The Financial Market Regulation and Development Agency updated the list of offshore zones by a resolution dated March 29, 2024. The document explained that Liechtenstein was removed from the "grey list of tax havens" by the OECD in 2009 due to its commitment to implementing OECD standards regarding transparency and effective information exchange, and establishing a corresponding implementation schedule.
In line with the fourth EU directive, including Liechtenstein, a ban was imposed on financial organizations from opening anonymous accounts, along with the requirement to conduct appropriate checks on the owners and beneficial owners of such accounts. Liechtenstein was subsequently excluded from the list of offshore zones.
Regarding Delaware, it was clarified that as of January 1, 2024, the US Corporate Transparency Act came into effect, requiring companies to disclose information about their beneficial owners and any annual changes in ownership to the US Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Delaware was also excluded from the list considering the adopted standards and measures to combat money laundering risks.
The updated list of offshore zones now includes:
- United States of America (specific territories only)
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Brunei Darussalam
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Vanuatu
- Guatemala
- Grenada
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- New Zealand (specific territories only)
- Spain (specific territories only)
- Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros
- Guyana
- Costa Rica
- People's Republic of China (specific territories only)
- Liberia
- Lebanese Republic
- Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- Malaysia (specific territories only)
- Republic of Maldives
- Malta
- Mariana Islands
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Kingdom of Morocco (specific territories only)
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Netherlands (specific territories only)
- Palau
- Panama
- Portugal (specific territories only)
- Independent State of Samoa
- Republic of Seychelles
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Suriname
- Kingdom of Tonga
- Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (specific territories only)
- Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji
- Republic of the Philippines
- French Republic (specific territories only)
- Montenegro
- Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
- Jamaica
The resolution will come into effect on April 15, 2024.
