Offshore investment is the keeping of money in a jurisdiction other than one's country of residence. Investors may choose offshore investment to conceal or protect illegally acquired money from law enforcement in the investor's country; or take advantage of higher rates of return or lower rates of tax on that return than offered by the investor's country. Places favoured by investors for low rates of tax are known as offshore financial centers or (sometimes) tax havens. So why might an 'offshore' investment be superior to an onshore investment?