In recent years the demand for offshore services world-wide has increased significantly, a sure sign of the expanding global economy. Consequently, the number of offshore jurisdictions has grown at a steady rate and continues to climb. Offshore business is big business, and today's competitive game is won by those who can get the job done most quickly and efficiently.

In the Bahamas, legislation has been created in the form of an International Business Company (IBC) Act to provide a vehicle for all the above, plus many more. The uses of an IBC are only limited by your imagination and new ideas surface everyday. The Government of The Bahamas, the fourth largest financial centre in the world, takes first priority in preserving your privacy and, the integrity of the financial industry.

Before making money, you should have a good offshore structure in place. In the twenty-first century, the demand for offshore services worldwide will increase significantly. Offshore structure is a big business and today's competitive game is won by those who can get the job done most quickly and efficiently.

We go offshore for many reasons. One of the reasons is for your privacy. Do not wait until you have wealth before you go offshore. One should plan ahead and be wise. If one can or will become a victim of lawsuit battles and possibly lose everything, going offshore can protect your assets against such liability with no taxation. Taxes are increasing every year and it is often difficult to cope with. Governments are not concerned about how much you save for your future, but how much tax they can get from you. Think about the loss in tax and the profit to be earned by investing offshore in a tax free environment.

With more than 400 Banks and Trust Companies all rigorously regulated by the Central Bank of the Bahamas, and with strict enforcement of money laundering regulations, banking is the second largest industry in The Bahamas. Independent since 1973, The Bahamas is politically and economically stable, and boasts an excellent professional infrastructure and stringent bank secrecy laws. The Bahamas has no tax treaties with any other nation and has no interest in the requests of other countries. Also, since there are no personal or corporate taxes in The Bahamas, any request to a court in respect of a tax matter in a foreign country is not admissible.

We welcome your business, provided the move offshore is fully respectful of the law.

Please note that BAHAMAS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD. is not in the business of promoting an individual or company not pay taxes in their own country. We always advise clients that they must comply with the laws of their home country, including reporting and paying whatever taxes they are required to pay. However, Supreme Courts have stated that it is not illegal to organize your affairs to pay the least amount of tax and it is on this premise that we advise our clients. We firmly promote the viewpoint that you have a right to privacy in your own business and banking affairs. To set-up an offshore company and trust, you have three options:

Firstly, you could engage a local accountant, lawyer or formation agent who specializes in this field. This accountant or lawyer would then contact another lawyer located in the offshore country of your choice. The offshore lawyer would then have your company formed, and forward your documents to your local accountant or lawyer. They would give the documentation to you and you will then have to arrange for international bank accounts and investment or brokerage accounts.

Your second option could be to travel to an offshore country of your choice or sometimes several countries if your structure is more complex. You might spend several days trying to locate suitable professionals for assistance. Finally, you could engage an accounting firm, lawyer or trust company that would form your company. Usually these offshore professionals have no knowledge of your local Income Tax Regulations and therefore you cannot be sure that your structure will comply with the laws of your home country.

Your third option is to use the services of BAHAMAS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD. We can help you form an offshore company and trust and set-up an offshore bank or global investment account. We do this with minimum paperwork and maximum privacy. Furthermore, our reasonable fees are quite attractive.

We assist numerous clients all over the world in establishing their "Offshore Presence". This usually includes an offshore corporation together with an offshore trust , a bank account or global investment account a credit or debit card for you to access your international cash (tax free). We work in more than a dozen tax haven jurisdictions including: Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Vincent, Bermuda, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Malta, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Singapore. Through this variety of jurisdictions we can establish a simple bank account or a complex multi-jurisdiction trust structure. What is best for you? It depends on what you require to achieve your objectives.

All of our services are conducted in complete privacy.

For a confidential, private consultation or for greater clarification about any of these matters please contact us and our staff would be pleased to assist you.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.