10 Most Lucrative Tax Haven Countries

Some countries are preferred more than other nations because they offer reasonably low taxes for foreigners and business people who want to settle there. Such places are called tax-havens. This article will discuss the places that are known as tax havens for the business and mention some of the best tax havens countries for your business endeavors.

But First Question, What Is a Tax Haven?

A tax haven, also known as an offshore financial center, is any nation or jurisdiction that provides foreign people and corporations with minimal tax liability. To receive tax benefits, tax havens do not require businesses to operate outside of their country or individuals to reside in their country.

Now that you know what is a tax haven, let’s know what is the criteria for a tax haven.

Criteria For Tax Havens

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) established a set of criteria in 1998 to identify tax-havens. The following are among the most common factors:

• Nominal, or no tax on the relevant income
• There is no effective information exchange
• No transparency
• No Substantial activities

Governments Earn from Tax Havens. How?

The government earns way more money from Tax Havens than they normally would from normal taxation policies. Below are the ways how these governments earn:

• Tax havens are not entirely free of taxes. They levy lower taxes than other countries. Low-tax jurisdictions typically levy high customs or import taxes to compensate for lost tax revenues.
• Tax havens may take a premium for new company registration as well as annual renewal fees. Additional fees, such as license fees, may be levied. These fees and charges would amount to a recurring fixed income for tax havens.
• By encouraging international individuals or businesses, even if only at a relatively modest tax rate, the country may earn significantly more tax revenue than it would otherwise. Furthermore, the country may benefit from investment activities in business operations that provide jobs to its citizens.

What are the Benefits of Tax Havens?

There are multiple benefits of a tax haven and we will mention them below:

• Tax haven countries benefit from attracting investment to their banks and other financial institutions, which can then be used to build a flourishing financial sector.
• Individuals or businesses benefit from tax savings, which can range from zero to low single digits in tax haven countries versus high taxes in their country of citizenship or place of residence.
• The most significant advantage of investing in a tax haven is that the business can save taxes and money.
• There will be personal development as well as national development.
• Tax saving is a legal and logical process. The investment is secure because the country designated as a tax haven has no rules and regulations governing tax implications.
• Because there is no capital gains tax, it encourages businessmen to invest in that country.
• Tax havens also benefit the economy significantly because they encourage new investment, which benefits the country as a whole.

Demerits of Tax Havens

With merits also come certain demerits. Let’s mention a few of them before we give the list of some best tax haven countries.

• Tax havens can also promote illegal activity.
• Tax havens can be very beneficial, but they can also be something that attracts a higher recovery from residents by imposing excessive import duty on imported items.
• Tax havens may or may not benefit huge companies, but they are always very beneficial to the citizens of that country. (From the POV of a businessman)
• Commercial transactions in tax havens are generally completely fictional and can misguide the other party.
• Because there is no clarity in the process, the parties may deceive one another.

Some Best Tax Haven Countries

What country has the lowest taxes? Now you will know what countries are tax-free or which countries have the lowest tax in the world. Read ahead if you want to set up your business in a tax haven country.

Switzerland

Switzerland is well-known not only as a popular tourist spot but also for the strength and accomplishment of its financial institutions.

The country is well-known for its consistent dependability in terms of offshore tax shelters and is a popular destination for wealthy Europeans as well as international customers. Banking services in Switzerland are legally recognized as a type of economic specialization.

Bankers are not permitted to provide any customer data to anyone who asks questions. Many companies and individuals from all over the world have benefitted greatly from Switzerland's tax advantages for many years.

However, the European Union's investigations and subsequent laws have weakened the steadfast privacy found in other tax havens.

Panama

Panama is a country in Central America, south of Costa Rica. Panama City is an advanced city filled with skyscrapers and every conceivable service. Panama has a regional tax system, so if you earn money outside of the country, you won't have to pay any taxes in Panama.

Panama City is one of Latin America's most modern cities.

Panama is open for business and is one of the simplest places to live in the world if your native country is on its list of 'Friendly Nations.' By depositing $5,000 in a local bank and demonstrating at least one financial tie to the country, you will be granted immediate permanent residence. It is accomplished by forming a Panamanian company. After 5 years of stay, you can claim citizenship. This program is set to change in late 2021, making it slightly more difficult, but there are still multiple visa options for moving to Panama and living tax-free.

The Bahamas

After the United States and Canada, the Bahamas is the richest country in the Americas. Income, capital gains, and inheritance are not taxed. The Bahamas is a British Commonwealth member and has been self-governing since 1973. It is home to approximately 400,000 English-speaking residents. It is politically stable, and real estate acquisition and rental prices are reasonable when compared to places such as Monaco and The Cayman Islands.

If you buy a home in The Bahamas, you can easily obtain permanent residency. As per the government, requests from homeowners whose homes are worth more than $1.5 million will be prioritized. Other residence schemes exist, such as the Annual Residence Permit. It is easy to obtain and does not necessitate any investment. There is a $1,000 annual fee. It appears to be a small price to pay to live in a tax-free bliss only a 20-minute flight from Miami.

Portugal

For most people, the Non-Habitual Resident Scheme (NHR). Anyone who has not lived in Portugal regularly for the past six years can apply to the tax department to become a quasi-resident of Portugal. Once accepted, the Portuguese government will guarantee you a 10-year tax-free period on certain types of income. If you structure your affairs so that any revenue you have is paid as a payout from your company, any income you have will be exempt from Portugal's otherwise high tax rates.

Portugal is an excellent spot to consider for those willing to look for a European option that will also lead to a prized EU passport within 5 years.

Non-EU residents can obtain a golden visa if they purchase a property worth at least €500,000 in Portugal. Other options include creating 10 jobs or making investments in a venture capital fund.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg, a tiny European country, is one of the wealthiest in the world, owing largely to its financial system, which accounts for more than 35% of its GDP.

Luxembourg's tax-haven status originates from business-friendly policies that allow multinational corporations to take advantage of tax loopholes. A wealthy corporation or individual can feel confident investing in Luxembourg's tax haven, as it is one of Europe's leading financial institutions.

Privacy is a core tenet of Luxembourg's tax haven policy. Only the owner of the funds or off-shore account has the authority to share personal financial information.

Luxembourg keeps it all under lock and key to ensure their clients' safety. It does not tax interest earned in foreign bank accounts. Not only that, but they also provide favorable tax rates to their domestic corporations, as well as tax breaks and exemptions.

The Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are another traditional tax haven in the Western Caribbean. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman are the three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are a well-known tax haven, owing to the absence of income, capital gains, and inheritance taxes.

You will enjoy the amazing climate here, and as one of the Caribbean's most developed countries, there is no shortage of good diners and other friendly ex-pats.

Real estate is prohibitively expensive in this city. A three-bedroom apartment with views of the ocean will set you back more than $5,000,000.

To obtain a residence permit in The Cayman Islands, you must have a CI$120,000 annual income. You can also deposit CI$400,000 in a local banking institution and invest CI$1,000,000, of which CI$500,000 must be in property investment.

Given its proximity to the United States, sophisticated financial services, and political stability as a British Overseas Territory, the Cayman Islands are one of the most appealing tax havens, rivaling European havens. A great place to live if you don't mind paying taxes.

Bermuda

Another lovely island destination turns out to be one of the more pricey countries to live in. Bermuda has a 0% tax rate and no income tax for investors and those looking to invest offshore. As a result, it is yet another excellent candidate for the world's wealth.

Nike, in particular, profited greatly from not paying America's tax rate. Almost a quarter of the Fortune 500 are involved in some way with Bermuda as a tax haven.

The emphasis on confidentiality for potential bankers in Bermuda is among the best in the world. Although using Bermuda as a tax haven benefits everyone, corporations are likely to benefit the most from doing so.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America, with both Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north. The Central Valley region, which includes the capital city of San Jose, has a nearly perfect year-round climate. Temperatures are never higher than 25 degrees Celsius or lower than 20 degrees Celsius. From November to April, there is a tropical climate with dry weather. The rest of the year, you can expect sunny mornings and rain in the afternoons for an hour or two.

Costa Rica has two coastlines with beautiful beaches. It takes only a few hours to drive from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean.

Costa Rica has a regional tax system, so any profits generated outside of the country are not taxed. Like most of Latin America, the bureaucracy in this country moves slowly. After submitting your residency application, you will be allowed to stay indefinitely, but it will take approximately a year to receive your residence card.

Costa Rica recently announced a new visa for creative types, making the residency process more efficient if you can demonstrate a monthly income of $3,000 and health insurance.

The UAE

There is no taxable income or capital gains tax in the United Arab Emirates. It was also free of sales tax until recently. It is home to a large number of European ex-pats, the majority of whom reside in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Because of the growth of Etihad and Emirates airlines, air connections from these cities are among the best in the world.

You can live in relative comfort here. Mega malls and well-known chain restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory and PF Chang's, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants, can be found here.

In this case, immigration entails establishing a business and obtaining a residence permit as an investor or employee of the business. It's simple to set up. The Emirates is eager to attract new investment. Many entrepreneurs find it to be an ideal place to live tax-free. In some cases, the UAE government will even provide funding for entrepreneurs who resettle there.

The Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands are another more conventional tax haven for those looking for a more serene place to live tax-free.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a group of 40 archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean south of The Bahamas. The majority of the action in Turks and Caicos takes place on the island of Providenciales. It is the most advanced island, with the majority of the shopping and government buildings. The other islands have a lower level of development.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are tax-free. It is a British protectorate, and you are not required to file a tax return if you live there. It is, however, for those who prefer a peaceful and quiet existence.

If you have independent means, you can easily obtain a residence permit and live tax-free in Turks and Caicos. There are several categories, but the annual residence permit, which costs $1,500 per year, is the most appealing to ex-pats.

Conclusion

These countries are heaven for those who are looking for tax haven countries to settle. Taxes can take away a hefty sum from your income. To save yourself from that, you can try these places to grow your business and make the most of it in your life.