Thanks Christian.
Your last answer helps a lot!
It seems that everyone except me in this thread is American. What about a foreigner who wants to start a corporation to do business in America? Wouldn't it be wiser to use a foreign parent / holding company that owns the American C-corp?
I'm considering combining private express trusts with offshore corporations. I need to deal with American clients who transact only with ACH/ABA funds transfers. So, without citizenship or residency, I need a local/onshore corporation to open an American bank account. As I receive client payments, I repatriate the funds home or offshore.
Sure, it increases complexity, but it also adds a layer of protection.