Why Are the Cayman Islands Considered a Tax Haven?
The Cayman Islands are one of the most well-known tax havens in the world. Unlike most countries, the Caymans don't have a corporate tax, making it an ideal place for multinational corporations to base subsidiary entities to shield some or all of their incomes from taxation.1
In addition to having no corporate tax, the Cayman Islands impose no direct taxes whatsoever on residents. They have no income tax, no property taxes, no capital gains taxes, no payroll taxes, and no withholding tax.1 They are therefore considered tax neutral.
Instead of earning revenue through direct taxation, the Caymans earn revenue via fees related to stay-over tourism and work permits, financial transactions, and import duties.2 Duty taxes are levied on most goods imported to the Caymans, at a rate of 22% to 27%.
Some items, such as baby formula, are exempt from duty taxes, while other goods, such as automobiles, are taxed at a higher rate based on the value of the vehicle. For expensive cars, the duty tax rate can be as high as 42%.3
Cayman Islands Customs. "Customs Tariff Law (2017 Revision)," Page 197. Accessed Dec. 3, 2019.
What Is a Tax Haven?
A tax haven is any location that has very lenient or even non-existent tax laws.4 There are numerous tax havens around the globe, including Switzerland, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and Dominica. The specific tax laws in each location vary.
While some simply tax income at lower rates, sometimes as low as 2%, others have virtually no taxes. The British Virgin Islands, for example, has no corporate tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, gift tax or sales tax, and it has an effective income tax rate of zero.5
The Cayman Islands are not the only tax haven. Other countries considered tax havens include Switzerland, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and Dominica.
How Do Tax Havens Work?
Tax havens provide offshore banking services to foreign individuals and businesses that allow them to avoid paying income taxes in their countries of residence.
For example, a large corporation might establish an offshore subsidiary in the Cayman Islands and direct all sales through the subsidiary rather than through the parent company based in the United States.
In this case, the shell corporation earns the company's profits and is subject to the tax laws of the Cayman Islands rather than the United States. Instead of being subject to the U.S. corporate tax rate, which stood at 38.9% in 2017, the company's profits are subject to whatever corporate or income taxes apply in the Caymans.
Tax Laws in the Cayman Islands
The Caymans have become a popular tax haven among the American elite and large multinational corporations because there is no corporate or income tax on money earned outside of its territory.1 This includes interest or dividends earned on investments, making the Caymans especially popular among hedge fund managers.
Instead of taxes, offshore corporations pay an annual licensing fee directly to the government.6 This fee is based on the amount of authorized share capital the company has.
Like all tax havens, privacy laws are paramount. The Caymans make it easy for individuals and business owners to shield their assets and identities from prying eyes.
Reference: Reference: Claie Boyte-White: Investopedia: Jul 30, 2019
