Perpetual traveler

Advertising for second passports and information about becoming a "Perpetual Traveller". Scope, The Times, 1994.

The term perpetual traveler (also PT, permanent tourist or prior taxpayer) refers to the idea that by basing different aspects of one's life in different countries and not spending too long in any one place, a person can reduce taxes, avoid civic duties, and increase personal freedom. Books and services relating to the PT idea have been a staple of companies that specialise in marketing offshore financial services, tax avoidance schemes and personal privacy services.

Principles

The perpetual traveler idea proposes that individuals live in such a way that they are not considered a legal resident of any of the countries in which they spend time or operate. By lacking a legal permanent residence status, the theory goes, they may avoid the legal obligations which accompany residency, such as income and asset taxes, social security contributions, jury duty, and military service. It has been described as a "late capitalist nomadism".[1]

Flag theory

The perpetual traveler idea has been presented in terms of flag theory where each flag represents one of the legal jurisdictions under which the perpetual traveller operates. The Three Flags Theory is credited to investment pundit Harry D. Schultz who proposed that everyone should have a second passport, an address in a tax haven and that their assets should be kept outside their home country. The idea was later expanded to Five Flags to include a place where money was earned and a place for recreation.

Whether to minimize governmental interference (via taxes or otherwise), or to maximize privacy, the theory proposes that each of the following should be in a separate country:

  1. Passport and citizenship - in a country that does not tax money earned outside the country or control actions.
  2. Legal residence - in a tax haven.
  3. Business base - where you earn your money, ideally somewhere with low corporate tax rates.
  4. Asset haven - where you keep your money, ideally somewhere with low taxation of savings income and capital gains.
  5. Playgrounds - where you spend your money, ideally somewhere with low consumption tax and VAT.

In 1995, financial commentator Bob Beckman commented of his residence in Monaco, "A long time ago, I was told that the most efficient way for an individual to handle his affairs was to work one place, keep his money in a second place and live in a third place. I live in Monaco. I don't work here, my money is placed elsewhere, but managed from here."[2]

Scope International and W.G. Hill

Harry Schultz's ideas were picked up by Scope International Limited[3] of Waterlooville,[4] England (not related to Scope International owned by Standard Chartered Bank), who popularized the idea through a series of books they published under the name of W.G. Hill (William G. Hill) (possibly a pseudonym) in the 1980s and 90s which were sold through classified advertising in The Times.[5] Around 1989, they published PT: A coherent plan for a stress-free, healthy and prosperous life without government interference, taxes or coercion by Hill which was said to have been "inspired and edited by Harry Donald Schultz"[6] and went through up to seven editions. In 1993, they published PT2: The practice: freedom and privacy tactics: A reference handbook by Hill[7] which also went through several editions. Other books published by Scope and said to have been written by Hill include Banking in silence, The Monaco report and Think like a tycoon.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Cyberspatial Sovereignties: Offshore Finance, Digital Cash, and the Limits of Liberalism", Bill Maurer, Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Spring 1998), pp. 493-519.
  2. ↑ Robert C. Beckman An American in Monaco. Monaco Actualité. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. ↑ No. 01482077. Incorporated as Scope-books Limited 28 February 1980. Now dissolved.
  4. ↑ Cassell and the Publishers Association directory of publishing 1994: UK, Commonwealth and overseas. 19th edition. Continuum International Publishing, 1993. p. 138. ISBN 0304328200
  5. ↑ Classified advertising. The Times, 3 May 1991, p. 34.
  6. ↑ British Library. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. ↑ Worldcat. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
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