Offshore Company Incorporation - a ‘How To’ Guide

The general benefits associated with establishing a company offshore are manifold and can include everything from taxation reduction, mitigation or even negation, ease of cross border trading, personal privacy protection and asset protection - to acting as an investment conduit and protecting intellectual and physical property rights for example.

Of course, the benefits applicable depend on the type of company incorporated and the jurisdiction in which it is established and also on the required benefits of the company owner/s – so here’s the ShelterOffshore guide to offshore company incorporation in case you are considering the utilisation of such a structure for your own personal requirements.

The first thing you need to do is determine in which jurisdiction your company will be best incorporated.  All tax havens in the world have very different rules relating to everything from reporting and taxation to the use of nominee directors and also the cost associated with setting a company up there.

Some of the most popular locations with those seeking to incorporate an offshore company or IBC (international business company) such as Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Panama and the Seychelles are the most flexible.  They are tax free locations when the company type in question is established correctly, they have reduced reporting requirements, you can have a broad choice of company name and engage in a broad range of legal activities without restriction through the company - and what’s more, the jurisdictions are often deemed highly appropriate for those seeking maximum confidentiality as they allow for nominee services.

If you’re unsure about which location would best suit your personal requirements – or if indeed you’re unsure about whether an offshore company is the right structure to meet your needs, why not get in touch, tell us what you’re seeking to achieve and allow us to put you in touch with the experts who can advise you.

Having determined the type of structure and the location you now need to physically incorporate the company.  There are many service providers who will act as a conduit for you to buy a company off the shelf through but only a few actually offer you comprehensive and expert advice so you need to tread carefully.  Whoever you select will require limited information from you – along the lines of a few company names so that they can get the best match still available, the jurisdiction you prefer and the package you require – e.g., whether you want to use nominee services, whether you want accountancy services on top etc., etc…and then they will require payment which can be in the form of a credit card payment.  All of this can be done online, and in the case of some jurisdictions it can be done within 24 hours.

So, as you can see offshore company incorporation is far from difficult!  You just need to ensure you are correctly structuring the most applicable company type to meet your personal requirements, and that the jurisdiction you favour is most suited to your needs.  If in doubt…just ask us!