What They Do Not Want You To Know About Offshore Assets Protection

February 12, 2010 – 9:08 am
Offshore assets protection is not just something that affluent people need to think about but it is also for those who term themselves as moderately affluent. Assets protection is about thinking about the future and thinking ahead several steps i. E. Preparing for probably the worst while at the same time hoping for the best.

One of the things you need to do is to make sure that the physical account you put your money in should be as far away as possible from your country i. E. Your country of citizenship. This means that if you are an American then make sure that you do not put all of your money in a US bank account. You can consider banks in the EU (European Union) or in Asia.

You should also make sure that the offshore bank account can be easily accessed. Usually banks accounts easily accessed online or via a debt card or a credit card in order to withdraw the funds from the bank account anywhere in the world.

If you want to protect your privacy you need to make sure that the offshore bank account is not in your name. Usually bank accounts like these should be in the name of your offshore company. Even though your bank account can still be tracked by law enforcement agencies though proper channels you are not openly declaring where it is based and how much money you have.

Keeping your assets secret become imperative especially in troubled times. This is especially the case nowadays when you do not know when trouble might strike next and how hard it may hit you. Also with the economy fluctuating each day it is your job to plan ahead for you and your children so as to avoid any future hardship and problems.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Asset Protection | Tagged , | Comments (0)

The Ins And Outs Of Offshore Tax

February 10, 2010 – 9:21 am
The goal of every business is to make as much profit as possible. The problem is that the more they make, the more they have to pay the government in taxes. That is why many companies move away. This brings about an issue of offshore tax and how the company should pay the country of origin.

Tax is something every country has. Essentially you give the government a portion of your earnings. This money pays for roads, bridges, cops, and the governing body. When a company first starts, it has to register under one country. That country is usually where that company is located and is allows the government of that particular nation to tax it. That company also falls under the laws and protection of that nation.

Most companies move their production and manufacturing plants offshore because labor costs are much cheaper there. Also, most businesses want to expand to different countries because it opens up a whole new market that has never been exposed to your product. But the nation the corporation was founded in still gets to tax them. The business may also have to pay some additional fees to the country they move too.

The offshore tax issue comes about when the company creates dummy corporations in another nation. These new divisions claim to be their own new business but in fact are owned by another existing business. Now the corporations don’t say they out right that they own the new company. They simply state that they have controlling market share.

The problem is whether or not this new company should be taxed by the nation it is in or by the nation that its main stockholder is in. This issue usually takes a whole team of lawyers to solve. The cases can go on for years as you have to take into account the laws of both nations.

This is the reason many companies starting out will have their headquarters in third world counties. These nations usually have a much lower tax rate so the new company saves a lot of money. After the business becomes established, they can expand to different nations but still pay less on their earnings.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Tax | Tagged | Comments (0)

How To Protect Your Offshore Assets

February 8, 2010 – 9:06 am
If you are someone who has offshore assets, protecting them is surely your number one concern. However, having these kinds of accounts requires you to be skilled with things related to your money. On the other hand, if you are not, then you risk losing the things that you have worked for.

If you are among the many who have decided to stowaway money in the case that there were an emergency, you have to think of things that relate to logistics. What happens if there really is an emergency and you need to have access to the money you have, how do you plan on getting to that money without creating a stir. When you access the money that you have carefully stashed away, the last thing you want to do is get people after you.

Some of the people relate to the IRS, as well as others who don’t have anything good in mind for you other than getting their hands on your money. Of course there are many benefits that come along with having an account that is offshore. Yes, the money is privately put away.

In addition, you don’t have to worry about the government going after you for tax money related to the money, as well as other things. Additionally, you are likely getting more interest than you would in one of your home banks and there is also less restrictions that is placed on the money that you have within one of the offshore accounts. Some of the other advantages that come along with these types of accounts have to do with protection related to the financial assets you have.

When you do things right, then the money that you have is something private. Additionally, as mentioned before it can serve as a type of insurance to you when bad times arise. This is one of the greatest advantages, since you never know when something may happen. However, if some kind of emergency does arise, you don’t want to risk the privacy that you worked so hard to create for yourself.

This is something to keep in mind, when some kind of emergency does arise. One of the biggest things to avoid is panicking at the times there is something you really need the money for. Don’t ever in a state of panic, transfer the money that you have within a n offshore account into one of your regular bank account. If you do something like this, then it will easily be known by many about the other account that you have. In addition, you will cause yourself to get income tax on that money as well.

This is something that you should also remember when it comes to depositing money in that account as well. Generally, when you take money out of that account, you should try and only do it when you are there physically. Do this by making a trip with the family or something of the sort. Other ways to get the money could have to do with the bank mailing a international money order to you as well, but one of the things to avoid is having the bank you use on it.

One other thing to avoid relates to using a debit card from an offshore account. Some don’t realize, but all of the information that has to do with using an ATM is recorded. In addition, there are cameras there as well. Always use common sense and remember the best way is in person.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Asset Protection | Tagged | Comments (0)

Tips To Handle Your Assets Protection

February 6, 2010 – 9:19 am
If you own more than a tennis racket and a plasma TV, you should be trying to figure out how to protect everything from being in a lawsuit. You don’t need to have mansions and millions. You just need to have anything at all that is worth taking. And when someone wants to sue, they might be happy with your tennis racket and plasma TV. With an effective assets protection program in place, you won’t need to worry so much.

You can lose everything in even a simple law suit. They can go after your house, clothes, furniture, cars, jewels, vacation property and even part of your income.

Some people think that getting incorporated will solve all their problems. The idea is that being incorporated prevents people from seizing your personal property if you get sued. But the trick is that it’s your company that needs to be sued. If you start a business that you don’t do anything with, and you have no customers, your company probably isn’t going to get sued. If it ever happens, it will be you getting sued ‘ in which case everything is fair game.

A much more realistic approach is to work with an attorney who will help you transfer all your assets into trusts. This includes your house, vacation homes, brokerage accounts, and basically anything you don’t want to lose. Even though you will no longer own these items, you will be managing the trusts.

What’s the benefit? If you get sued, no one will be able to validate anything that you own. Your home, you car nothing. You don’t own them any more.

The only thing that can’t be touched are annuities. Everything else should be put into trusts for peace of mind. Also discuss estate planning with your attorney to make certain that these trusts are now mentioned in your will.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Asset Protection | Tagged | Comments (0)

The Intricacies Of Offshore Tax

February 4, 2010 – 7:09 pm
Many big corporations are moving their production facilities to a different country to enjoy the cheaper labor they offer. This however brings up the issue of offshore tax.  How should that company then be taxed and to which country should they pay it too.

When a company is founded, it registers itself to a specific country. That country then has the right to tax that company under its laws. Tax is very important for nations because it pays for things like infrastructure, cops, and aid programs. Governments usually tax a certain percentage of your profits and the tax varies depending on the nation.

All companies want to expand into other countries. This is because moving into a new country allows them to access a whole new market to sell their product. Also, many companies move their production facilities to other countries because they can pay their labor force a much cheaper rate. While the corporation may pay these new nations to move into them, they will still be paying the bulk of their tax to the country of origin.

The issue of offshore tax comes about then a company based in say, the United States starts a business in Canada. This new business could be completely new and have its country of origin be Canada even though its controlling stockholder is based in the United States. Should this new company be taxed under United States law or Canadian law?

This is a big issue because different nations tax people different percentages so it can be a million dollar difference. This issue takes years to resolve and usually requires a entire team of lawyers. They have to take into account the best interest of the company and both of the competing nations.

These issues are the reason why many companies want to start in third world countries. These nations don’t tax their businesses very much. This allows the start-up to expand faster because they will be paying less of their earnings to the government. Once they become well established they can expand to a country with a high consumer base and still continue reaping the benefits of the low taxes.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Tax | Tagged | Comments (0)

How To Handle Asset Protection

January 31, 2010 – 2:05 pm

No matter what you own, someone can take it away in a lawsuit that is why asset protection is so important. Keeping your assets has turned into a big time legal specialty because too many people just want to sue you to see what they can get; and you’d be surprised what they can get! Protecting your assets doesn’t need to be intimidating.

Your bank accounts, your business, even furs and jewels can be lost if you’re sued. Asset protection doesn’t just refer to your secret Swiss bank accounts. It refers to everything from your residence to your furniture to even your retirement accounts. So before worrying too much, here are some tips to stay safe.

One way many people choose is to start a company and incorporate. This is fine only if you plan on working the company and getting clients. Something simple is OK, even a cookie baking business or a babysitting service. Save money by filling out all your paperwork right on your state’s website, paying the start up fees, and you’re done.

Of course, the problem here is that this isn’t going to help unless someone sues your company. If they sue you, you don’t have the company to protect you. In other words, if you don’t plan on working the business and getting customers, your chances of having someone sue your company are almost non existant.

The best way is to find an attorney who specializes in Trusts. He will show you how to transfer all your assets into trusts. You will have control over them, you just won’t technically own them any more.

Let’s say you’re in a car accident and someone sues you for millions in medical bills. They hire an attorney to find out what you own and ‘ he can’t find anything in the public records because you actually don’t own anything. Even your home is now owned by a trust.

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Asset Protection | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Asset Protection The Easy Way

January 25, 2010 – 2:04 pm

Asset protection is far more than trying to hide your wealth in off shore accounts. All assets need some form of protection but it doesn’t need to be expensive, complicated, or intimidating.

Since we live in a country that is ’sue happy’, anyone can have someone come after them for their assets whether it’s their house, savings, or even their pay checks. Not everything can be protected, but there are ways to keep your assets as safe as possible.

The most common way is to set up a corporation. This works best if you actually have an idea for a business and can run it, even if it’s a part time babysitting service. You can download all the paperwork from your local state website, fill it out, pay a few hundred dollars, and you’re legal.

The only problem with this solution is that your company needs to be sued, not you. So if you aren’t going to actually work your new company, your chances of a client suing you are slim. Therefore, even though it’s the most common way to protect your assets, it’s not for everyone.

The most effective method is to set up trust funds and transfer everything into these trust funds. Even though you will maintain control over the trust funds, you don’t actually own these assets any longer. In other words, you would actually give your home to the trust fund, and the trust fund would be paying real estate taxes, etc.

You will definitely need legal help to get this done, but if anyone does try to take your home ‘ you don’t even own one. Even a review of public records will show that your property is owned by a trust fund. All your assets can be put into trust funds except for annuities. No one can take an annuity from you!

By APGI S.A. | Posted in Offshore Asset Protection | Tagged , | Comments (0)