Incorporating offshore and Adsense

[kidbuu]

Me and my partner are currently considering incorporating our business offshore. We're not entirely sure yet where, but Hong Kong looks like a good place to do so.

However here's my question:

When you sign up for an Adsense (business) account you need to supply the country/territory, address etc as can be seen here: [google.com...]

However, none of these companies supplying offshore incorporation services supply virtual offices in each particular country. Only possible location to choose a virtual office in is Antigua.

So when signing up for a business account with Adsense, do I need to choose the country where I'm actually incorporated in (Hong Kong for example) and somehow try to get an address there, or can I just sign up with such an address supplied by such a virtual office service that's no located in the same country where we are incorporated in?

[elsewhen]

it will depend where you are residing. if you are a u.s. citizen, for example, you can set up offshore, but technically you are going to have to pay taxes when you repatriate the money. my understanding is that if you invest the money offshore, you can at best achieve a tax deferral and little more.

[kidbuu]

Thank you for replying.

I'm not an US citizen nor do I operate business in the country where I'm residing.

We're running a business where costs are high, but profit margins relatively low. In order to improve the continuity we want to incorporate in a country where the corporate taxes are low/non-existant.

I'm still going to pay my income taxes over any money that I would repatriate.

[jason77]

unless you want to go to prison you have to move to another country in order to legally pay taxes there.

if you are usa citizen you also need to get rid of your citizenship...but it takes years until you get another citizenship in another country (unless you marry abroad).

if you are in florida, bahamas might be an option - as it is not too far away from florida and you save lots of money....as you dont pay any income tax there at all.

anything involvin virtual offices and companies is the best way to end up in prison!

[DonMateo]

What a load of rubbish jason77, and kidbuu already said that he's not a US citizen.

Basically you need to speak to an international tax specialist. Everything relies on where you're from, where you live and where you want to incorporate. Depending on where you reside you may or may not be taxed on repatriated profits.

One possible problem is that adsense don't support wire transfers to many countries so you'll have to rely on someone depositing your cheque for your company. Offshore management companies will probably charge you $100 for the privilege of doing that.

You can find lots of information on the internet but you'll eventually need to speak to a tax specialist in order to work through your specific situation.

[DonMateo]

So when signing up for a business account with Adsense, do I need to choose the country where I'm actually incorporated in (Hong Kong for example) and somehow try to get an address there, or can I just sign up with such an address supplied by such a virtual office service that's no located in the same country where we are incorporated in?

I would think that you'd need to supply an address for the country where the company is incorporated. But check with Google - maybe they'll consider branch offices for instance.

[Wally]

I recently tried to incorporate offshore and had to re-apply to adsense as it would be a different country.

My application was rejected because my site was not suitable. So I still have to get paid to the old account. Very strange.

A quick search of banking laws and which countries don't give up information to your local tax authority might be a good idea before you incorporate offshore.