Tax Day Escape to the Caymans
April 15, 2009 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Outdoor Activities, Things to See & Do, beaches
Tax day is here, and this always makes me think of those scofflaws who hide all sorts of money and assets in the Cayman Islands. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching too many movies, but some year on Tax Day I want to be in the Caymans.
The Cayman Islands consist of three British Crown islands (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman) in the Caribbean Sea. Grand Cayman is the more populated of the three islands, and is a popular stop for cruise ships. Besides hiding assets, the Caymans are a popular spots for beach lovers, divers, and …read more
Back to Basics: Sales Tax, GST, and VAT
July 30, 2008 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Back to Basics, Shopping, Travel Tips
When we travel we often forget that things are not always as they are back “home.” Here’s one difference that international visitors may find when they visit the United States:
Unlike many countries, the United States has no national sales tax that is comparable to the GST (goods and services tax) or the VAT (value added tax) that is found in many other countries. Instead, each state, county and/or municipality sets their own tax rate.
This means that what you pay in tax in one location may be different from what you’d pay in another location.
Additionally, in some locations certain goods …read more





