Offshore company

Going offshore means structuring one’s business as well as holding assets outside the country of one’s citizenship (for a private person) or outside the jurisdiction of registration (for a corporate entity). Going offshore provides many opportunities such as minimizing taxes and significantly increasing confidentiality, thus achieving higher profits and better results in a long term perspective. However, only offshore jurisdiction has its own rules and laws which are necessary to follow precisely and conduct the business activity on a 100% legal basis

Offshore company is an attractive structure for a business activity that often requires no income taxes to be paid, but instead only a flat rate on the annual basis, that is very convenient. Offshore companies are often used for the following purposes:

There is a wide range of opportunities for an effective and profitable business structuring, and it might be advantageous to have a professional consulting from an experienced consultancy company with a long track record and good international reputation.

As for about the major level of confidentiality offshore companies provide, we should especially point out the opportunity to register a company with bearer shares. This means that rather than having usual registered shares, the shares of a company can be easily and quickly transferred to a new beneficial owner by simple delivery. Panama is one of the few jurisdictions that offers such an opportunity.

Common places to create an offshore account.

  • Cayman islands offshore company: Individuals are not liable to income and other types of direct taxes in the Cayman Islands.
  • Cyprus offshore company: Cyprus has one of the lowest corporate taxation rates set at 10%.
  • Panama offshore banking: The major part of companies incorporated in Panama are "offshore structures" thus being exempt from local taxation.
  • Swiss offshore company: The federal tax rate is 0.8%, while cantonal rates vary from 0.3% to 1%. Withholding tax is under federal authorities’ administration and is levied at different rates on various precisely defined transactions
  • Singapore offshore banking: Holding Company This type of company is attractive to establish in Singapore due to the jurisdiction’s good international reputation and advantageous taxation. In various cases Singapore holding company is not liable for taxes on income and dividends to its shareholders.
  • France offshore banking: A significant tax advantage may be achieved through establishing and managing a co-ordination centre, known as Headquarters and Logistics Centres in France.
  • Hong Kong offshore banking: Only income derived from a business activity conducted within Hong Kong is taxed.
  • Luxembourg offshore banking: Resident companies are liable to pay tax on their world-wide income.
  • Malta offshore banking: Following the EU regulations and requirements, Maltese government was forced to amend its low-taxation regime in 2006
  • Mauritius offshore banking: A local company is liable to pay corporation tax on its worldwide income. In 2007 the standard rate of corporation tax has been reduced from 25% to 15%.
  • Monaco offshore banking: A company is not liable to business profits tax in case 75% of its profits is generated within the jurisdiction.

Other common Offshore Jurisdictions

Another important aspect to evaluate is creating a captive insurance company in an offshore jurisdiction for the following reasons: it can become a part of a big organization benefiting from the centralized risk management, it would be organized and managed outside exchange control regulations, investments can be accumulated free of tax. Even though tax mitigation is not the only and primary advantage for incorporating and managing an offshore insurance company, it certainly is an important aspect in organizing an insurance business.

Many offshore jurisdictions have become experts in captive insurance, gambling, banking and other financial sectors. Financial services represent the main activity conducted in offshore jurisdictions and in the epoch of globalization we are living today, in which we all have an access to a wide range of information and international cooperation, we should be aware of how to take advantage of every jurisdiction that might be appropriate for our own business.

CS&P's team of lawyers, advisors and agents is spread over the six continents and brings to the table expertise in all the major disciplines relevant to international strategy, finance, operations and marketing. Find out how our team can help by contacting offshore@carloscevola.com

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