profile investors do not want the public to know the stocks they are investing in.
Disadvantages
Tax laws are becoming tight
There are tax agencies, which are not ignorant of the offshore strategies. They have been aware of traditional ways of avoiding tax. However, there are still some loopholes.
Cost
It is a fact that offshore accounts are not that cheap to create. To create a company that operates in this location may require registration fees, legal fees, and even owning some property in the country.