[contingencies]

Very informative. Another tax haven many people are unaware of is the City of London. George Monbiot puts it this way: The Corporation of the City of London is the dark heart of Britain, the place where democracy goes to die, immensely powerful, equally unaccountable. (See http://www.monbiot.com/2011/10/31/wealth-destroyers/ and http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2011/02/london-corporati... )

[mseebach]

That's probably because the City of London isn't in any meaningful way whatsoever a "tax haven".

Fretting over the utter archaicness of the corporation, the power of the financial lobby and the connection of actual tax havens to the city doesn't make it a tax haven. Notice how the Monbiot piece is silly with irrelevant footnotes (in case you're worried he's pulling your finger on the date of the Lord Mayors parade, don't worry, it's carefully sourced) - except the bit where he makes his central assertions?

Here's the relevant test: Does incorporating inside the jurisdiction of the City of London change your tax liability compared with incorporating anywhere else in London, in any way whatsoever (except business rates, which are actually slightly higher in the city)?

[samstave]

There is a LOT more that can be said about the Company of London (and the its incorporated subsidiary, the Federal US Government)