Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil peacefully gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America’s leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.
Tuesday, February 09th, 2010 / admin
Belize City – The Largest City in Belize
By Michael F. Gibbons
Belize City is the largest city in the small country of Belize, an industrial port, and a mainstay on the cruise ship circuit. With a population of around 70,000, its considered more of a small-big city, more of a place where people go to relax than it is a place for a lot of excitement.
Belize City’s biggest attractions are its island beaches. It doesn’t take long to get to any of them, and its most popular beach is called San Pedro Town, which has also become a major tourist attraction of its own. Other beaches in the area include Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia Peninsula. One of the resorts right outside of Belize City, Seas Guesthouse, has its own quality beach, which is called Cucumber Beach.
There are a couple of museums in Belize City, the Museum of Belize, which is known for its extensive collection of Mayan artifacts within what used to be a colonial prison, and the Marine and Coastal Zone Museums. There a commercial district with lots of small shops and restaurants as well.
There are also a few attractions which visitors might find interesting. One of those things is the only manual swing bridge in the world, which spans the area between Haulover Creek and the Belize River, and is only activated twice a day, once at 5:30 PM, which is when tourists will gather to see how it operates. Another attraction is the Fore George Lighthouse, built on top of a French fort in the 18th century. Near the lighthouse you’ll still see cannons that were set up, but never had to be used.
Belize City is a comfortable place in a small country with outlets to many relaxing islands and it will offer some peace and tranquility whether you’re stopping by on a short visit via a cruise or looking to stay for a few days.
Belize has it all, especially if you’re looking for a great beach vacation destination. There are island beaches, museums, rivers, creeks and manual swing bridge, restaurants and so much more. If you’re looking for a sweet destination to relax and enjoy life, Belize is certainly an option.
To locate cheap hotels in Belize, including cheap vacation packages and discount beach hotels, visit the leader in travel, DiscountHotels.com.
Article Source: Belize City – The Largest City in Belize
Category: Belize, Destinations, Life of Your Dreams
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Monday, February 08th, 2010 / admin
An Ideal Retreat – Right in your Backyard
Belize is a beautiful country, lush and green, caressed by the most satisfying sea waters and the blue skies. It is ideally located and close and comfortably reachable; just a couple of hour flight from Miami, Houston or New Orleans. No wonder, it becomes an ideal retreat for vacationing tourists.
Situated on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, Belize has a presence of hundreds of islets and islands. These are locally known as Cayes (pronounced ‘keys’), and which give birth to the lagoons, fish, and coral life that are abundantly available here.
Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America. Mexico bordering to the north and Guatemala to the west and south, Belize is aloof, and comfortably cocooned. However this proximity has enabled Belize to progress, both commercially and development-wise. What’s more, if you are a citizen of the United States, Canada, or a European Union member country, you would not require any visa for entering Belize. The newly expanded Belize City International Airport is expecting you with a warm heart.
Belize – Where Nature Surrounds
The land has wonderful flora and fauna cover, while the sea is rich with corals and many varieties of fish. Belize is eco-conscious, and has made use of all the resources available for practicing sustainable development plans. On Long Caye at Lighthouse Reef, for example the government has approved the use of the developer’s Eco-guidelines for the residents and guests. Housing will have electricity generated by solar power, purified fresh drinking water obtained by reverse osmosis converting sea-water or by harvesting rainwater and storing it in a cistern; while trash is segregated into compostable and recyclable materials. The spurt of growth and activity in the Belize Real Estate segment has prompted the government to take up environmental conservation as a topmost priority.
Foreign Ownership
Foreign ownership is welcome in Belize. The Department of Natural Resources charges a certain percentage per transaction. The stamp tax for Belizeans and non-Belizeans alike is five percent of the sale transaction cost.
Tax Structure
When a real estate is sold it is usually the purchaser who pays for the land transfer tax. Property taxes are around 1% of the value of the land and collected by the Department of Natural Resources on the 1st of April every year.
Tax Holidays
The Government of Belize has provided these incentives to encourage local and foreign business. Under the Fiscal Incentives Act of 1990, tax holidays can be up to 25 years depending upon the nature of the business, and how much of it is locally owned.
Community Living
Belize is promoting community living in the country. This gives ideal infrastructure and facilities for smaller developments. To realize this concept Eco Holdings Limited is offering properties on Long Caye at Lighthouse Reef, which allows for ownership of an eco-friendly house, here in Belize on ones of its most beautiful islands. Community living makes properties affordable to suit all kinds of pockets.
Surprise Yourself
Get set, pack your bags and lock the doors. You don’t have to believe me, or what I say. See for yourself, be here. Nature in Belize has all the colors of the world, if not more. It was never so simple to enjoy paradise. You just have to hop on the next flight. Belize is magical, out of this world, and yet so close.
Sure, you would like to own a piece of this pie. A home, to all those who love nature. Give yourself a wonderful surprise.
Belize – Yours forever!
The soul of Belize is like a rainbow; colorful, soft and serene. People are friendly, like the nature that surrounds. An English speaking British Commonwealth country, Belize could well turn out to be a romance.
Simple, beautiful and bountiful, Belize is just next door, so you can call upon whenever you like.
Come, Belize your soul.
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Dr. Ravikant Bharati is not a quintessential writer – rather he is a back-packer who lives off his ultra-light folding bike. He lives (or tries to live) in the state of New York. He recently caught up with Larry Schneider of Eco Holdings Limited in relation to the eco-friendly tourism & real estate in Belize. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Ravikant_Bharati |
Category: Life of Your Dreams
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Wednesday, February 03rd, 2010 / admin
http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/01/pf/taxes/obama_budget_tax_changes/index.htm?hpt=T2
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — President Obama, in his proposed 2011 budget, is calling on Congress to make a number of tax changes for individuals.
Some ideas are new. Many others were made last year, but not enacted by Congress. So the estimates of the revenue that may be raised by his proposals may be overly optimistic.
Category: Taxation
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Tuesday, February 02nd, 2010 / admin
Live the life you have always dreamed of living. We can show you how. Offshore living can be a wonderful adventure when approached with the right attitude and armed with knowledge of the processes and places.
Our website is designed to help make this process easy for you. We have gathered information from around the world and placed it all on this site for you to explore.
Our primary mission is to: Help you understand the complex realm of offshore finances and achieve financial freedom.
Category: Life of Your Dreams
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Monday, January 04th, 2010 / admin
Open CRS has released a new Congressional Research Service report, Tax Havens: International Tax Avoidance and Evasion (R40623) (July 9, 2009). Here is the summary:
The federal government loses both individual and corporate income tax revenue from the shifting of profits and income into low-tax countries, often referred to as tax havens. The revenue losses from this tax avoidance and evasion are difficult to estimate, but some have suggested that the annual cost of offshore tax abuses may be around $100 billion per year. International tax avoidance can arise from large multinational corporations who shift profits into low-tax foreign subsidiaries or wealthy individual investors who set up secret bank accounts in tax haven countries. Recent actions by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the G-20 industrialized nations have targeted tax haven countries, focusing primarily on evasion issues. There are also a number of legislative proposals that address these issues including the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act (S. 506, H.R. 1265); draft proposals by the Senate Finance Committee; two other related bills, S. 386 and S. 569; and a proposal by President Obama. Multinational firms can artificially shift profits from high-tax to low-tax jurisdictions using a variety of techniques, such as shifting debt to high-tax jurisdictions. Since tax on the income of foreign subsidiaries (except for certain passive income) is deferred until repatriated, this income can avoid current U.S. taxes and perhaps do so indefinitely. The taxation of passive income (called Subpart F income) has been reduced, perhaps significantly, through the use of hybrid entities that are treated differently in different jurisdictions. The use of hybrid entities was greatly expanding by a new regulation (termed check-the-box) introduced in the late 1990s that had unintended consequences for foreign firms. In addition, earnings from income that is taxed can often be shielded by foreign tax credits on other income. On average very little tax is paid on the foreign source income of U.S. firms. Ample evidence of a significant amount of profit shifting exists, but the revenue cost estimates vary from about $10 billion to $60 billion per year. Individuals can evade taxes on passive income, such as interest, dividends, and capital gains, by not reporting income earned abroad. In addition, since interest paid to foreign recipients is not taxed, individuals can also evade taxes on U.S. source income by setting up shell corporations and trusts in foreign haven countries to channel funds. There is no general third party reporting of income as is the case for ordinary passive income earned domestically; the IRS relies on qualified intermediaries (QIs)who certify nationality without revealing the beneficial owners. Estimates of the cost of individual evasion have ranged from $40 billion to $70 billion. Most provisions to address profit shifting by multinational firms would involve changing the tax law: repealing or limiting deferral, limiting the ability of the foreign tax credit to offset income, addressing check-the-box, or even formula apportionment. President Obamas proposals include a proposal to disallow overall deductions and foreign tax credits for deferred income and restrictions on the use of hybrid entities. Provisions to address individual evasion include increased information reporting, and provisions to increase enforcement, such as shifting the burden of proof to the taxpayer, increased penalties, and increased resources. Individual tax evasion is the main target of the proposed Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act and the Senate Finance Committee proposals; some revisions are also included in President Obamas plan.
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Category: Taxation
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