"Unsafe", "risky", "illegal" and "only for the rich" are just some of the words that have been used to describe offshore tax havens. So let us begin by immediately putting an end to those myths. The term "offshore tax haven" simply signifies any country that has a friendlier or more advantageous tax climate than your own country of residence or domicile. If the truth were known, establishing an offshore company, trust, limited partnership or limited life company is just like forming a similar structure in your domestic country of residence except that it will be governed by the laws of a different country.

What is enshrined in the enabling legislation of most offshore jurisdictions is privacy, confidentiality and the basic right to structure your own affairs as you deem most appropriate to suit either your personal or corporate circumstances.

More often than not, the confusion with the whole issue of going offshore stems from lack of knowledge and fear of the unknown. Misinformed financial planners, attorneys and accountants only exacerbate the situation by advising their clients only about what they themselves know and feel comfortable with.

Nowadays, with the internationalisation of world economies, global investing and participation in an array of cross-border transactions is more common than ever before. Such opportunities are now available to both small and large investors alike. Protecting those investments (and other assets) is another key reason why people 'go offshore'.

The very fact that there has been a concerted effort by various leading nations to sensationalise and provide misguided information about the use of offshore jurisdictions simply highlights the reality that a significant amount of legitimate international investment and other financial activity is now being conducted "offshore" and, because of this, they have begun to loose control of the traditional money management role they once monopolised. It is estimated that currently some US$ 5 trillion is invested through the use "offshore" jurisdictions.

Indeed, many jurisdictions, like Belize, offer a full range of financial services in a well-planned, regulated environment - while at the same time still offering a level of privacy and confidentiality not found "onshore". In this context, the term "international financial services centre", rather than "offshore tax haven", is now more appropriate since we essentially offer the same kinds of services available in the more traditional financial centres. This is certainly no place to hide ill-gotten gains or to further some criminal objective - with strict anit-money laundering legislation, we are keen to emphasise that we are only open for business for those seeking the legitimate use of our services.

Belize Offshore Services Limited, or BOSL as we have become known, has grown to be one of the leading providers of international financial and corporate services in Belize. As specialists in the offshore industry, BOSL can arrange - either directly or through its network of correspondents around the world - a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Formation and Management of IBC's, LLC's, LLP's, PCC's
• Trust Formation and Administration
• International Shipping Registration
• Inward Investment Projects
• Offshore Banks and Insurance Companies
• Establishment of Mutual Fund Companies
• International Procurement and Consulting Services
• Fund Administration
• Asset Management
• International Financial Management
• Investment and Brokerage Services
• Trading and Factoring Services
• Nominee and Trustee Services
• International Collection and Reporting Services

So, whether your needs range from a simple company formation, family trust or a more complex multi-jurisdictional offshore structure, BOSL can help. We hope that you will find our web-site informative and helpful in your financial, corporate and estate planning. However, in case we have not covered your particular requirements, please feel to contact us at enquiries@bosl.com for a free confidential consultation.