XboX 360 4GB Customer Review

Customer Review XboX 360 4GB 5.0 out of 5 stars Great product, great look, great price., March 28, 2014 By te - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I purchased this as a gift for my son for Christmas. He has been through three Xbox 360's in the past several years--he is an avid gamer and often trades off his old one for some other "new toy" that grabs his fancy. I purchased this to replace the 3rd one he traded (for a guitar this last time). This one is a little different from the last one he had though. I think that it looks very similar to the Xbox One. It seems to do everything every other Xbox 360 does, just has a more modern outward appearance. I know that beyond gaming, he also uses this frequently (nightly) for watching Youtube shows. Honestly, with all of the apps and other features this has, it has everything you need and I am not sure why the Xbox One is all the rage now with this being offered at such a great price. Honestly, I find that even I use this more than our regular TV because it gets Netflix. Great product, great look, great price. There is just ONE issue, and it's the reason why I only gave 4 stars. There is a HUGE issue with the AC power supply that comes with this. We've never had this issue with our other 3 Xbox 360's. Often when my husband is playing COD, the Xbox will just shut off on him after 15 - 20 minutes of play. In order for it to turn back on, he has to unplug the power supply from the Xbox and wall, and then plug it back in after 5-10 minutes of rest time. Then it will usually work again for the rest of the evening/night. This usually happens at least once a day, often twice. It has become very annoying, so we'll be buying a new power supply soon. You may want to purchase an additional one if you haven't already! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it - perfect, March 27, 2014 By Jo Morris (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) My friends son loved it! He had a old white one so this was a big upgrade for him! He bought the hard drive to go with it Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars A great gaming system, March 24, 2014 By Nick R. (Oregon) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) As a Playstation 2 user, I was a bit hesitant to get an Xbox 360 when I went to upgrade to a newer gaming system, but when these were on sale for $99.99 I had to pick one up. I wanted to finally experience what gamers had experienced for years, and that's decent visuals on an HDTV. The graphics are nice, the sound is good, and I have grown very accustomed to the controller - moreso than I was expecting, and I'd go so far as to say I'd not mind one to use as a general PC controller/joystick. The controller eats through batteries, so it'd be a good idea to get a set of rechargeable AA batteries to go along with this system. With the 4GB system, the BIG flaw is the lack of internal storage space, though it is expandable to 250 GB with an open hard drive slot. 4GB barely allows you to save a few games, and if your games have any downloadable updates you're in trouble. I ended up with a couple USB drives with full game downloads on them, as I'd made a couple purchases through Xbox Live and couldn't store the games on the console! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Help me, March 20, 2014 By Victor Yeverino - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I bought this product I love it but when I play games it makes loud weird noises Bought it used I didn't drop it or anything!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, March 19, 2014 By ryan caronna - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I had 2 broken xbox's and when I found one so cheap I expected it to be a piece of crap but it wasn't, it was legit Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Works great., March 18, 2014 By Delana Patnode - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) We try and stay one generation behind, and just picked up our first 360. We can buy tons of games for less then $5. A bit louder then our PS3 but love the interface. Works great. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Great, March 18, 2014 By Alysa G. Stringer (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) Great price. Fast delivery. Easy to set up. The controllers are a little confusing to me but it was a gift and the recipient loves it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Gift, March 18, 2014 By MARIA L MATOS - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) My son got this for Christmas, works great and he can do so much more than just play games and is small doesnt take a lot of space. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars excellent and outstanding deal, March 16, 2014 By M. TICE - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) with a small kit and a torx driver you can install your old hard drive from the first 360 into an enclosure, and pop (with your finger) the panel on the bottom side vented panel to install your old hard drive inside of the system using the enclosure. saved lots of money on this lightweight system. Thanks microsoft! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase, March 13, 2014 By autumnleaves "DT" (Upstate New York, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) You made my child so happy!! Due to an excellent report card, I succombed and purchased this for my teenager. It arrived pronto! Packaged securely and well someone is on cloud 9. It was mint - and so affordable. Thank you Amazon. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 5.0 out of 5 stars Great product, great look, great price., March 28, 2014 By te - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I purchased this as a gift for my son for Christmas. He has been through three Xbox 360's in the past several years--he is an avid gamer and often trades off his old one for some other "new toy" that grabs his fancy. I purchased this to replace the 3rd one he traded (for a guitar this last time). This one is a little different from the last one he had though. I think that it looks very similar to the Xbox One. It seems to do everything every other Xbox 360 does, just has a more modern outward appearance. I know that beyond gaming, he also uses this frequently (nightly) for watching Youtube shows. Honestly, with all of the apps and other features this has, it has everything you need and I am not sure why the Xbox One is all the rage now with this being offered at such a great price. Honestly, I find that even I use this more than our regular TV because it gets Netflix. Great product, great look, great price. There is just ONE issue, and it's the reason why I only gave 4 stars. There is a HUGE issue with the AC power supply that comes with this. We've never had this issue with our other 3 Xbox 360's. Often when my husband is playing COD, the Xbox will just shut off on him after 15 - 20 minutes of play. In order for it to turn back on, he has to unplug the power supply from the Xbox and wall, and then plug it back in after 5-10 minutes of rest time. Then it will usually work again for the rest of the evening/night. This usually happens at least once a day, often twice. It has become very annoying, so we'll be buying a new power supply soon. You may want to purchase an additional one if you haven't already! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it - perfect, March 27, 2014 By Jo Morris (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) My friends son loved it! He had a old white one so this was a big upgrade for him! He bought the hard drive to go with it Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars A great gaming system, March 24, 2014 By Nick R. (Oregon) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) As a Playstation 2 user, I was a bit hesitant to get an Xbox 360 when I went to upgrade to a newer gaming system, but when these were on sale for $99.99 I had to pick one up. I wanted to finally experience what gamers had experienced for years, and that's decent visuals on an HDTV. The graphics are nice, the sound is good, and I have grown very accustomed to the controller - moreso than I was expecting, and I'd go so far as to say I'd not mind one to use as a general PC controller/joystick. The controller eats through batteries, so it'd be a good idea to get a set of rechargeable AA batteries to go along with this system. With the 4GB system, the BIG flaw is the lack of internal storage space, though it is expandable to 250 GB with an open hard drive slot. 4GB barely allows you to save a few games, and if your games have any downloadable updates you're in trouble. I ended up with a couple USB drives with full game downloads on them, as I'd made a couple purchases through Xbox Live and couldn't store the games on the console! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Help me, March 20, 2014 By Victor Yeverino - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I bought this product I love it but when I play games it makes loud weird noises Bought it used I didn't drop it or anything!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, March 19, 2014 By ryan caronna - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) I had 2 broken xbox's and when I found one so cheap I expected it to be a piece of crap but it wasn't, it was legit Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Works great., March 18, 2014 By Delana Patnode - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) We try and stay one generation behind, and just picked up our first 360. We can buy tons of games for less then $5. A bit louder then our PS3 but love the interface. Works great. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Great, March 18, 2014 By Alysa G. Stringer (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) Great price. Fast delivery. Easy to set up. The controllers are a little confusing to me but it was a gift and the recipient loves it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Gift, March 18, 2014 By MARIA L MATOS - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) My son got this for Christmas, works great and he can do so much more than just play games and is small doesnt take a lot of space. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars excellent and outstanding deal, March 16, 2014 By M. TICE - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) with a small kit and a torx driver you can install your old hard drive from the first 360 into an enclosure, and pop (with your finger) the panel on the bottom side vented panel to install your old hard drive inside of the system using the enclosure. saved lots of money on this lightweight system. Thanks microsoft! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase, March 13, 2014 By autumnleaves "DT" (Upstate New York, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Xbox 360 4GB (Video Game) You made my child so happy!! Due to an excellent report card, I succombed and purchased this for my teenager. It arrived pronto! Packaged securely and well someone is on cloud 9. It was mint - and so affordable. Thanks amazon XboX 360 4GB Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you?

10 ways to show your community love!!

10 Ways to Show Your Community Love

In many ways, a healthy relationship between your brand and its community parallels that of a healthy relationship between two people. Both relationships rest on simple tenets like respect, and both should be celebrated whenever possible. When thinking about the connection you’ve built with your community and its members, remember these 10 truths of a healthy relationship to keep your community feeling loved and appreciated.

1.     Remember to say ‘Thank you’ – People generally enjoy saying or doing nice things for others and tend to do it without expecting to be thanked for it. However, we all know how great it makes us feel when we are recognized for our efforts. When your community says something nice about you, it’s always a wonderful idea to say ‘thank you’.

2.     Celebrate their successes – This is the age-old principle of thinking of others before yourself. If you do so, then you will probably notice the great things members of your community are accomplishing. Congratulate them and share their successes with others whenever you can.

3.     Be a good listener – This is probably some advice we all received at least once from a parent in our lives. Like Stephen R. Covey points out in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Great relationships are also built on the idea of give and then, perhaps, get. Invest in your community by listening and understanding their needs.

4.     Ask for their opinion – There probably isn’t a person alive who doesn’t like being asked for their opinion. Collaboration on a project almost always produces a better end result. Social media has given brands an amazingly simple and effective way to engage with those who have thoughts and ideas about them and their products and services. Remember to ask your community for its opinion.

5.     Don’t forget about the little things – Sometimes it is the smallest of gestures that can mean the most to someone. Focusing on the little things that matter can show a person that they are indeed worth your time. When approaching relationships from a long-term frame of mind, it is very possible to make the time along the way for those important details without getting overwhelmed by the idea. Look out for the little touches to help each community member.

6.     Be patient – In any relationship, making things work means working through the occasional misunderstanding or frustration with one another. Life is not supposed to be simple; if it were, it wouldn’t be all that exciting. It’s important that you take a step back and look at every challenge from the other’s point of view. Your patience and willingness to try to understand will be appreciated. Be known for your abundant patience and caring approach with your community.

7.     Admit your mistakes – Nobody is perfect, and holding onto your pride will never do you any favors. When you invest in building relationships within your community, members get to know your brand’s human side. You will make errors but, while members may be disappointed, your community generally has the ability and willingness to forgive. Be quick to admit your mistakes and be genuine in asking for forgiveness.

8.     Share a common passion – Brands and people are more than capable of setting up daily routines to get things accomplished based on things that need to be done. And while working side by side on something does create a bond, it’s usually not a bond that is sustainable over a very long period of time. Finding a common passion, something you both enjoy doing and talking about, creates the strongest bonds. If you are passionate about what you do, then no doubt there are others out there that feel the same way you do. Find them, invite them to your community, and enjoy learning and sharing together.

9.     Show respect and gain trust – The strongest relationships are built on mutual respect and trust. But getting to that point should ideally start with you. Be willing to respect the views of your community even though you may not entirely agree with them. Community members have reasons for their views and it is up to you to understand, or at least accept, them. And, when making commitments to your community, make sure you meet or exceed their expectations. Being willing to compromise, or give and take, will help your brand demonstrate respect and earn a community’s trust.

10.  Celebrate Valentine’s Day everyday – Giving your community a Valentine once a year is definitely a nice gesture, but finding ways to show them how much you love them on a regular basis should be what you strive for. Apply your creative energy to think of new ways to accomplish goals 1-9. Most companies are still just awakening to this idea of focusing on their community, so anything you do to show appreciation for your community now can help your brand stand out in the crowd. And, heck, who doesn’t enjoy making someone smile with an unexpected gift?

Although it’s not Valentine’s Day yet, we wanted to get you thinking about the holiday and how love and appreciation can be translated into your community work. How do you celebrate the relationship your brand has with its community?

And, because you’re part of our community, we wish you a very happy, if early, Valentine’s Day!

What is the best way to set-up an offshore business for my internet business?

“Why I Set Up an Offshore Company”

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After 8 years of operating his business under the red tape and tax burdens of a UK limited company, Paul C. set his sights on offshore incorporation. Could this be the right option for you? Find out as Paul gives his advice on the pros and cons of offshore incorporation.

International Man: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Paul C.: From a young age I've always been interested in technology and more specifically computers. I started out writing BASIC programs and following magazine articles. That was just the start for me. As I got older I began to see how popular computers were becoming in the mainstream with the average person and thought it was the perfect tool for a small business. So aged 15, while still in the final years of school - very early 1990s - a friend and I started a small business to sell free and shareware software. The idea was that you made money from the media and replication costs. At the time the online world was restricted to bulletin boards and Usenet which the average person didn't have access to due to the costs and technical ability required. The business we started wasn't overly successful, it was more fun and an experiment, but we both gained valuable experience from doing it.

Then came the advent of the Internet. My epiphany was at the age of 23 while at university in 1996 doing a BSc in Multimedia Technology: We had been tasked with doing research and having clicked on the Netscape icon on the computer desktop, I was amazed at how easy it was to find the information I needed, even back then.

This got me thinking that the Internet was really the way forward and I decided pretty much there and then that it's also where I wanted to be. Outside of my studies, I played around with Internet technologies and taught myself the different languages required to build websites and interact with them. It was all fairly basic back then as you only really needed to know HTML and a bit of Javascript to make images change when a user moved their mouse over a button.

Fast forward to 1999, I graduated from university and then along with two friends started a UK company building websites. This didn't go well to start with, as in '99 everybody was doing websites. We struggled and then had to go our separate ways and get jobs. I decided to keep the company going and use it in my spare time outside of my day job to try and build something. Rather than doing generic websites I focused on more complex projects that involved dedicated programming and database work. This went very well, and after two years in my day job I was able to quit and carry on full time with my own company. I worked under that UK limited company for the next 8 years, until in 2009 I decided that there had to be a more efficient way to run things. I was really getting fed up with all the red tape involved in running a company in the UK. So I started looking at different offshore solutions.

IM: How have you internationalized yourself?

PC: The main way that I have internationalised myself is to try and get as much of my dependence on UK institutions to a minimum. I don't really do stocks and shares as I find the markets take too much time to study properly to be successful. I decided to diversify into owning commodities such as gold and silver, which I have done since late 2008. I really don't like the idea of owning a specific currency and this includes the British Pound, which isn't far off the dire straights that the Euro and US Dollar find themselves in.

The only Sterling that I keep is enough to live off of and a little for emergencies, anything else is invested. There are a few currencies that I'm keeping an eye on that I might look to as a store of cash, but for now I'm happy with buying gold and silver on market pull-backs, silver is looking even more attractive at the moment after the recent drop. With regards to my company, I decided to wind up the UK limited company and go for an offshore equivalent.

IM: What prompted you to set up an offshore corporation to manage your UK finances?

PC: The main reason that I decided on an offshore corporation is due to the ease of managing it. The way I run my business, I don't have any employees. If I need work done then I'll always contract a supplier in. This means that my overheads are very low.

However, while running the business I also want to keep the red tape and administration to a minimum, and unfortunately living in the UK and having a UK limited company for me meant that I always seemed to be filling in forms and trying not to miss deadlines of when they had to be in. There had to be a better way. Also, as with anybody, I really didn't want to pay as much tax as I was. I think this is something that almost everybody would look at to begin with, but it's not always obvious how and where you can make the savings.

IM: Why did you set up an offshore corporation versus one based in the UK?

PC: As I've already mentioned, the main reason was to cut down on the red tape and administration. I'd much rather concentrate on running the business and generating income rather than sitting down filling in forms. I also have concerns about privacy issues. With a UK limited company, your accounts and details are listed at Companies House [the official UK government register of UK companies] and for a small fee the directors’ details can also be divulged to anybody that wants them. This to me is in some ways good and bad. On the one side you can check out the businesses that you might want to work with, on the other anybody that wants to can find out where you live. I'm big on privacy, and working in the industry I do I know full well how easy it is to use that information. With the jurisdiction that I chose for being offshore, the company register is totally private — details cannot be divulged unless it has to do with criminal proceedings, which suits me just fine.

IM: What are the biggest benefits you gain from this setup?

PC: The main benefits are, as I mentioned, the privacy aspect, plus VAT on intangible supplies. Any service that is provided by a VAT registered company in the UK (or to a greater extent the EU) can have the VAT zero-rated; as a service is not a tangible item, it is classed as “for export” so there is no VAT due. This is ideal for my company as the vast majority of overheads are services. For businesses that mainly deal with physical items that stay within the UK borders this isn't so viable as the VAT is still chargeable. So before using the VAT savings as a reason, you need to really think about what your business does now or what it might do in the future. Otherwise, you might have a trouble or two down the line.

Another great benefit is that I no longer have to have my accountants render accounts to be submitted to Companies House, which makes a saving on annual bills and also on the aforementioned red tape. Of course I still do have accounts drawn up: any business tracking their profit and loss would be silly not to. The accounts are for me to use to see how well things are going and to also work out the tax due on profits.

Finally a great advantage is the flexibility of being able to move at the drop of a hat. Right now I am tied to the UK due to family and some other circumstances. However if I decided to move away from the UK, having the offshore company means I can continue trading without altering anything apart from a mail forwarding address. With a UK company it would become a lot more complex.

IM: Are there any pitfalls our readers should be aware of?

PC: I think the main pitfall of an offshore company is the tax on profits aspect. A lot of people instantly think by having an offshore company they won't be taxed or they can hide their profit. This is not the case. While you can choose not to tell HMRC that your company exists (and if you never bring money into the UK this will probably work), but based on UK tax law you could well get into trouble. I did consider this but for me it doesn't work. I'd much rather be working on my business rather than fighting court cases, of which there have been many. I read the HMRC tax manuals and legislation extensively and came to the conclusion that the best thing to do was go by the book. Based on the UK tax rules for companies, if a company has its "mind and management" in the UK, then the company is classed as also being resident in the UK for corporation tax. This means if you live in the UK and make business decisions here you had better be ready for court if you don't register the company.

What this means for me is that I have to fill in one form each year—the CT600 Corporation Tax return. This is a snap as I have all the details from my books which are drawn up by my accountants. If you manage things correctly you can offset costs against this tax bill. By offsetting the cost of the offshore company itself, the costs of accountants and anything else the business pays out for, the corporation tax bill can be reduced quite significantly. These are costs you would have to pay out on anyway so why not use them to reduce your tax footprint and all within the tax law. Of course you should always speak to a qualified accountant and do your own research.

A second pitfall is that of dishonest companies that advertise their services for setting up offshore companies. Some will make all sorts of claims about evading tax and saving thousands, but when push comes to shove you will be the one in hot water, not them. They will have made a nice amount from the incorporation of the company already. So before doing anything, make sure you are dealing with a reputable company.

Also keep in mind the offshore jurisdictions’ own tax laws. Most offshore centres will not tax a company if it doesn't trade locally, so you only have to deal with tax in the UK. However, if you have chosen a jurisdiction that does tax you, make sure this country has a double taxation treaty with the UK — this will stop you from being taxed twice on any profit as the UK will take into account that your company has been taxed once already.

IM: Can you take us through the process of setting up your overseas corporation?

PC: The main thing to look out for is the formations company that will actually incorporate your company. If you are careful and do your research you'll end up being very happy. The company that you deal with is important, as you will have a long lasting relationship with them. Not only will they incorporate the company, but they will also deal with any local administration and, if you wish, deal with mail forwarding services (and in some circumstances run a virtual office for you that answers calls etc.) So research this company very well as it's the linchpin of the whole process.

You can pay extra for nominee directors and shareholders, but in my opinion this isn't worth it. If you are going to try and play the game with the tax authorities then they will see through this instantly. A nominee director cannot perform any company duties and any decisions will ultimately be traced back to you. Remember that if you pick the company jurisdiction carefully the company register will be private anyway.

Once you have the company incorporated all that remains is to register it with HMRC, which is as simple as filling in a single form. Then it's just a case of getting a bank account. Again a lot of offshore incorporation services will charge you for a "bank introduction", but this is not a service you should take up. Almost any bank anywhere will be willing to open an account for you should you fit their criteria as a customer. I have one offshore account for the company, plus an onshore one for easy access. As long as you are willing to pick up the phone then you can have an account in any country. Just go for the accounts that will give you the best deal, and best access. In the age of Internet banking this could be anywhere in the world. At the end of the day banks want customers wherever they are.

IM: How would you recommend interested UK readers get started?

PC: First and foremost, I think the best thing to do is decide if an offshore company is for you… it is definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach. If you deal mainly with physical products that stay within UK borders, then it's probably not what you want. If you export or if you deal with intangible services then it might fit the bill.

Once you decide an offshore company is for you, start researching a formations company to use. Ask around in some online forums as there are plenty of people out there that have had good and bad experiences and who are more than willing to give pointers. A point of massive importance is the actual jurisdiction that you decide to incorporate within — all have their own rules and nuances, so read about them carefully and find the one that best suits what you want to do.

Ultimately the company I decided to deal with was OCH Ltd. (www.offshore-companies.co.uk). Their website isn't the best in the world but when you speak to them they know what they are talking about. They are very quick to respond via email too, and even when I've queried things and had a problem they have sorted it out without issue.

Initially, I signed up for the service to form the company with a sole director and shareholder. I also went for the bank introduction, but after reading some more I asked them to remove that (which they did no problem and refunded the fee). I decided to sort the banking out myself and have saved on that.

Since the initial incorporation, I have also added mail forwarding so I can use the offshore address in any official company correspondence. On average, they send a packet with mail once a month. For more important mail I maintain a UK PO Box address. However, it doesn't have to be a PO Box, it could be a normal street address. I'm just paranoid about giving out to much info easily.

The two locations I looked at closely were the Seychelles and the Commonwealth of Dominica. In the end I chose the second due to their increased privacy laws on the company register.

Other companies that I also contacted and held a dialogue with include:

• Jordans International: They offer an almost complete service, but, as you can imagine, the annual costs increase. I personally use my own accountant who I've briefed on what's required. But if somebody needs the complete package they might be a good place to start. They also use the UK as an offshore location for those in other countries as the UK can be quite appealing if you're not based here as a resident.

• ISLA Associates Ltd.: They have good information on their website, and when I contacted them they were helpful and didn't try and con me into hiding finances offshore. They pointed out the issue of residency and didn't make any fraudulent claims. So had I not gone with OCH, then these were second on my list. If you have the cash, they can also arrange second citizenship.

Those were the main companies I spoke to. There were others, but nothing much more than the odd one line email, so nothing much to write home about. That said, I would still recommend independent research. It’s important to back up any claims made with your own footwork and if required legal advice. At the end of the day it's not them who gets hung out to dry should you take action on bad advice.

Research banks and which ones will give you the best deal. It's all pretty much the same as you would do if you were solely UK based. Always question the process and the product to make sure whatever it is is 100% correct for you and your business.

Read through the online tax manuals at www.hmrc.gov.uk. There is a lot of useful information in there that will stop you making a mistake, and also if followed correctly save you money.

All in all, forming an offshore company was the best decision I've made in a long time. It's freed me from a lot of administration which has lifted a big weight from my shoulders, I know that I can take it with me anywhere in the world and continue working without a hitch. I'd love to see the UK authorities make it easier for UK businesses, but I don't see that happening any time soon. There have been moves to simplify tax in the UK and make it fairer, but while some things have changed, for me they haven't changed enough. Far too many rules and regulations.

How do I utilize aggressive tax strategies in my small business?

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At last, Oklahoma’s most successful CPA
and tax advisors to small business owners reveals their little known tax reduction strategies.

“HOW TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE
YOUR TAXES BY AS MUCH AS 62%
THIS YEAR ALONE AND PUT
THOUSANDS BACK IN YOUR POCKET”

You Can See Everything For FREE…
Just Read On!

Dear Fellow Business Owner,

Here’s what this is all about. Our names are Danny Mueller and Samantha Plank . We have observed for the last 20 years, that every year, without exception, small business owners like you overpay taxes.  But believe it or not, some small business owners pay a whole lot less in taxes than others…even on the very same income.  Why?  Because all accountants, CPA’s, and tax preparers are NOT the same.  Most accountants and CPA’s are so overworked, understaffed and generally overwhelmed during tax season that they’re fighting against the clock every year, just to get all their clients’ returns prepared…let alone spend the extra time needed to really dig out hidden opportunities and loopholes that are critical to help their clients pay less in taxes.

Most accountants take a reactive approach when small business owners on saving money on their taxes.  And, it’s that reactive approach that can cause you to overpay…sometimes significantly on your taxes…sometimes for years.  I mean, how would you ever know?  Really.  Most small business owners are just happy to get their taxes done on time and, hopefully, accurately enough that red flags aren’t sent up for the IRS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE’VE DISCOVERED?

When small business owners come to us, we re-examine their past three years of tax returns, and more often than not, we find lots of mistakes, missed deductions, overpayments and “red flags” that attract audits, all made by ordinary accountants who do not intimately and completely understand YOUR business.  At the end of the day, that means money out of your pocket.  Money you could put away for your children’s education…money you could use to take fun or leisure trips with your family…money you could put away for your financial nest egg so you can retire sooner…money you could use for a new house…a new car…hobbies that you enjoy…money that gives you that financial security and lifestyle you deserve. You work hard. Government shouldn’t be paid a single penny more than what it is legally entitled to.

OUR FREE REPORT REVEALS IT ALL

Finally, our free report titled “How To Drastically Reduce My Taxes By As Much As 62% This Year And Put Thousands Back In Your Pocket” reveals the incredible tax saving opportunities that ALL businesses can easily and quickly put into action in their businesses. Every strategy that is explained in this free report will reduce your taxes honestly, legitimately, and with the full approval and blessings of the IRS.

Yes Danny & Samantha, I want to learn

“HOW TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE YOUR TAXES BY AS MUCH AS 62% THIS YEAR AND PUT THOUSANDS BACK IN YOUR POCKET!”

Send Me a Copy Of Your FREE Report!

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Danny Mueller & Samantha Plank
CPA Plus+
1708 S. Broadway
Edmond OK 73013
Telephone: (405) 285-7701

E-mail: info@mycpateam.com