Welcome to Offshore Trusts Guide

Offshore Trusts Guide publishes news, features and newsletters on the use of offshore trust structures. The full guide analyses key global issues relating to the offshore trust, and examines in detail the trust regimes in key jurisdictions.

Latest Features

Towards Public Registers of Beneficial Owners?

Under updated draft anti-money laundering rules approved by the European Parliament earlier this year, the ultimate owners of companies and trusts would have to be listed in public registers in EU countries. This feature is a summary of these proposals, and other measures being considered around the world to increase the transparency of ownership...Read full report »

New Zealand To Update Trust Law

With the Government of New Zealand having recently announced that it intends to take up the recommendations of a commission set up to review the country’s trusts legislation, this feature takes a look at what this could mean for settlors, beneficiaries and trustees of New Zealand...Read full report »

Jersey Leads Trust World With Innovative Amendment

It may sound obscure, but the Trusts (Amendment No. 6) (Jersey) Law, introduced in October 2013 and the subject of this review, represents a significant change to Jersey's trust legislation that is expected to lead to more business for the jurisdiction's already substantial trust sector... Read full report »

Q3 2013 Feature: Offshore Trusts and the G8 Transparency Agenda

This feature looks at the implications of the G8’s call for more transparency with regard to the beneficial ownership of companies and legal arrangements for offshore trusts.Read full report »

Q2 2013 Feature: Maltese Trust Law Reforms

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has recently proposed a number of significant amendments to the Trusts and Trustees Act as well as changes to the way the trust and fiduciary services sector is regulated, and these possible changes are examined in this feature.Read full report »

Latest Trusts News

South Africa Drops Paper Forms To Encourage E-Filiing

Tax Deadline Approaching For Americans Abroad

Switzerland To Amend Anti-Money Laundering Law

EU Council Adopts Directive To Make Company Ownership Data Public

HMRC To Add To Arsenal Against Diverted Profits

IRS Explains How To Calculate Transition Tax Liability

Australia Expands Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law

OECD Delivers Rules To Prevent Tax Transparency Standard Evasion

Canada To Reform Taxation Of Passive Investments

Australia's Board Of Taxation Considers Bare Trusts Tax Reform

Australia To Strengthen Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law

UK Tax Advisers Welcome Inheritance Tax Review

Read more news »

Latest Network News

Switzerland Gearing Up For Corporate Tax Changes

16/11/2018
The Swiss Government has announced that, in preparation for a major overhaul of the tax system, existing practices on the taxation of principal companies and finance branches will not be applied to new companies as of 2019.
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OECD Releases Guidance On Impact Of BEPS MLI

16/11/2018

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Singaporean Corporate Tax Returns Soon Due

16/11/2018
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has issued a reminder to companies that the corporate income tax return filing deadline is either November 30, 2018, for paper returns, or December 15, 2018, for electronically filed returns.
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Germany's Bundestag Approves VAT Reforms

16/11/2018
Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has approved the introduction of new value-added tax rules for online marketplaces.
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Australia Consults On Tax Implications Of Insurance Law Reform

16/11/2018
The Australian Government is consulting on the tax implications of a new accounting standard for insurance contracts.
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UK To Shutter Second Home Tax Avoidance 'Loophole'

9/11/2018
The UK Government has announced its intention to tackle the use of a commercial property tax (business rates) exemption, intended only for small businesses, by second-home owners to avoid paying residential property tax (Council Tax) on those homes.
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Swiss Gov't Amends AEOI Ordinance

9/11/2018
The Swiss Federal Council has amended its automatic exchange of tax information legislation to remove a transitional provision relating to the initial stage of implementation.
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No Agreement Yet On EU Digital Services Tax

9/11/2018
European Finance Ministers have failed to reach an agreement on the EU's proposed digital services tax, following opposition from some member states.
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Finland To Strengthen CFC Legislation

9/11/2018
The Finnish Government has proposed changes to controlled foreign company legislation that would widen the scope of the law and bring Finland in line with the European Union Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive.
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HMRC's Large Business Tax Inquiries Now Taking Three Years

9/11/2018
The average length of HMRC's tax inquiries into large businesses are now taking more than three years to settle, with each case taking around 39 months to resolve in 2017/18, up from 34 months in 2016/17, according to Pinsent Masons, the international law firm.
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Malaysia Announces Corporate Tax, Sales Tax Reforms In Budget

9/11/2018
Malaysia's 2019 Budget contains plans for an overhaul of sales and service tax rules and a corporate tax cut for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
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FASB Issues New Standard For Variable Interest Entities

2/11/2018
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on October 31 issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-17, intended to reduce the cost and complexity of financial reporting associated with consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs), for which consolidation is not based on a majority of voting rights.
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Switzerland Notes Upcoming Tax Changes

2/11/2018
The Swiss Federal Tax Administration has published a list of changes to the tax system that will take effect over the period 2019-2021.
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Hong Kong's Parliament Endorses Improved R And D Tax Breaks

2/11/2018
Hong Kong's Legislative Council has passed legislation to improve the jurisdiction's tax incentives for research and development spending.
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UK Announces Digital Tax, Corporate Tax Reforms In New Budget

2/11/2018
The UK's 2018 Budget includes changes to tax rules for companies, and notably for multinational groups to conform with the EU's Anti Tax Avoidance Directive. Most significantly, the UK has decided to move ahead of the EU in announcing that it will apply a tax on the turnover of certain digital businesses.
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