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Offshore
Should The I.R.S. Have the Right to Seize Your Passport and Prohibit Your Travel Plans? Vote HerePosted on May 11, 2012 by International Living
A worrying new bill just passed the Senate on March 14, 2012. It’s called the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.” (MAP-21). And it could give the I.R.S. the power to take your passport and prevent you from traveling outside the U.S. if they claim you owe money on your taxes…
IL Radio Episode 32: Panama—Your Residency and Visa Issues AnsweredPosted on May 10, 2012 by Dan Prescher
When you talk about Panama, you’ll often find that you’re talking about all the things that make a place a tropical paradise. Panama is hugely popular with U.S. and Canadian expats, and for good reasons. But like any place else, having experienced legal help on your side is critical, even in Paradise.
One Way to Get Immediate Residency in PanamaPosted on May 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman
The Panamanian side of the Darién is dominated by deep valleys, rivers and a 6,000-foot-high mountain peak. You won’t find much else here. Starbucks hasn’t made it, and there’s no Home Depot. This is frontier country. But you will find an open door to immediate residency in Panama, along with a chance for profitable investing.
How to Get Immediate Residency in PanamaPosted on April 25, 2012 by Robert Bauman
Since my first visit to Panama in the 1970s I’ve returned countless times and visited every part of the isthmus except one—the Darién Gap, a large swath of swamp, jungle and forest, 99 miles long and 31 miles wide, that separates Panama’s Darién Province from the Republic of Colombia.
Uruguay Meets High Expectations of Privacy and FreedomPosted on March 27, 2012 by Robert Bauman
A recent poll on government revealed that more than half the population of Uruguay feels that the country is being run “for the good of all the people.” You can guess how most Americans would answer that question…
Three Places Where You Can Buy a Second PassportPosted on March 12, 2012 by Robert Bauman
There are good reasons for obtaining a second passport; expansion of travel possibilities; concealment of nationality for safety reasons; exercising the right to reside in another country; opening offshore bank and other financial accounts; easier crossings of international borders when a primary passport is lost or stolen.
Belize: No Taxes in This Caribbean ParadisePosted on March 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman
In Belize, more than 40% of the country is protected as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and marine reserves. But this lush ecological paradise is not just a haven for wildlife. Belize encourages offshore business and welcomes foreigners as local residents, too. In fact, if you’re looking into your residency options, Belize should be high on your list.
Second Passports—3 Places You Can Buy OnePosted on February 21, 2012 by Robert Bauman
Now and again when an American (or any other national) grumbles about the sad state of affairs in their home country they may hear a sharp response: “If you don’t like it here, go find another country.”
Why You Should Consider Moving Your Assets OffshorePosted on February 9, 2012 by Robert Bauman
As a lawyer for many decades now, I know how important it is to read and understand what you read. I also know from experience that Americans have been bombarded for years by class warfare politicians attacking wealthy people as if success in life was a crime.
Forms, Filing and the IRS’ Latest MovePosted on January 19, 2012 by anon
Somewhere far out in the South Pacific lies a network of near-perfect castaway islands. Fifteen in all, their beaches are of white-powdered sands, the waters aquamarine and turquoise, and the climate ideal. From the shores of palm-fringed lagoons rise soaring volcanic peaks clad in lush green jungle.
Get a Safe Deposit Box OverseasPosted on January 18, 2012 by Robert Bauman
A safe deposit box is just a lockable metal box or drawer, inside a bank or private vault, which is used for safely storing your valuables. And the annual rent for a safe deposit box can be as little as $500. On a traditional safe deposit box there are two different keys, both of which must be used to open the box. One key (usually two copies of it) is given to you as the box renter.
Cutting-Edge Wealth ProtectionPosted on January 16, 2012 by Robert Bauman
These islands are an independent country joined in “free association” with New Zealand. It has its own government and court system, the New Zealand dollar is the local currency, and it definitely qualifies as what used to be called a “tax haven,” now replaced by the politically correct term “offshore financial center.” Fifteen in all, their beaches are of white-powdered sands, the waters aquamarine and turquoise, and the climate ideal.
- Cook Islands: Cutting-Edge Wealth Protection
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Somewhere far out in the South Pacific lies a network of near-perfect castaway islands. Fifteen in all, their beaches are of white-powdered sands, the waters aquamarine and turquoise, and the climate ideal. From the shores of palm-fringed lagoons rise soaring volcanic peaks clad in lush green jungle.
Uruguay: Have You Discovered This Low-Tax Haven?Posted on December 4, 2011 by Robert Bauman
There’s even more to Uruguay than beautiful beaches, attractive riverside towns, vibrant capital, friendly people, and profitable property investments. If you’re looking for an environment where your money is safe, you and your family can feel secure, and taxes are low, this country should be on your short list.
Uruguay: The Easy, Friendly, Low-Tax HavenPosted on November 24, 2011 by Robert Bauman
In your October issue, Lee revealed all his good reasons for choosing this “Europe of South America” and explained why you should consider following his example. But there’s even more to this fascinating, lesser-known country. If you’re looking for an environment where your money is safe, you and your family can feel secure, and taxes are low, this country should be on your short list.
How – and Why – to Get a Safe Deposit Box OverseasPosted on October 27, 2011 by Robert Bauman
I still remember the Broadway musical Fiorello!, based on the life of the popular New York City mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, a reform Republican who served three hectic terms from 1934 to 1945. In one of the musical’s songs, an investigative committee demands to know how Mr. X, a minor city official, can afford a private yacht….
How to Get an Irish PassportPosted on September 24, 2011 by Robert Bauman
“We are all Irish today.” That’s a ritual saying U.S. politicians repeat each St Patrick’s Day. They’re identifying with the nearly 40 million citizens of the United States, nearly 12% of the total, who trace their ancestry to Ireland.
FATCA: What It Is and Why You Need to KnowPosted on September 16, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Has the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adopted the imperial Romans as their model and as the inspiration for the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)?
Protect Your Retirement Now in 3 Easy StepsPosted on August 29, 2011 by Chris Hunter
With more than three in five U.S. workers in their 50s and 60s planning on working past 65 (and over half of them planning on working into their 70s and beyond), the American Dream continues to die a death. IL’s Chris Hunter offers some sound advice on what you can do to protect your retirement.
How to Get an Irish Passport and CitizenshipPosted on August 22, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Mearly 40 million U.S. citizens trace their ancestry to Ireland – many of whom are entitled to an Irish passport. Aside from joining the country of your ancestors, there is a good practical use of an Irish passport. It entitles the holder to live, work, and travel freely in any of the 27 countries in the European Union to which Ireland belongs.
Where to Look for Your Irish HeritagePosted on August 22, 2011 by International Living
It’s easier than you think to reveal your Irish roots. Here’s a guide on how to get started. Your research begins with your family. Ask questions, collect stories, check out old photos, and search that attic chest or bottom drawer for any documents that might provide some clues.
Tax, Banking, and Offshore Havens – 7 TipsPosted on August 15, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Haven nations in which privacy was expected, guaranteed and delivered were numerous just two or three decades ago. They’re many fewer today. But you do still have choices. Which is right for you?
What to Ask Yourself Before You Choose Your Offshore HavenPosted on July 20, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Haven nations in which privacy was expected, guaranteed and delivered were numerous just two or three decades ago. They’re many fewer today. But you do still have choices. Which is right for you? It will depend.
IL Radio Episode 20: A Canadian Couple Moved Offshore to Belize and Saved on Their TaxesPosted on July 7, 2011 by Dan Prescher
Paul and Kelly German had great lives back in Canada. But they found that Belize offered them a great lifestyle with a year-round summer and they could build their nest egg much faster than they could back home.
3 Retirement Secrets: Swiss Pensions, Brazilian Banks, Solo 401kPosted on June 24, 2011 by Len Galvin
Subscribers to International Living magazine regularly learn of little-known retirement and investment opportunities, like the ones I’m about to reveal—straight from the current issue of the magazine…
Before You Buy Gold or Silver, Read ThisPosted on June 20, 2011 by Mark Nestmann
Owning physical gold and silver in the form of coins and bullion will help to conserve your purchasing power as paper money loses its value. But where do you store it?
Create Your Own Pension Plan with a Swiss AnnuityPosted on May 24, 2011 by Robert Bauman
The dollar is in trouble. And as the Federal Reserve floods the market with fine-quality, colored paper to pay down our enormous $14 trillion debt, we cannot be surprised that the dollar’s day of reckoning is inching closer.
“I Don’t Want to Give Up My U.S. Citizenship…”Posted on April 29, 2011 by Suzan Haskins
Residency and citizenship are not the same things. This is one of the most common causes of confusion I’ve found among future expats. You don’t give up citizenship in your home country when you move to another country.
Three Strategies to Get You OffshorePosted on April 15, 2011 by Robert Bauman
Once, only the wealthiest investors could benefit from having an offshore bank account. Only they could afford the fees and legal advice. Now, after dramatic changes in international banking and communications, even a modest offshore account can be a quick, inexpensive entry into the world of foreign-investment opportunities.
Why U.S. “Refugees” Should Flock to UruguayPosted on April 14, 2011 by Robert Bauman
A few years back when the peso crashed, Uruguay became a lot more affordable, sparking interest from foreigners. Uruguay has a lot to offer. The main drawing cards, like Colonia del Sacramento, Punta del Este and Montevideo, have long been tourist centers.
Are You Entitled to a Second Passport?Posted on March 25, 2011 by Robert Bauman
If you want to travel and work without restrictions, then one of the most useful tools you can have is a second passport. Dual passports aren’t just for people born overseas. Millions of American citizens potentially qualify. And many of them don’t even know it.
Do You Qualify for a Second Passport?Posted on March 21, 2011 by Robert Bauman
If you want to travel and work without restrictions, then one of the most useful tools you can have is a second passport. Dual passports aren’t just for people born overseas. Millions of American citizens potentially qualify. And many of them don’t even know it.
Protect Your Wealth With These Tax-Saving StrategiesPosted on March 7, 2011 by Mark Nestmann
Despite all the rhetoric out of Washington these days, you can bet we will see tax hikes this year. They might not be overt. Instead, we could see stealth taxes go up first…parking fees, garbage collection, vehicle registrations and the like.
The Best Tax-Saving Strategies for the Coming YearPosted on February 22, 2011 by Mark Nestmann
Despite all the rhetoric out of Washington these days, you can bet we will see tax hikes this year. They might not be overt. Instead, we could see stealth taxes go up first…parking fees, garbage collection, vehicle registrations and the like.
IL’s Weekly Wrap-Up Video: One of Europe’s Most Attractive Tax Havens and Caribbean Ocean Views in Costa Rica For Just $3,000 Per AcrePosted on February 4, 2011 by Dan Prescher
See the video, where Dan Prescher reports from Costa Rica with your weekly wrap-up of International Living postcards for the week ending January 29.
How to Permanently Secure Your WealthPosted on January 26, 2011 by Erika Nolan
In the very “open book” offshore environment American investors find themselves in today, you should know there’s a vehicle that still allows you to:
A Little-Known European Tax Haven—and How to Get InPosted on January 24, 2011 by Sven Lorenz
Turquoise waters, bountiful lobsters and unspoiled countryside—this is what the island of Sark is known for. Within sight of the French coast of Normandy, it’s popular with French and English tourists alike.
What the SEC Can Do For YouPosted on December 30, 2010 by Erika Nolan
Changes to American law means that more and more international investment firms are now registering with the SEC. And here’s the surprise—SEC registration can actually enhance the value of an offshore advisor.
A Little-Known European Tax HavenPosted on December 30, 2010 by Sven Lorenz
Turquoise waters, bountiful lobsters and unspoiled countryside—this is what the island of Sark is known for. Within sight of the French coast of Normandy, it’s popular with French and English tourists alike.
IL’s Weekly Wrap-Up Video: Health Care, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Residency…All the Benefits of Living in BelizePosted on December 16, 2010 by Dan Prescher
See the video, where Dan Prescher reports from Merida, Mexico, with your weekly wrap-up of International Living postcards for the week ending December 11.
