| Jurisdiction |
Type of entity |
Type of law |
Shelf company availability |
Our time to establish a new company |
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation) |
Taxation on foreign income |
Double taxation treaty access |
Standard currency of share capital |
Other permitted currencies of capital |
Minimum paid up share capital |
Usual authorised share capital |
Minimum number of directors / managers |
Local directors / managers required |
Publicly accessible record of directors / managers |
Location of directors / managers meetings |
Minimum number of members |
Publicly accessible record of members |
Location of members meetings |
Company secretary required |
Local or qualified company secretary required |
Requirement to prepare accounts |
Requirement for audited accounts |
Requirement to file accounts |
Publicly accessible accounts |
Requirement to file annual return |
Change in domicile permitted |
International Business Companies
|
| Anguilla |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
1 hour |
US$ 200 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Optional |
No |
Yes |
No |
No, but submission of a one page form necessary |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Belize |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
2 days |
US$ 100 / US$ 350, if non par value |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| British Virgin Islands |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
2 days |
US$ 300 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
Optional |
Anywhere |
Optional |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Seychelles |
IBC |
Hybrid |
Yes |
2 days |
US$ 100 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 5.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Popular Types of Companies
|
| Isle of Man |
International LLC |
Common |
Yes |
1 day |
£ 430 |
Fiscally transparent |
No |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Normally 1 manager |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Yes |
No |
No, but must be available for inspection in the Isle of Man |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Isle of Man |
Limited Exempt |
Common |
Yes |
1 day |
£ 430 |
Nil |
No |
GBP |
Any |
£ 1 |
£ 2.000 |
2 |
Yes - one |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Local |
Yes |
No |
No, but must be available for inspection in the Isle of Man |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Isle of Man |
Limited Resident |
Common |
Yes |
1 day |
Not applicable |
Normally 10% |
Only UK |
GBP |
Any |
£ 1 |
£ 2.000 |
2 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Local |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Hong Kong |
Private limited |
Common |
Yes |
10 days |
US$ 350 |
Nil on Foreign Profits |
China - Corporate and Personal Income Tax.
Other countries - for shipping and aviation. |
HK$ |
Any |
HK$ 2 |
HK$ 1.000 |
2 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Local |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Mauritius |
GBCI |
Hybrid |
No |
4 weeks |
US$ 1.500 to FSC US$ 200 to ROC |
Varies from 3% to 15% |
Yes |
US$ |
Any except Rs. |
US$ 1 |
US$ 1.000.000 |
1 |
Yes, but 2 required for tax treaty access |
No |
Anywhere, but in Mauritius for treaty access |
1 |
No |
Mauritius - by proxy |
Yes |
Local and qualified |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Mauritius |
GBCII |
Hybrid |
Yes |
3 days |
US$ 135 to FSC US$ 65 to ROC |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any except Rs. |
US$ 1 |
US$ 100.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Optional |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| United Kingdom |
LLP |
Common |
Yes |
1-8 days |
Not applicable |
Fiscally transparent |
Fiscally Transparent |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
2 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| United Kingdom |
Private Limited |
Common |
Yes |
1-8 days |
Not applicable |
19% to 30% |
Yes |
GBP |
Any |
£ 1 |
£ 1.000 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| United Kingdom |
Public Limited |
Common |
Yes |
1-8 days |
Not applicable |
19% to 30% |
Yes |
GBP |
Any |
£ 12.500 |
£ 50.000 |
2 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Luxembourg |
1929 Holding |
Civil |
No |
2 days |
0.2% of capital |
Nil |
Varies |
Euro |
Any |
Euro 31.000 |
Euro 31.000 |
3 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Luxembourg |
1990 SOPARFI Holding |
Civil |
No |
2 days |
Not applicable |
Normal rates |
Yes |
Euro |
Any |
Euro 31.000 |
Euro 31.000 |
3 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Singapore |
Resident/Non Resident |
Common |
Yes |
8 days |
Not applicable |
Varies |
Yes |
SGD$ |
Any |
S$ 2 |
S$ 100.000 |
2 |
Yes - one |
Yes |
Anywhere |
One (Corporation) or Two (Individual) |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
US LLC's, with no US Tax Residents as owners, no US presence
and undertaking no business in the US
|
| Delaware, Wyoming, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, Washington
DC and Arkansas. |
LLC |
Common |
Yes |
2 days |
Varies |
Fiscally transparent |
Normally No |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
1 |
No |
On formation |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Within USA only |
Other Types of Company
|
| Bahamas |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
7 days |
US$ 350 for non par value shares
|
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 2 |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 subscribers, later 1
|
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Bermuda
|
Exempt |
Common |
No |
3 weeks |
US$1.780 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 12.000 |
2 |
Yes, 1 |
No |
Bermuda |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cayman Islands |
Exempt |
Common |
Yes |
2 days |
US$ 470 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$1 |
US$ 42.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cook Islands |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
1 week |
US$ 500 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
Nil |
US$ 5.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No- bycorporate resolution |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Costa Rica |
SA / SL |
Civil |
Yes |
4 weeks |
US$ 30 |
Nil |
No |
CRø
|
Any |
US$ 22 |
CRø
10.000 |
3 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
2 for icorporation, no later1 |
No |
Anywhere, places must be fixed |
No |
local agent required, must be lawyer in Costa Rica
|
No |
Internal auditor required
|
No - unless local income is generated
|
No |
No |
Yes |
| Cyprus |
IBC |
Common |
Yes |
5 days |
Not applicable |
10% |
Yes |
Cyprus Pound |
Any |
CYP 5,000 |
CYP 5.000 |
1 |
No, but advisable for purposes of tax residency |
Yes |
Anywhere, but Cyprus advisable for purposes of tax residency |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No, but Cyprus advisable for residency and compliance |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Delaware |
C Corporation |
Common |
Yes |
2 days |
Varies |
Yes |
Yes |
US$ |
Any |
US$1 |
Varies |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Not applicable |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Within USA only |
| Gibraltar |
Exempt |
Common |
Yes |
5 days |
£ 225 |
No |
No |
GBP |
Any |
£100 |
£ 2.000 |
1 |
No - if local secretary |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Hungary
|
HUF |
Civil |
No |
6-8 weeks |
US$ 3
|
3 - 18% |
Yes |
HUF |
Any |
US$ 5,500 |
US$ 11.000 |
1 |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
No
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes
|
No |
Yes |
No |
Hungary
|
RT |
Civil |
No |
6-8 weeks |
US$ 3 |
3 - 18% |
Yes |
HUF |
Any |
US$36,500
|
US$ 73.000 |
3 |
Yes - two |
Yes
|
Anywhere |
3 |
Optional
|
Anywhere |
No
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes
|
No |
Yes |
No |
Ireland
|
RPL |
Common |
No |
2 weeks |
None |
12.5% |
Yes |
EURO
|
Any |
Euro 1 |
Varies |
2 |
Yes - one |
Yes
|
Anywhere |
|
Yes |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Jersey |
Exempt |
Common |
No |
8 days |
£ 600 |
Nil |
No |
GBP |
Any |
£ 1 |
£ 10.000 |
Normally 2 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
2 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Labuan |
Offshore - Non Trading |
Common |
No |
8 days |
RM 2.600 |
Nil |
Yes |
US$ |
Any except RM |
US$ 1 |
US$ 10.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Local |
Yes |
Normally yes |
Normally yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Labuan |
Offshore - Trading |
Common |
No |
8 days |
RM 2.600 |
3% or RM 20,000 |
Yes |
US$ |
Any except RM |
US$ 1 |
US$ 10.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Local |
Yes |
Normally yes |
Normally yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Liechtenstein
|
Anstalt |
Civil |
No |
1 week |
SFr 1.000 |
Nil |
Yes, Austria only |
SFr |
Any |
SFr 30.000 |
SFr 30.000 |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 holder of founder's rights |
No |
n. a. |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No, just assets and liabilities |
No |
No |
Yes |
Liechtenstein
|
AG |
Civil |
No |
1 week |
SFr 1.000 |
Nil |
Yes, Austria only |
SFr |
Any |
SFr 50.000 |
SFr 50.000 |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Madeira |
Limitada |
Civil |
Yes |
60 days |
US$ 1.000 |
Varies |
Yes |
Euro |
None |
Euro 5.000 |
Euro 5.000 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Normally 2 (1 is possible) |
Yes |
Madeira (by proxy) |
No |
No |
Yes |
No, but larger companies must |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Madeira |
SA |
Civil |
Yes |
60 days |
US$ 1.000 |
Varies |
Yes |
Euro |
None |
Euro 50.000 |
Euro 50.000 |
1 or 3, must be an odd number |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
Normally 5 (1 is possible) |
Yes |
Madeira (by proxy) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Malta
|
PLC |
Common |
No |
2 days |
US$ 510 |
0 - 11.67% |
Yes |
MTL |
Any
|
US$ 1.275 |
US$ 5.100 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Optional |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Netherlands |
BV |
Civil |
No |
6-8 weeks |
NLG 333 |
35% |
Yes |
Euro |
Any |
NLG 40.000 |
NLG 200.000 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Netherlands |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Excerpts for small companies, full details for large companies. |
No |
No |
Nevis
|
NBCO |
Common |
Yes |
10 days |
US$220 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
Nil |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No, but local agent |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Panama |
Non resident |
Civil |
Yes |
2 days |
US$ 150 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 10.000 |
3 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Optional |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Samoa |
International |
Common |
Yes |
5 days |
US$ 300 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 1 |
US$ 1.000.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Slovakia
|
SRO |
Civil |
Yes |
3 months |
US$ 30 |
19% |
Yes |
SKK |
Any
|
US$ 6.300 |
Varies |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
No
|
Trade representative with local residence required |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Slovakia |
AS |
Civil |
Yes |
3 months |
US$ 30 |
19% |
Yes |
SKK |
Any
|
US$ 31.500 |
Varies |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
Yes |
Anywhere |
No
|
Trade representative with local residence required |
Yes |
Yes but small company exceptions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Switzerland
|
AG |
Civil |
No |
2 weeks |
Varies |
Varies |
Yes |
SFr |
Any |
SFr 100.000 |
SFr 100.000 |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Switzerland |
3 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Switzerland |
GmbH
|
Civil |
No |
2 weeks |
Varies |
Varies |
Yes |
SFr |
Any |
SFr 10.000 |
SFr 20.000 |
1 |
Yes |
Yes |
Switzerland |
2 |
Yes |
n. a. |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Turks & Caicos |
Exempt |
Common |
Yes |
1 - 2 weeks |
US$ 300 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
Nil |
US$ 5.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Uruguay |
SAFI |
Civil |
No |
30 days |
0.3% of capital |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
US$ 2.500 |
US$ 50.000 |
1 |
No |
Yes |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
1 AGM p.a. in Uruguay (by proxy) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Vanuatu |
IBC |
Hybrid |
Yes |
1 week |
US$ 300 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
Nil |
Nil |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
1 |
No |
Anywhere |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Vanuatu |
Exempt |
Hybrid |
yes |
1 week |
US$ 450 |
Nil |
No |
US$ |
Any |
Nil |
US$ 10.000 |
1 |
No |
No |
Anywhere |
2 |
No |
Anywhere |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |