Tue, Mar 19, 2024
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Industry Updates

The 10 least taxed countries in 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Opalesque Industry Update - Bradley Hackford firm publishes its 2014 rankings of the 5 main countries where it is interesting to establish a physical and tax residence. These countries impose neutral or low tax rates on individuals.

The rankings are established based on 5 criteria:

-The rate of tax burden for individuals residing in the country

-The country's quality of life

-The country's legal and physical security

-The quality of the economic investment program developed by the local government to encourage new residents in the country to invest. Document processing speed is also taken into account in this criterion.

-The country's geographical location, its accessibility, and its recreational opportunities

1 - Bahamas

The country's location in the immediate vicinity of the United States, as well as its tax rate of 0% on individual income, make the Bahamas the first jurisdiction of choice for establishing physical and fiscal residence. Moreover, the country offers an excellent quality of life and political stability that makes it completely satisfactory. Obtaining residence requires making a local real estate investment, with a minimum value of $500,000 US (minimum value of $1,500,000 US for the accelerated process).

=> Personal income tax rate: 0%

2 - Andorra

A small principality located between France and Spain, Andorra is an ideal destination to establish residence in Europe.

Andorra attracts both French and Spanish border residents due to its very favorable taxation. It also draws non-European foreigners, particularly Russians, who appreciate the country's geographic location as well as its high level of security. Obtaining residence requires making a minimum investment of 350,000 euros in the country and making a deposit of 50,000 euros.

=> Personal income tax rate: 0 to 10%

3 - Monaco

The Principality of Monaco, with its upscale recreational opportunities and its recognized security, attracts many residents from various countries, especially Italy, Russia, and more recently from Switzerland. Obtaining residence requires being able to demonstrate significant financial wealth. Living in Monaco allows people to benefit from the total absence of income taxes (except for people of French nationality who continue to pay their taxes in France).

=> Personal income tax rate: 0%

4 - Bulgaria

There has been a significant trend to relocate to countries in Eastern Europe. For non-Europeans, it corresponds to the desire of settling in Europe. For Europeans, the attraction comes from wanting to remain in Europe while enjoying very attractive tax rates. Bulgaria has one of the lowest tax rates in Europe. Non-Europeans living in Bulgaria can then freely travel throughout Europe. For non-Europeans, the residency process occurs through an investment of 511,295 euros in Bulgarian state bonds. The investment must be maintained for five years. Europeans do not have to make this investment.

In addition to Bulgaria with a 10% income tax, also note the increase of Hungary (16%), Lithuania (15%), and Romania (16%).

=> Personal income tax rate: 10%

5 - Panama

The various residency programs in Panama are attractive to retirees and people with international operations. The principle of territoriality applies to taxation in Panama. Therefore, only locally sourced income is taxed. All foreign earnings are completely exempt from taxation. A simple new process allows for residency to be obtained rather quickly, with a low investment requirement for a number of nationalities, which currently makes Panama very attractive.

=> Personal income tax rate: 0% on foreign sourced revenue, and 15 to 25% on locally sourced revenue.

Other jurisdictions

Among other jurisdictions continuing in our rankings include:

6 - Mauritius

The island of Mauritius, where French and English are the languages in use, is very popular with the French, who appreciate the use of French on the island and the country's low tax rates. International investors also appreciate Mauritius because of the simple residency process and the tax benefits related to residency. The main procedure for obtaining Mauritian residency occurs with the purchase of real estate on the island, approved by the local program called IRS, with a minimum value of $500,000 US.

=> Personal income tax rate: 15%

7 - United Arab Emirates - Dubai

The possibility of establishing a company in one Dubai's many free zones and then obtaining residency in the country allows Dubai to attract more and more expatriates. Companies established in free zones can be 100% foreign-owned. The tax rate for corporations is 0%. The same rate applies to the incomes resident individuals, who are not subject to any tax.

=> Personal income tax rate: 0%

8 - Guernsey

Guernsey, located close to the United Kingdom and France, has low taxation, with a maximum of 20% on individuals and a ceiling of £110,000 to £220,000 depending on the type of income. Local companies also enjoy a 0% tax rate, which attracts people who have international operations.

In addition, note that among the Channel Islands, Jersey is also attractive.

=> Personal income tax rate: 20% with a maximum tax of £110,000 to £220,000 depending on the type of income

9 - The Cayman Islands

The Caymans are a well-known destination with a 0% tax rate for corporations and individuals. The Caymans have set up a special economic zone allowing active people to obtain residency fairly easily, by forming a company in this area.

=> Personal income tax rate: 0%

10 - Switzerland

Switzerland remains an attractive country for its quality of life and its central geographic position, as well as for its excellent infrastructure. Swiss taxation may be attractive, especially when opting for the Lump Sum Taxation. Although the latter may one day disappear, currently it is still in place and allows for the benefit of a predictable tax, since it is a flat rate, without having to disclose the amount of annual revenue.

Note that for people with international operations, neighboring Liechtenstein is also interesting with a tax rate of 12.5% on companies and a maximum of 24% on individuals.

=> Personal income tax rate: flat rate, the flat rate amount is currently negotiating between 150,000 and 200,000 Swiss Francs on average.

Bradley Hackford

Press Release

What do you think?

   Use "anonymous" as my name    |   Alert me via email on new comments   |   
Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. KKR raises $6.4bn for the largest pan-Asia infrastructure fund[more]

    Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: The New York-based global investment firm KKR has raised a record $6.4bn for its second Asia-focused infrastructure fund, underlining investors' continued appetite for private markets. According to a media release from the alternative assets manager, the figure top

  2. Bucking the trend, top hedge fund makes plans for a second SPAC[more]

    From Institutional Investor: SPACs aren't dead. At least not to the folks at Cormorant Asset Management. The life sciences firm, whose hedge fund topped its peers in 2023, is confident it will match the success of its first blank-check company. Last week, the life sciences and biopharma speciali

  3. Benefit Street Partners closes fifth fund on $4.7 billion[more]

    Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Benefit Street Partners has closed its fifth flagship direct lending vehicle, BSP Debt Fund V, with $4.7 billion of investable capital across the strategy. Benefit Street invests primarily in privately originated, floating rate, senior secured loans. The fun

  4. 4 hedge fund themes that are working in 2024[more]

    From The Street: A poor earnings report from Tesla (TSLA) has not hurt the indexes on Thursday. The decline in Tesla stock, which is losing its position in the Magnificent Seven pantheon, is more than offset by strong earnings from IBM (IBM) and ServiceNow (NOW) . In addition, the much higher-t

  5. Opalesque Exclusive: A global macro fund eyes opportunities in bonds[more]

    Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York for New Managers: Munich-based ThirdYear Capital rebounded in 2023, following a tough year for global macro. The firm's flagship ART Global Macro strategy finished the year up 1