Best International SIM Cards For World Travellers
Only when travelling abroad do you realize how many things you take for granted. If you are American and travel to the UK, it might shock you to see...
An International Business Corporation or International Business Company (IBC) is an offshore financial and legal tool. Another related term is Offshore Corporation or Company, which an IBC is a subcategory of.
Some countries and territories offering this kind of advantage are:
With an IBC, this could be your private Jet on a runway in BVI
As mentioned in other articles, a trust is a legal entity that permits a grantor to delegate the protection of their assets to a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiaries. In this context, an IBC is similar because your assets would belong to an IBC - not you. That is, you would control a corporation that owns the assets. Through this vehicle, you can enjoy solid protection against lawsuits and creditors. It is even possible to transfer onshore profits to a more favourable tax regime thanks to an IBC. No corporate taxes nor local fees, or stamp duties apply either.
Another key characteristic is a sound combination of privacy, limited liability and low compliance. You can do business with peace of mind because no one will know your assets or net worth. Thus you can increase profits and prevent anyone from ripping you off. You can keep secret the names of members, shareholders or owners through nominee services. As with trusts, the regulation protects all this information and breaking the law would imply prison sentences for the culprits. Also, if a foreign state wants to seize assets or take legal action, it must go through a tedious process to even begin. In some cases, there must be a bilateral agreement to investigate an IBC. In reality, only three entities will have access to this data:
Family celebrating with champagne in their private jet
Essentially, unless you participate in obscure activities, other States or greedy individuals will have trouble finding out about your International Business Corporation. In principle, people’s names are not registered with local authorities. This data is not available to the public. All these individuals may reside anywhere, but in some cases, some restrictions apply to the residents of the territory where the IBC was set up. On top of that, IBC’s members and directors can celebrate meetings anywhere in the world, which provides an extra layer of privacy.
IBCs do not have any currency restrictions, meaning you can preserve your wealth in any currency of your liking. You will not face any loss of value to other more powerful currencies like the euro or the US dollar. An IBC is an excellent tool for conducting business as well as private activities abroad, as all transactions are kept confidential. As a side note, it is also ideal for registering expensive items such as ships or yachts.
The registration process is also quick as it only takes one to five days. It must be noted that an IBC does not allow doing business in the country where it is located or possess any local Real Estate. It is not possible either to provide insurance, reinsurance, or banking services with an IBC. However, doing business is convenient because there is freedom of operation: trading, shipping, manufacturing, etc., as long as it is outside the territory in question.
Other common uses for IBCs are the protection of intellectual property, the diversification of portfolios or international trade.
You can read this article where we look at all of the immigration schemes worldwide; it’s called: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency
With an International Business Corporation, you could also own a private yacht in the Caribbean Sea
Even though it is different in each jurisdiction, the process is usually as follows:
Enjoy good food and a great glass of wine, knowing you are well protected with an IBC
Both terms are interchangeable to some extent, but in reality, “corporation” is more precise. That is because a corporation is not necessarily a building, a factory or an office but rather a document in an attorney’s office. Once this type of corporation is established, it is possible to operate it as a company, conduct business, and have offices or property. That is why the “C” in IBC stands for corporation.
If you want to operate your business or just protect your assets in a low-tax jurisdiction, an International Business Corporation might be the right choice for you. Aside from zero to no taxes, you can protect your privacy while trading internationally, creating bank accounts, ensuring intellectual property and much more. And as discussed, many countries and territories offer this legal instrument to secure your new life abroad.
I help my clients to move offshore for freedom, privacy and autonomy by focusing on the immigration, legal, and tax issues that you will face when becoming an expat. If you would like to work one-on-one with me on getting out of Canada or the USA (or setting up a Plan-B location), then read this important letter and fill in an application form to become a Private Client. My fees are not cheap; however, I can assure you that when you work with a professional firm like ours, the results will be worth it.
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Written by Mikkel Thorup
Mikkel Thorup is the world’s most sought-after expat consultant. He focuses on helping high-net-worth private clients to legally mitigate tax liabilities, obtain a second residency and citizenship, and assemble a portfolio of foreign investments including international real estate, timber plantations, agricultural land and other hard-money tangible assets. Mikkel is the Founder and CEO at Expat Money™, a private consulting firm started in 2017. He hosts the popular weekly podcast, the Expat Money Show, and wrote the definitive #1-Best Selling book Expat Secrets - How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas And Make Giant Piles Of Money.
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