Offshore Corporate Services

You need offshore corporate services to hold your sizeable assets internationally. These may be liquid as in portfolio investments or immovable assets, such as, property and real estate investments.

Typically, offshore companies may offer a much needed zero tax starting point for the assets where tax was already paid.

Commercially, most IP (intellectual property) and substantial insurance pots are held offshore.

However, the ultimate tax position will be decided by either your home jurisdiction or the jurisdiction you are most exposed to.

There is considerable tax avoidance legislation, and some tax havens may be designated as non-cooperative ones and need to be avoided.

Offshore Companies and the United Kingdom

Some of the most expensive properties in Mayfair, London are held through legal entities based offshore. This is mainly to guarantee asset protection.

Typically, to guarantee asset protection corporate services are not enough and you need to consider an offshore trust to be more effective.

However, real estate held in an offshore company may make it easier to transact and pass on the property title.

There were significant tax changes in the UK in relation to the investments in real estate held through offshore vehicles.

Ultimately, what you seek is the law to attribute the foreign characteristics of holdings and assets as you personally become more entwined with UK legal, regulatory and tax system.

This is the reason why wealthy individuals arriving to the United Kingdom need to apply for UK relocation tax advice, develop their own global wealth strategy and asset protection before becoming UK tax resident.

Offshore Jurisdictions

Some of the most popular jurisdictions in the UK are Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. These islands are immediately offshore UK. There is a strong argument, however, that these jurisdictions may have lost their strong appeal due to overregulation.

Some other strong jurisdictions further offshore UK that may be considered are the BVI (British Virgin Islands), Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Mauritius, New Zealand or Seychelles.

Some private banks in Switzerland also had a particular fascination with Panama as a jurisdiction. This is, obviously, before the Panama papers hit the headlines.

One of the most powerful jurisdictional combinations is the integration of Swiss companies with English trading or asset holding companies.

Switzerland is not necessarily a safe haven, but definitely quite offshore the United Kingdom. There are strong established ties between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

They both have strong financial services sectors and are entirely unique propositions when compared with each other.

Offshore Corporate Service – The Unique Proposition

Offshore companies supplied through offshore corporate services still have a unique proposition for asset protection and helps to differentiate risks.

There are extensive tax changes in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Offshore jurisdictions and set ups continue to offer value once it is correctly integrated and tax compliant.

In certain circumstances, it can still offer the unique value and a starting point at zero tax to protect and grow your wealth globally.

At Family Office in London, we integrate the much-needed expertise in global structuring, offshore corporate and trust and fiduciary services.

All these solutions are UK tax compliant, offer asset protection are sustainable and implement UK tax planning for ultra and high net worth individuals who operate and hold assets globally.