Tax havens have been coerced into signing up to automatic information exchanges and are building company ownership registers that can be accessed by overseas authorities.

Interlinking country registries would provide, for the first time, international real-time access to tax and law enforcement agencies on company ownership.

However, investors moving a property already in their possession to company ownership will incur legal costs, stamp duty and administration fees, and could be double-taxed on capital gains.

To prevent this levy, a company ownership structure should be avoided.

It has a long-established register of company ownership, has implemented internationally-agreed tax standards and signed up to the latest insurance regulations.