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| FEATURED ARTICLE | |||
CONSOLIDATE
YOUR FREEDOM
PROTECT YOUR ASSETS
FOUR PATHS TO FREEDOM
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John Robertson of OPC International provides powerful freedom solutions to current and future sovereign individuals. For details, visit following link. Here you can download a free eBook on how to consolidate your freedom and protect your assets. |
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DISCLAIMER: Dr. John Robertson is not a member of AFRICABIZ® editorial board. This is a featured article published by AFRICABIZ® on behalf of the author - May 15, 2001 -.Views and opinions expressed are Dr. John Robertson 's. |
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In the quest for freedom - to get bureaucratic bludgers off your back and reclaim your live and money - there is, as they say, "more than one way to skin a cat". In fact, there are four distinctly different strategies to regain your freedom and get Big Brother out of your life. What's interesting is that each "path" is likely to suit a different psychological type - providing the possible ideal solution to your own quest. |
| ROAD N°1 / OFFSHORE STRUCTURING |
This is the strategy of choice for most people (who think about such things),
as it provides many benefits - without disrupting your lifestyle too much.
It's also designed for those who want to stay on the "right side of the law".
Structuring simply means utilizing legally-compliant offshore structures (trusts/IBCs
etc.) to minimize one's tax to the extent of what is possible - without breaking
the law. This is not easy of course, because the law is infinitely elastic
and changeable. However, it is certainly possible to arrange one's affairs
in such a way that you don't have to lose sleep at night, worrying as to whether
the "man from the government" will come knocking at your door.
This strategy does require the assistance of legal professionals if you want
to do it right. The more money and other assets you have - the more you need
to get the structure right.
However, there are some basic moves you can make that are generally applicable,
and will give you some advantages. Many of these are discussed at this
site.
| ROAD N°2 / PRIVACY REINFORCEMENT |
This is the strategy where you simply make plans to disappear off the government
radar screen, so they don't notice you any more.
There are various levels of privacy you can aspire to - the most obvious one
being to become "unfindable" by never disclosing your residential address.
You just use a PO Box number or maildrop, and when asked for a physical address,
you simply quote the street where your mailbox is located!
To become completely private, you would also need to close all your domestic
bank accounts and work from a cash base only. You would need to make sure
you aren't on any public rolls - like for voting. You would also develop your
own offshore money sources - and keep them private. You'd want to make sure
all your communication are private - and that you didn't keep paper or data
records of anything that could incriminate you. And one more thing, you wouldn't
want to own any property in the country of your existing tax liability.
However, the most complete form of privacy is to become "someone else" - and
create a new identity for yourself. There are a few very useful books like
"Paper Trip III" and "Hide Your Assets and Disappear" for example, which will
point you in the right direction -
If you would like to pursue this, you may find this method very "extreme"
and not want to use it fully. However, it is possible to enhance one's privacy
by applying many of the "lower level" strategies as suggested.
Each step towards increased privacy, is a step towards more freedom.
| ROAD N°3 / PERPETUAL TRAVELER OR PT |
This is the "Perpetual Traveler" option where you become a "Previous Taxpayer"
by exploiting the "resident for taxpaying purposes" laws in various countries
The essence of this strategy is that you need to divide up your "life"
into different jurisdictional bases.
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For
example, you would want to become a resident of a place which requires
little or no tax. Ideally, you want to become a resident of a tax haven.
This lays the foundation of your lifestyle - for as a legal resident
of such a place, you are not liable for any domestic tax on your income.
And once you have achieved all of that - you are free to actually live anywhere
on earth - as a visitor. Most reasonable countries will allow you to stay
up to 6 months as a tourist - and as a tourist you are not liable for any
taxes. When your time is up, you simply move on to your next favorite destination
- and repeat the process.
You don't have to move to a different country all the time, but can choose
two or three places which you will spend your time in each year. The only
proviso is that you mustn't stay longer than the prescribed time that qualifies
you as a tourist. Stay longer - and you will be deemed a "resident for tax
purposes", and be liable for tax.
Naturally, this option is not for everybody, as many people would feel uncomfortable
uprooting themselves and living as cyber gypsies.
But it does offer a legal way to live a tax-free lifestyle - and to permanently
remove bureaucrats from your life.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this strategy is its simplicity. The
"PT" option was devised by Harry Schultz and popularized by WG Hill - in his
now famous book "PT - The Perpetual Traveler".
Note
to US citizens: to fully benefit from the PT option, you would need to
give up your US citizenship and its obligation of filing tax returns, no matter
where you are on earth.
| ROAD N°4 / SOVEREIGNTY |
This strategy has become commonly known as the un-tax option, where you rely
on constitutional or other legal precedents to opt-out of the tax system -
becoming, in effect, a tax-protestor.
What started out in the USA, has now spread to Australia, and more recently,
to New Zealand.
Basically, this strategy is to seek a legal / constitutional defense for
opting out of the tax system.
This option is similar to standing in front of the tank in Tiannamen square,
where you simply stand up and refuse to cooperate with the authorities. That,
of course, is a very positive analogy, as the tank did actually stop! There
are risks of course, as your "tax rebellion" is plain for the authorities
to see - and act on if they wish. You also need to have a "head" for legal
argument - for to be effective in this way requires that you have a considerable
amount of knowledge of the basis for your"rebellion". And this knowledge requires
a substantial amount of reading and research on your part.
Personally, I'm still very skeptical regarding this option, as I believe
that in many cases, the authorities have not bothered to act - and therefore
the strength of the various cases has not been tested in court.
However, it is certainly true that if enough people were to apply this strategy,
then it would move into the realm of civil disobedience, and would very likely
succeed in undermining the tax authorities - which largely functioned only
by virtue of society's voluntary compliance.
| CONCLUSION |
As you can see from the brief overview of each option, there is indeed
something for everyone - something to suit personalities of differing types.
And all you need to do is pick your preferred strategy and work towards it.
Click here to download a
free copy of the eBook which explains furtheror visit
us for more.
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