Global Reach

Jurisdictions we structure, advise, and operate in

A comparative overview of the leading international structuring jurisdictions, scored across tax efficiency, asset protection, privacy, treaty access, and ease of setup. Ratings reflect general structuring suitability and are advisory in nature.

Dubai, UAE
Scored by
Tax Efficiency
Asset Protection
Privacy
Treaty Access
Ease of Setup
1 = Low    5 = High
🇵🇦
Panama
Territorial Tax  ·  Foundation Jurisdiction
4.6
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
5
Privacy
4
Treaty Access
3
Ease of Setup
5
Strengths
  • ✓Zero tax on all foreign-source income
  • ✓Private Interest Foundation, strongest creditor shield available
  • ✓Colon Free Trade Zone for international commerce
  • ✓Fast incorporation, low annual cost
Weaknesses
  • ✕Limited tax treaty network vs. European hubs
  • ✕Reputation risk requires careful structuring narrative
  • ✕Substance requirements increasing under OECD pressure
🇦🇪
Dubai (UAE)
Zero-Tax Residency  ·  Free Zone Hub
4.4
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
4
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
5
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓0% personal income tax, 0% capital gains
  • ✓90+ double tax treaties including major economies
  • ✓DIFC and ADGM offer common law legal frameworks
  • ✓Strong residency visa pathway for HNWIs
Weaknesses
  • ✕9% corporate tax introduced 2023 (free zones retain exemption)
  • ✕UBO register maintained, limited third-party access
  • ✕Substance requirements for free zone companies tightening
🇻🇬
British Virgin Islands
Offshore Holding  ·  Zero-Tax
4.0
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
4
Privacy
4
Treaty Access
2
Ease of Setup
5
Strengths
  • ✓No corporate tax, no capital gains, no inheritance tax
  • ✓Most widely used offshore holding vehicle globally
  • ✓Extremely fast and low-cost incorporation
Weaknesses
  • ✕Almost no tax treaty network
  • ✕Moving toward public beneficial ownership register
  • ✕High-profile jurisdiction, increased scrutiny from home tax authorities
🇰🇾
Cayman Islands
Fund Domicile  ·  Zero-Tax
3.8
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
4
Privacy
4
Treaty Access
2
Ease of Setup
3
Strengths
  • ✓Global standard for hedge funds and private equity
  • ✓No direct taxation of any kind
  • ✓Sophisticated legal and professional services infrastructure
Weaknesses
  • ✕Higher compliance cost than BVI for non-fund structures
  • ✕Minimal tax treaty access
  • ✕FATF grey-listed in 2021; removed 2024 but reputational impact remains
🇨🇾
Cyprus
EU Holding  ·  IP Box
4.0
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
3
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
5
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓12.5% corporate tax, lowest in the EU
  • ✓65+ double tax treaties; EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive access
  • ✓IP box regime at effective 2.5% on qualifying IP income
Weaknesses
  • ✕EU beneficial ownership register reduces privacy
  • ✕Reputational legacy from 2013 banking crisis
  • ✕Asset protection weaker than offshore alternatives
🇨🇭
Switzerland
Wealth Management  ·  Holding
3.8
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
4
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
5
Ease of Setup
2
Strengths
  • ✓Cantonal tax competition, effective rates 12-18%
  • ✓Unmatched political neutrality and legal stability
  • ✓Extensive treaty network; global banking infrastructure
Weaknesses
  • ✕High setup and maintenance cost
  • ✕Banking secrecy substantially reduced post-CRS
  • ✕Strict substance requirements for holding companies
🇦🇬
Antigua & Barbuda
IBC  ·  Citizenship by Investment
3.6
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
3
Privacy
4
Treaty Access
3
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓No capital gains, inheritance, or wealth taxes
  • ✓No public beneficial ownership register, strong privacy
  • ✓Citizenship by Investment programme, visa-free access to 150+ countries
  • ✓Fast IBC formation under English common law
Weaknesses
  • ✕Limited tax treaty network, no major economy coverage
  • ✕Smaller professional services infrastructure than BVI or Cayman
  • ✕OECD substance requirements increasing compliance burden
🇬🇧
England (UK)
Holding & LLP  ·  Treaty Hub
3.8
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
4
Privacy
2
Treaty Access
5
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓Foreign-source income largely exempt, dividends and capital gains on foreign holdings not taxed at the corporate level
  • ✓Substantial Shareholding Exemption on gains from qualifying share disposals
  • ✓130+ double tax treaties, one of the largest networks globally
  • ✓UK LLP fiscally transparent, widely used international investment vehicle
Weaknesses
  • ✕25% corporate rate applies to UK-source profits and trading income
  • ✕Fully public Companies House register, minimal privacy
  • ✕Non-dom regime abolished April 2025, key personal planning route removed
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
Asia-Pacific Gateway  ·  Territorial
4.0
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
3
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
4
Ease of Setup
5
Strengths
  • ✓Territorial system, 16.5% only on HK-source profits
  • ✓Gateway to mainland China through unique treaty access
  • ✓Fast, low-cost incorporation with English common law
Weaknesses
  • ✕Increasing PRC political influence, long-term stability risk
  • ✕Public company registry reduces anonymity
  • ✕Asset protection framework weaker than dedicated offshore jurisdictions
🇧🇧
Barbados
IBC  ·  Treaty Network
3.6
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
3
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
4
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓1-5.5% effective rate for IBCs on foreign income
  • ✓Canada-Barbados treaty, significant for Canadian-controlled structures
  • ✓English common law; established IBC infrastructure
Weaknesses
  • ✕CRA scrutinises mind and management closely, substance essential
  • ✕OECD BEPS compliance reducing IBC advantages
  • ✕Limited treaty network outside Canada and CARICOM
🇰🇳
Nevis
LLC & Trust  ·  Asset Protection
4.2
Overall
Tax Efficiency
5
Asset Protection
5
Privacy
4
Treaty Access
2
Ease of Setup
5
Strengths
  • ✓Nevis LLC: charging order as exclusive creditor remedy; among the strongest LLC protection laws globally
  • ✓2-year fraudulent transfer statute, shorter than virtually any comparable jurisdiction
  • ✓No tax on foreign-source income; no capital gains, inheritance, or wealth taxes
  • ✓No public registry of LLC members or managers, strong confidentiality
Weaknesses
  • ✕Minimal tax treaty network, not suited as a treaty access vehicle
  • ✕Small professional services market, fewer banking relationships than larger jurisdictions
  • ✕Best used in combination with other jurisdictions rather than as a standalone structure
🇲🇹
Malta
EU Holding  ·  Tax Refund Regime
3.8
Overall
Tax Efficiency
4
Asset Protection
3
Privacy
3
Treaty Access
5
Ease of Setup
4
Strengths
  • ✓35% corporate rate with 6/7 shareholder refund = effective 5%
  • ✓70+ treaties; full EU Directives access
  • ✓English language, English common law heritage
Weaknesses
  • ✕Refund mechanism complex, requires professional management
  • ✕EU beneficial ownership register
  • ✕Reputation scrutiny post-rule-of-law concerns (2019-2022)

Scores are advisory ratings reflecting general structuring suitability based on publicly available information and our practice experience. They do not constitute legal or tax advice. Jurisdictional rules change; clients should obtain current professional advice specific to their circumstances before making any structuring decisions.

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