ibill and the Bahamas
 

We spent this past weekend reading the boards and worried about the new visa regulations. We are located in the bahamas and we were concerned these new regulations would make things real tough for us.

Today I emailed our ibill rep, within 2 minutes of my email she called and informed me we had nothing to worry about. Ibill had a Visa Merchant in our region. Not only that but ibill has 5 of the 7 regions covered.

I've been one of the first to bitch at ibill over the past year. I have to admit that this time ibill has pulled thru big time and is well prepared to help their clients. :thumbsup

Yeah, some other people have posted that IBill reps told them the same thing. Looks like IBill is finally doing something right.

Now what about the other processors?

The ones not covered are Australia and Canada I assume?

I would like to hear from Ibill if it is true that Canadian webmasters can be processed via Europe like Verotel is saying, and if this is what Ibill will do for Canadians.

IBill has been saying that Australia is going to be covered. Call them and get details.

I think the other processors are scrambling for an answer (which isn't a good sign). I think ibill's size and their affiliation with their parent company intercept are coming in to play BIG TIME!

We did ask about canadian webmasters. Right now there is no solution for them. According to ibill the only option is to open a company in the US and provide that info to ibill. You can continue to be paid to your canadian company (so i'm guessing there is no double taxes to worry about).

All you canadian guys should open up down here in the bahamas TAX FREE BABY! :thumbsup

IBill still owes me money from 900 sales. As soon as they pay up I'll stop complaining.

are porn companies allowed in the Bahamas?

everything is allowed in the islands..

are you sure? there are offshore countries that don't allow adult pornography companies (although I don't know how they would find out)

Don't ask don't tell mentality :thumbsup

The bahamas is an independant country. The other islands are under British rule and that's why there have been a few horror stories. Further more there is no need to say what you do. There are no taxes and no forms to fill out. You run your company, put your cash in the bank and nobody asks questions. If you want any more info drop me at line shap at iwca . com.

You are my hero man. I will try to take a vacation down there ;)

Thats good news for the IBC's. Most of my rebills are with IBill and I am located in the Turks and Caicos Islands.


Starting a company on the islands is easy as hell and has many great benefits.

0% Taxes
Protected from obsenity regulations
Turks and Caicos Islands will not honor any foreign law suit


Startup cost $1500 - 2000. Yearly cost $1200 which includes Mail forwarding and the corporate fee.

I used this book and the author is a lawer located in Canada.

Tax Heaven Guide Book by Ken Finkelstein

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...lance&n=507846

Looks like iBill is finally doing something for it's clients.

Now what about CCBill and Epoch and all their blood swears it is impossible for US company to process for foreing clients?

Hi andi_germany,

Could you further explain what do you mean by "Turks and Caicos Islands will not honor any foreign law suit"? Is it means even if a foreign country suit your company at Turks and Caicos Islands, the court at Turks and Caicos Islands will not accept this law suit?

Does Turks and Caicos Islands allow you to operate porn business?

Max

shap, that's some interesting news, hopefully they'll give a solution to many webmasters.

Btw, i know you are friends with Manny, have you seen him lately? I haven't talked to him for long time. Give him my greetings :-)

Bear:

The "islands" have no problems with porn laws and such .. also, as a rule, they will not accept any law suits which involve offenses which are not offenses within their legal system.


Neato!:thumbsup

andi_germany:

You actually living there?? If so, me gotta meet up some time! *g*... I am only 30 min flight from ya!

Hi Webby,

Thanks. It's great to hear that.

But I also heard some islands don't welcome porn. Would point me which island welcome porn? I mean even hardcore and sm things. Do you know any website that can help you to incorpate there?

Buy the way, Bahama's is not included in my "island list" - this is the exception.

Most (shit all).. other islands have no porn laws, wot for? :-) The legal system is generally based on English Common Law. There are no taxes (apart from stuff like clothes blah which is included in import tax when you buy anything) ... the legal fees are nominal and the weather, beaches and drinks kinda nice! *lol*

There is also a difference in island which are "UK Dominion Territories" - they do not have the same "security" as those outside this category. So choose carefully!

Hi Brown Bear,

Did you try that? Is it good?

Hi Bear!

Na.. don't use em websites... many years ago I struggled hard and travelled the globe for advice from "experts" - in the end, we wondered wot for *g*

If you are interested, I can probably put you in touch direct with some lawyers on the islands who will set this stuff up and be your "directors". They give ya an unlimited authorisation to act on behalf of your company and do as you wish... You may then open up bank accounts in any jurisdiction you see fit and you only have total control over this. But, they also act as your "front end" and deal with any shit.. they are bound by law not to disclose any names/details of they get chucked in the clink. So far, been offshore for five years and only met good guys.

There are some bits that may be relevant to your "status" at the moment regarding .. wots the word?? Tax? *g*... Depends where you are currently resident.

Bear

Wot island's have you heard of that as a problem?? Never come across this so far?

Hi Weddy,

Could you contact me on ICQ 167577753

yes, I recommend dealing with www.ocra.com

I have had a very proffesional and knowledgeable experience with them.

Be right there!

Thanks for the tip Brown Bear! I am located in Norway, and I am getting out of time to get incorperated in the US, in order to keep my rebills at CCBill. I see some of you here were talking of Bahamas, but is this island considered as US? Are there any of the islands listed on ocra.com that will qualify me for the VISA rule regarding "having to be incorperated in the US, with a US tax code"?

Or do I simply just choose a shell company in Florida for example? Anyone have any experience of this? All I want to do, is save my rebills... GAH!

Any tips would be highly appreciated!

I lived in the Bahamas for a while but I went back to Europe because I was bored out of my scull.

Anyway you cannot live in the country (island) you corporated in. Its simply not allowed.

They don't honor foreign law suits. Meaning some guy sues your company for some shit in the US because the US is the only country a law suit makes you money. The TCI will not recognize that law suit and your money is protected.

As to if porn is allowed or not. You found a company using a lawyer. Noone asks you what the hell you are planning to do and noone asks who the hell you are. The company is opened by a lawyer in that company who will own all shares. Than those shares are written over to you and now the sweet thing comes in to play: This change of ownership to you is not recorded by anyone, your name is not on the records. So basically noone knows who is operating that company and noone is interested in what that company is making money with.

If you live in the US you would still have to pay taxes but it is very hard to catch you if you don't pay them and you are not dumb as hell.


The book I mentioned above describes all that in easy terms.

Another nice one is this hosting company:

http://www.havenco.com/

Its loated in Sealand. The history of Sealand is kind of funny but if you host there noone will be able to close your content down for any obsenity.

Copyright is non existant there

Only thing forbidden is childporn.

Its expensive as hell but it's still a good option if you can't host in the US legally.


P.S follow the Sealand History link and read up on it. Kind of cool

Something.... Turks is a "UK Dominion" and Bahamas has already "caved in" to external pressures... so, I know it may only cost a few thousand, but if you are considering "offshore" you might as well start off having it in a secure jurisdiction.

Something else... there is such a thing as offshore hosting... some places it is expensive.. others cheaper... but tis still an option....

*Anyway you cannot live in the country (island) you corporated in. Its simply not allowed. *

Andy.. tis ain't quite right... You speaking of some ruling on Bahama's only?

There is no problem living on an island where you incorporate... that is not related to "residency". In fact, it is often an advantage in that you may then be a corp employee and be provided with a work permit... which in turn.. over a few years, allows you an extra passport :-) Been there.. done that!

hehehe....

Still discussing about those US Billing scammers...

After CCBILL used the VISA US non-beast processing rules to rip us hundreds fo thousands of dollars by killing our rebills and keeping our holdbacks for an unspecified amount of time and after IBILL having done the same.....

We swiched to non US billers (like DiBill) a long time ago...

Those silly US questions about those new VISA US RULES don´t happen here in EUROPE.... :Graucho

From our perspective things in US will be worse & worse in the comming times as they need to fix new burocratique ways to compensate themself for the money they are loosing because of the webmasters that are leaving them...

mates.... it´s time to change to the serious and trustfull guys:

http://www.dibill.com/tools/affreg.cgi?wid=640

markusborger:

:Graucho You being smug there??? *g* Yea, gotta agree with ya!
Almost any Euro or offshore processor is preferable to *any* conditions in the US now. I am sure the US companies are well aware of this and will re-emerge in another form or establish offshore or other banking relationships... they can't afford not to!!

Yeah that's the abandon oil rig off the UK that got converted into a "island", right? LOL. I read they have armed soldiers guarding the thing. Plus the servers are sealed in a room without oxygen for security! It's the kind of shit you would read in Isaac Asimov.

Bahamas is nice but Belize is where it is!

TheFLY: *g*

Yea that's that old oil rig! ;-) As long as they behave, the UK govt don't give a damn.. but if there was a problem, that "offshore" *g* would be boarded pretty quick by UK Customs - they got more powers that God and they work under a "charter" called Customs & Excise Management Act which allows em to kinda do anything they like! ... Gotta be "the" most unstable "offshore" on the planet! *g*

toodamnfli:

Belize is kinda "East Mexico"... north of Honduras... Tis an offshore where they offer residency and no taxes on your business if your earnings are from outside Belize, ideal of net related activity.

Belize City is a dump... otherwise nice place. Land ... "paradise land" is so silly cheap, but rising rapidly. A good few US folks are escaping there. Saw stuff like 68 acres for $30K, 90 acres for $45K blah... Ideal for building your own "estate" *g*..