BVI: Caribbean tax haven resists UK pressure for company register

The government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) said it has no plans to establish a central register of true company owners, despite pressure from Britain to adopt the anti-money laundering and tax evasion measure.

The BVI said in a statement on Wednesday it was backing other measures it said would be at least as effective in ensuring law enforcement agencies can find out who is behind shell companies involved in financial crime.

British Prime Minister David Cameron proposed plans for a public register of the beneficial owners of all companies in 2013, during a G8 summit in Northern Ireland. Some of the UK’s overseas territories, including the BVI, have opposed the move.

The BVI is consistently ranked in industry surveys as one of the top offshore locations in the world, in terms of the volume of money flowing through it and the number of company formations there.

Lawyers say secrecy is a key selling point for the territory’s financial industry. However, the BVI said it would continue to talk with the British government about the “merits and impact” of legislation on establishing a central register of beneficial ownership.

5 June 2024

AFRICA: African countries reap highest-ever fiscal benefits from tax transparency

Launched today at the 15th Meeting of the Africa Initiative in Lomé, Togo, Tax Transparency in Africa 2024: Africa Initiative Progress Report shows African countries collected more fiscal revenue through

Read More
31 January 2025

US: Eric Trump Announces Zero Tax for U.S. Crypto Investors

Eric Trump recently mentioned that there will soon be no capital gains tax for US-based crypto projects like XRP and HBAR. That means investors in these projects could spend considerably less when cashing

Read More
7 December 2024

ASIA: South Korea to Delay Crypto Tax

South Korea’s cryptocurrency tax policy is once again in the spotlight, following a series of delays that have become emblematic of the challenges faced by regulators worldwide. Initially planned

Read More
4 October 2024

UK: The UK Dominates the Most Damaging Tax Havens

New analysis by the Tax Justice Network has revealed the United Kingdom to be the biggest enabler of corporate tax dodging in the world. As this infographic shows, British Overseas Territories and

Read More