From Switzerland To Singapore: The World's Top Tax Havens | Zero Hedge
Description: The ultra-wealthy are hiding up to $32 trillion in tax havens around the world, and while Switzerland gets the top spot on the new list, the U.S. is a not-so-distant second...

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## Will the societal collapse cross the border to the USA?

by hedgeless_horseman - Mar 14, 2018 4:46 pm

“Complicated days are coming, I won’t lie to you. The wave of violence isn’t going to end . . .” he said.

## Why Gun Control is stupid, impossible, and un-American

by globalintelhub - Mar 14, 2018 9:19 pm

If we take the guns, how about violent movies, video games, or companies like Kevin Hogg's Cubic Simulation that trains clients for urban warfare scenarios?

## Venezuela's Inflation Surges to A New High: 7459%

by Steve H. Hanke - Mar 14, 2018 5:00 pm

After backing off over the past month and a half, Venezuela's hyperinflation is surging again, making a new high of 7459% yr/yr.

# From Switzerland To Singapore: The World's Top Tax Havens

Authored by Charles Benavidez via SafeHaven.com,

The UK-based Tax Justice Network’s new Financial Secrecy Index estimates that the ultra-wealthy are hiding up to $32 trillion in tax havens around the world, and while Switzerland gets the top spot on the new list, the U.S. is a not-so-distant second.

Not even major global scandals such as the Panama and Paradise papers have been able to slow the rise of the bigger and better tax havens, as global industry growth has billion-dollar asset owners looking for the ultimate haven to stow away gains.

These are the top 10 tax havens in 2018, according to FSI:

## #1 Switzerland

(Click to enlarge)

Switzerland, a global leader in asset management cornering 28 percent of the market share, is holding an estimated $6.5 trillion, more than half of which comes from abroad.

The attraction is a low tax base coupled with a top-notch banking system.

Switzerland is the ‘grandfather’ of global tax havens, and the world leader in cross-border asset management.

As FSI notes: “…the Swiss will exchange information with rich countries if they have to, but will continue offering citizens of poorer countries the opportunity to evade their taxpaying responsibilities.”

And it’s more secretive than the No 2 tax haven…

## #2 The Unites States of America

(Click to enlarge)

The U.S. is on a tear on the competition for the top tax haven spot, rising for the third time in five years, and now capturing the number two slot. In 2015, the U.S. was in third place, and in 2013, it was in sixth.

Between 2015 and 2018, U.S. market share of global offshore financial services rose 14 percent, from 19.6 percent to 22.3 percent.

Delaware, Nevada and Wyoming are the most aggressive tax havens, often described as ‘captured states’.

When it comes specifically to offshore financial services, then, the U.S. now has the largest market share, rivalled only by the City of London, according to FSI, which notes that foreign country elites use the U.S. “as a bolt-hole for looted wealth”.

The baggage is piling up. Take the Delaware tax haven, for instance. It’s housing a company in “good standing” that is used for trafficking children for sex but can’t be shut down because it doesn’t have a physical presence in the state, according to Quartz.

## #3 Cayman Islands

Third place go to this overseas territory of the United Kingdom, holding $1.4 trillion in assets managed through 200 banks. With more than 95,000 companies registered, this country is the world leader in terms of hosting investment funds. Related: What Does A Strong Euro Mean For Gold Prices?

It’s a lot more “upmarket” today than it used to be in its heyday as a hotspot for drug smuggling and money-laundering. Now it deals with some of the world’s biggest banks, corporations and hedge funds.

On the FSI secrecy index, it ranks a 71, right between Switzerland and the U.S.

## #4 Hong Kong

While one of the newer tax haven’s—it’s already hit fourth place and is managing some $2.1 trillion in assets (as of the close of 2015), along with $470 billion in private banking assets. It helps that it’s home to the third-largest stock exchange in Asia.

And when it comes to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, Hong Kong leads the pack, with 15.3 per 100,000 households.

The attraction is that companies incorporated in Hong Kong pay tax only on profits sourced in Hong Kong and the tax rate is currently at 16.5 percent. So in all likelihood, they’re paying zero taxes.

In terms of secrecy, it ranks 71 alongside Cayman.

## #5 Singapore

This country is the favorite offshore center servicing Southeast Asia (as opposed to Hong Kong, which caters to China and North Asia).

As of the end of 2015, Singapore was estimated to be holding $1.8 trillion in assets under management, 80 percent of which originated outside of the country.
It has a secrecy ranking of 67.

## #6 Luxembourg

This is a tiny state in the European Union that packs a massive tax haven punch. Despite its size, it is said to control 12 percent of the global market share for offshore financial services. The FSI estimates that its 143 banks are managing assets of around $800 billion.

Luxembourg has a secrecy ranking of 58.

## #7 Germany

Major tax loopholes and lax enforcement have bumped Germany to number seven on the FSI’s list, despite being one of the world’s biggest economies and not intentionally focusing on global financial services. It corners about 5 percent of market share in the sector, and ranks 59 in terms of secrecy.

## #8 Taiwan

This is the first year Taiwan has made the Top 10 list, bumping off Lebanon, which now sits in 8th place.

Beijing’s “One China” policy is largely responsible for Taiwan’s ascendancy on the tax haven scene because it managed to fly under everyone’s radar, not participating in International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics thanks to Chinese pressure.

And no one’s entirely sure how much offshore money is flowing through here.

## #9 United Arab Emirate of Dubai

Dubai, servicing massive regional oil wealth, gets the highest secrecy rating of them all, at 84. Its offshore facilities are exceedingly complex and offers a low-tax environment and lax enforcement.

It’s also recently been the target of an EU tax haven blacklist.

## #10 Guernsey

This small tax haven jurisdiction in the English Channel has risen seven places on the list since 2015, and accounts for 0.5 percent of the global trade in offshore financial services. Essentially, this is nothing more than a ‘captured state’ with a high secrecy rating of 72.

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Déjà view Thu, 03/15/2018 - 03:36 Permalink

'Taxplayers'...

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Shillinlikeavillan Déjà view Thu, 03/15/2018 - 03:37 Permalink

Yay?

obama made it so that I don't have anything left to hide in the first damn place...

>_>

In reply to z by Déjà view

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Voluntary Exchange Shillinlikeavillan Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:08 Permalink

The idea of the state, a delusion that will destroy us.

We the AWAKE who choose to respect natural laws and natural rights, wish to document the present peril of the Human Race, and have observed the following:

Those who choose to subjugate other people -(authoritarians)- do not just impose force on their own slaves and "tax-payers" they seek to impose force against other gangs of criminals -(other governments)- who are likewise stealing from other sets of slaves.

These gangs of criminals also cooperate with other gangs -("United Nations")- and make it very difficult for those who wish to live according to natural law and mutual respect. They hinder our survival, our fleeing from their tyranny. They seek in all possible ways to harm those who see them for the criminals that they are.

They have squander huge amounts of wealth in the designing and production of weapons of destruction so horrible that to use them in quantity would destroy both themselves as well as their enemies. These weapons have no utility to preserve life, since their general use places all life in peril. And their mere existence risks destruction by accident without there being an actual attack. Compared against the huge amount of well-being that could have been achieved by using wealth in another way, it is cheaper to build houses for, and feed and cloth all your "enemies" rather than build such pointless "defenses".

They have conspired to destroy the minds of our children. They teach lies as truth, and destroy a child's ability to think clearly or see the world as it is. And they insist that the families of their victims pay for this crime or the parents loose their children, and/or they loose their homes, and/or they loose their jobs or reputations, and/or they get thrown in rape cages, and/or if they defend their children they can even be murdered.

Those who call themselves "government" make sure it is difficult for those who speak the truth about them to share their ideas. They heavily control or corrupt all forms of "media". And seek to destroy any who would reveal or explain their crimes. This is no surprise, those who will steal from you will certainly lie to you. And they will eventually kill you if they think it furthers their purpose.

These fools who view themselves as our "superiors", in most cases fail to even comprehend that every bit of wealth they steal or extort is a missed opportunity for the Human Race. It represents a tragedy of missed potential and sub-optimal outcomes. Most of them have no idea how to create human wealth or well-being. They hold the productive in contempt. Truly the "Makers" can live without the "Takers"!

The authoritarians corrupt and cooperate with other cultural and educational centers of power. They conspire to change history, modify sacred texts, suppress truthful teachings, bribe and influence to perpetuate their crimes. They seek control of religions (or in some cases are an appendage of a corrupt religion). They share in the delusion that some are entitled to rule others, their justification is manufactured by cultural deception,subversion, and false gods. Instead of being a blessing to the people they are a curse.

They suppress inventions that could make life flourish, and destroy those who's inventions could promote life on our planet. Those who claim the authority to make "laws" confound the natural rights of people. They cripple restitution with the "Limited Liability" scam they have produced. They take turns in and out of power, stealing wealth through the latest scams they have hatched with their "laws". This is why their laws exist. This is why they lust to be in control. Not only do they directly steal wealth, they indirectly impoverish by destroying the capacity of honest enterprises to compete in a free market. They ruin the planet and life as they enrich themselves and their partners in crime.

They attempt to stamp out all markets that they do not control. They try to make it impossible to buy or sell without their consent or control. Those who attempt to store wealth are assaulted in endless ways, including the confiscatory fraud of paper money and central banks.

For these ongoing crimes and countless others, WE THE AWARE declare:

We are out of time! You authoritarians must not be permitted any more destruction. Not only are our lives in direct peril, but the lives of all our current and future children. Your crimes do not just destroy today, they literally destroy millions and millions of tomorrows! For us and countless other species upon the Good Earth, We must not (again?) become the laughing stock of the universe, therefore:

We will do all that we can to not pay you any "taxes" ever again. We will conduct our commerce only with those who respect natural law and natural rights. We will grow a new civilization based on voluntary exchange and reject the initiation of force and the lie of "authority". We will use ways of communicating and exchanging wealth that you cannot control.

We reserve the right to self-defense against aggression in a place of our time and choosing and temperament. Without this basic right and the will to exercise it civilization and most life on this planet will perish.

We will endeavor to protect our children from your corruption, and reject your "public" schooling. We will work and campaign to educate others to wake up so that we together in cooperation can avert the extinction you are creating.

If it is possible we instruct you people who call yourselves "government" or who believe in governmental force, to change your ways. WAKE UP! STOP SCORCHING THE EARTH! You are not God and you do not own us! The Earth is for all life, not just the play thing of authoritarians. Our path to the stars is through cooperation, not authoritarian violence. Choose life, so that you may live!

In reply to Yay?… by Shillinlikeavillan

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stacking12321 Voluntary Exchange Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:11 Permalink

Dash + monero +zcash = $7billion

that means if just 1% of that $32trillion in tax havens the article mentions, migrates into privacy cryptos, that’s at minimum a 50x bump in price.

In reply to The idea of the state, a… by Voluntary Exchange

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stacking12321 stacking12321 Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:18 Permalink

The "uk based tax justice network" mentioned in The article is a complete load of bollocks.

i go to their site and click on "TJN -> who we are", and the link goes to an amazon sweepstakes giveaway.

rubbish site from a rubbish org.

the only tax justice is NO TAX!

taxation is theft, plain and simple.

In reply to Dash + monero +zcash = … by stacking12321

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1 Alabama stacking12321 Thu, 03/15/2018 - 06:53 Permalink

I got, 3 passports, a couple of visas, and now you know my name.

In reply to T by stacking12321

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1 Alabama Voluntary Exchange Thu, 03/15/2018 - 06:58 Permalink

he didnt hear a word you said, because you cant get through to him.

In reply to The idea of the state, a… by Voluntary Exchange

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Heros Thu, 03/15/2018 - 03:59 Permalink

Offspring of Non Resident Aliens possessing US property, which includes US stocks, treasuries and physical property, will be forced to pay estate taxes on that property at the time of their death. This process not only is prohibitively expensive, it is also prohibitively complicated and almost impossible to complete without hiring expensive tax lawyers.

Anyone trying to escape their local taxation by having property in the US is a fool or a (((dual citizen))).

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slopz38 Heros Thu, 03/15/2018 - 06:23 Permalink

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do, ====http://www.todaysfox.com

In reply to Offspring of Non Resident… by Heros

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lizzoilz Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:05 Permalink

Use Nevada corporate systems. Best around.

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Grumpy_nl Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:27 Permalink

They forgot the Netherlands.

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BraceforImpact Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:33 Permalink

Taxation is legalized plunder and our freedom is a lie.

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Voluntary Exchange BraceforImpact Thu, 03/15/2018 - 04:48 Permalink

Humans are not capable of declaring what is or is not "legal", Nature has already done that. Humans can make "agreements" and they can discover the laws of nature. Humans have no authority to impose "laws" on other humans. All our "authority" on this planet comes from nature and natural law and we are therefore "equal" with regard to authority and natural rights.

In reply to Taxation is legalized… by BraceforImpact

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LA_Goldbug Thu, 03/15/2018 - 05:05 Permalink

Here is the Quartz article

https://qz.com/1204991/backpage-com-is-registered-in-delaware-heres-why/

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SJ158 Thu, 03/15/2018 - 05:50 Permalink

They are only tax havens because the rest of the world is a tax hell

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Yen Cross Thu, 03/15/2018 - 07:49 Permalink

Lol U.S. is number 2? Yeah unless you live there. Just like the Illegals, U.S. citizens get treated like shit, but non-citizens get Carte Blanche treatment.

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Surveyor 59 Thu, 03/15/2018 - 08:16 Permalink

I don't see Puerto Rico mentioned anywhere there...isnt it supposed to be one

of the best ... or is that just hype?

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OliverAnd Thu, 03/15/2018 - 08:18 Permalink

Monaco, Andorra, Bahamas, Canada, Cyprus, Barbados, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, Vatican??? The list posted is incomplete and lacking some substantial havens.

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Final Authority Thu, 03/15/2018 - 09:09 Permalink

They are looking at it all wrong. The USA is the #1 tax haven in the world if you understand the nature of the "income tax" functioning in the US.

Go here: http://losthorizons.com/

Free your mind and your property.

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