Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC)

A legislative concept used for anti tax avoidance legislation in high tax jurisdictions. An offshore company, which, because of ownership or control lies within the high tax jurisdiction, will be deemed to be resident in the high tax jurisdiction. I.e. in the U.S. such an offshore entity may be treated by the IRS as a U.S. tax reporting entity. IRC 951 and 957 collectively define the CFC as one in which a U.S. person owns 10 percent or more of a foreign corporation or in which 50 percent- or more of the total voting stock is owned by U.S. shareholders collectively or 10 percent or more of the voting control is owned by U.S. persons.

Tags: legislative concept because ownership jurisdiction tax offshore