Wealth International, Limited

Offshore News Digest for Week of April 8, 2002


MORE SNOOPING FROM THE I.R.S.

Dan MITCHELL of the Heritage Foundation lays bare the IRS attack on offshore credit cards users and what it really means.

More on this story here.

WHAT IS THE O.E.C.D.?

PARIS. Although it's a leftist view, here's an explanation of what the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) does.

More on this story here.

WHAT HAPPENED TO COSTA RICA?

SAN JOSE. Considered by some as a tax haven, this Central American nation is a deficit welfare state with a new conservative president.

More on this story here, here, and here.

PANAMA HELPS CONVICT MONEY LAUNDERER

PANAMA CITY. Showing its good faith, the government assists a US conviction in Panama's biggest anti-money laundering case so far.

More on this story here.

But the big question is, can Panama afford to run the Canal?

More on this story here.

ST. VINCENT BANK CRACKDOWN GETS SERIOUS

KINGSTOWN. Nine questionable offshore bank licenses are revoked by the Offshore Finance Authority of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

More on this story here.

SPANISH BANK SECRET OFFSHORE CASH STASH

MADRID. Prosecutors investigate alleged secret offshore bank accounts in Liechtenstein, the Cayman Islands, Jersey and elsewhere.

More on this story here and here.

CROATIA FOR TAX ADVANTAGE RESIDENCE

DALMATIA. This small Adriatic nation is the insider's choice for tax advantage residence, especially if you own a yacht!

More on this story here.

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA ANSWERS I.R.S. CHARGES

Royal Bank of Canada says offshore Visa card accounts are clean.

More on this story here.

DIRECT OFFSHORE INVESTMENT GOING UP

Foreign direct investment is expected to grow through 2006.

More on this story here.

STRONG DOLLAR CAUSES PROBLEMS

WASHINGTON. The strength of the American dollar is again causing tension in the world economy.

More on this story here.

HEDGE FUNDS NEW ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING RULES

NEW YORK. The hedge fund industry unveils voluntary guidelines to comply with demands of the USA Patriot Act.

More on this story here.

NIGERIAN INTERNET SCAM KEEPS ON ROLLING

Florida residents get fraudulent e-mail bank appeals.

More on this story here.

SOUTH AFRICAN FORFEITURE CURBED

A new South African civil forfeiture law is curbed by a High Court ruling. No property seizures unless owners first are convicted of a crime.

More on this story here.

And the RSA's Standard Bank seeks high net worth clients for its new Private Bank, if any still remain in South Africa.

More on this story here.

E.U. NATIONS FAVOR TERRORISTS OVER TAX HAVENS

Non sequitur of the week: Germany, France refuse to help US anti-terror efforts until the US destroys offshore tax havens.

More on this story here and here.

SWISS REJECT E.U. TAX INFO DEMANDS

EU-Swiss negotiations stall over taxation of non-resident savings interest. Thankfully, the Swiss won't compromise their bank secrecy.

More on this story here.

NO LIECHTENSTEIN-O.E.C.D COMPROMISE

VADUZ. Still on the phony OECD 'tax competition' blacklist, the Principality sees little chance of compromise with OECD bureaucrats.

More on this story here.

IRELAND MAY BENEFIT FROM TAX HAVEN CURBS

DUBLIN. Low taxes, high standards, transparency may bring tax haven business from traditional offshore financial centers.

More on this story here.

GIBRALTAR TALKS DELAYED

As the UK and Spain play with the freedom of The Rock's citizens, a poll shows many Spaniards oppose their government's takeover plans.

More on this story here and here.

RICH FOREIGNERS LIVE IN ENGLAND TAX FREE

LONDON. Interesting investigative report on how a non-UK family worth billions lives tax free in the United Kingdom.

More on this story here.

And a disturbing report on the disunited 'United Kingdom'.

More on this story here.

LEAST KNOWN CHANNEL ISLAND BETS ON THE NET

ALDERNEY joins Isle of Man in setting up Internet e-gambling casinos.

More on this story here.

And here's a new Financial Times survey of GUERNSEY.

More on this story here.

PLUS a Financial Times digest of major offshore havens.

More on this story here.

BERMUDA ANSWERS U.S. 'PATRIOTS'

HAMILTON. The island's leading law firm exposes American politicians and their demagogic attacks and wrong headed laws.

More on this story here.

BAHAMAS LOVE BOAT NO TAX HAVEN

NASSAU. Some say this Bahamas-based luxury apartment ship is a vision of hell on water. And it wont save on taxes.

More on this story here and here.

AMERICA'S OWN TAX HAVEN; DELAWARE WORRIED

WILMINGTON. As more US corporations go offshore, the 'company state' is concerned about lost revenue.

More on this story here.

SOUTH AFRICAN BANKS FEEL RAND HEAT

JOHANNESBURG. Banks and regulators are questioned about a deliberate assault on the nation's weak currency, the rand.

More on this story here.

U.S. PASSPORT, VISA RULES TOUGHER

WASHINGTON. US tightens passport security, limits visa-free entry.

More on this story here and here.

THE EVERGREEN OFFSHORE SWINDLE

Millions stolen from 2,000 investors in 10-year offshore scam.

More on this story here.

HOW NOT TO REACT TO ENRON

Prof. Pierre Lemieux explains why big government schemes wont stop future Enrons.

More on this story here.

U.S. LAWMAKERS OPPOSE I.R.S. REGS

They say kill proposed regulations to require US financial institutions to report interest income paid to nonresident aliens.

More on this story here.
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