www.bermudacaptive.bmjune 2 - 4, 2014. introduction to captives and the bermuda domicile moderator:...
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www.bermudacaptive.bm JUNE 2 - 4, 2014
Introduction to Captives and the Bermuda Domicile
Moderator:• Federico Candiolo, Counsel, ASW Law Ltd
Panelist(s):• Roger Aliaga-Diaz, PhD, Senior Economist, Vanguard Investment
Strategy Group
• Gerardo Filorio, Business Administration, Director, Lockton, Mexico
• Dr. Marcelo Ramella, Deputy Director, Policy and Research, Policy, Legal Services & Enforcement Department, Bermuda Monetary Authority
• Tino van den Heuvel, Partner, Tax Attorney, Hill Smith King & Wood New York
CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: UNDER THE APPLICABLE TREASURY REGULATIONS WE ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM YOU THAT ANY INFORMATION IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY HILL SMITH KING & WOOD TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY A CLIENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY (i) FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON ANY TAXPAYER OR (ii) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED HEREIN.
The information contained herein is of a general nature and based on authorities that are subject to change. Applicability of the information to specific situations should be determined through consultation with your tax adviser.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Hill Smith King & Wood.
Today’s Topics:
1. Tax treatment of the insured
2. Taxation of the captive insurance company
3. Tax treatment of the owner of the captive insurance company
Overview
Overview Base Case
Legend
A corporation. Unless otherwise stated all entities are wholly-owned
An individual (natural) person or a group of individuals
Captive Insurance Cy(Bermuda)
Operating Subsidiary(Colombia)
Operating/Holding Cy(Peru)
Owner(Peru)
Insurance Premiums
Insurance Premiums
1.
2.
3.
• Many LATAM countries have a consider-able corporate tax rate and thus imposinga high cost on (i) earned, (ii) retained and(iii) distributed income.
• Therefore, if properly structured a captive insurance company may significantly reduce the effective tax rate of the insured company by deduction insurance premiums paid to the captive insurance company
Tax treatment of the Insured
COUNTRY RATE
Argentina 35.00%
Brazil* 25.00%
Chile 20.00%
Colombia 25.00%
Mexico 30.00%
Peru 30.00%
Venezuela 34.00%
CORPORATE TAXES (2014)
* including surtaxes
• Deductibility and timing of the insurance premiums:
– Most LATAM countries allow for a deduction of insurance premium payments to related captive insurance companies;
– Some countries however defer the deduction of the insurance premiums to a captive insurance company if it is based in a tax haven to the moment they are actually paid;
– A number of countries restrict deductions if the captive insurance company does not have sufficient (functional) substance. A captive with only a few insured participants or inadequately financed may not be respected.
Deductibility Premiums
• Withholding taxes on insurance premium payments:
– Almost all LATAM countries impose withholding taxes at the source on the payment of insurance premiums. Usually the rate of withholding depends on the location of the captive insurance company. If the captive is based in a tax haven country then the withholding tax rate is usually higher.
– In these cases the interposition of a holding company in country which has a tax treaty with the country of the insured company may offer a solution. Under most treaties the insurance premiums are treated as business profits and thus allocate the right to tax to the recipient country.
– Bermuda has entered into a significant number of Taxation Information Exchange Agreements with countries which results in the removal of ‘blacklists’ and a reduction of withholding taxes.
Withholding Taxes on Premiums
Withholding Taxes on Premiums
COUNTRY LISTED TIEA NEGOTIATIONS TIEA
Argentina No Yes n/a
Brazil Yes Yes n/a
Chile No No Yes
Colombia No* No Yes
Mexico Yes Yes n/a
Peru Yes No No
Venezuela Yes No No
BLACKLIST/TAX HAVEN UPDATE 2014
* Temporary removal
COUNTRY RATE
Argentina 3.50%
Brazil 2.00%
Chile 2.00%
Colombia 0.00%
Mexico 40.00%
Peru 2.10%
Venezuela 3.00%
WITHHOLING TAXES
• Main tax considerations:– Income tax rate
– How is taxable income determined?
– Dividend withholding tax on distribution of profits?
– Tax treaty network?
Taxation of the Captive
• Controlled Foreign Corporation (“CFC”) legislation:– Under CFC legislation the owner of the captive insurance company
would have to include in income on a current basis, whether distributed or not, the profits of the insurance company if certain conditions are met;
– Generally, one or more of the following criteria should be met for a company to be considered a CFC:
• A certain ownership percentage by one person of the company’s shares;
• The company’s income is derived from passive investments (e.g., dividends, interest, etc.) or related party transactions
• The company is based in a tax haven;
– CFC legislation effectively eliminates the tax benefits of a captive insurance company if applicable.
Taxation of the Owner
COUNTRY CFC Legislation?
Argentina Yes
Brazil Yes
Chile No
Colombia No
Mexico Yes
Peru Yes
Venezuela Yes
CONTROLLED FOREIGN CORPORATION
LATAM CFC Regimes
COUNTRY CFC Legislation?
Argentina Yes
Brazil Yes
Chile No
Colombia No
Mexico Yes
Peru Yes
Venezuela Yes
CONTROLLED FOREIGN CORPORATION
• Tax treatment of dividends received from the captive insurance company:– Many countries apply a partial exemption or lower rate to
dividends received by individuals from corporations;– Careful planning may allow for the efficient repatriation of
the profits of the captive insurance company.
• Estate Planning:– Captive insurance company by their nature as investment
vehicles are a great estate planning tool through which wealth can be distributed over multiple generations without or minimal taxes.
Taxation of the Owner
Example Planning Structures Venezuela
Captive Insurance Cy(Bermuda)
Operating Cy(Colombia)
Operating Cy(Venezuela)
Trust(Offshore)
Insurance Premiums
Owner(Venezuela)
Settlor
Beneficiaries(Venezuela)
EU Holding Cy(EU)
For Illustration Purposes Only
Re-insurance Premiums