
Offshore Financial Services Facts
Q. Is offshore banking legal?
A. If you are trying to evade taxes, it is illegal. If you just want to use an international bank it is legal.
Q. Why use offshore banking?
A. Offshore banking offers much more confidentiality and greater investment opportunities.
Q. What countries are most popular for offshore banking?
A. Switzerland and Lithuania, in Europe, and Panama, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands.
Q. Can the IRS obtain offshore banking information?
A. The IRS can obtain your banking information with an order from the Supreme Court only.
Q. Why do most people use offshore banking?
A. Money earned outside the United States can grow tax free in an offshore bank. Once the money is brought to the United States, it becomes fully taxable and the Federal Government will get their percentage. Many multinational corporations keep their money from overseas operations offshore to avoid paying more taxes.
Q. Does less money flow to the US because of offshore banking?
A. Of course, there is less investment in the United States because of the burdensome tax code. A lot of people avoid bringing money into developed nations because they know they will have to give a lot of it to the government.
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