SEY

With two offshore company types available in Seychelles, this is a very important question. Here are some general considerations. By no means they represent the final and absolute recommendation but may prove useful as a general guideline. Special License Company (CSL) The CSL would be the preferred choice for clients planning business transactions with counterparties who are located in high-tax countries with an intrusive regulatory environment. In such countries, fiscal countermeasures are possible against the traditional zero-tax companies (IBCs), but are less likely against low-tax companies (CSLs). On the same note, if the business circumstances require proving that the company is actually a taxpayer in its country of registration, only a Special License Company would satisfy this condition. The CSL is also the right vehicle if clients expect to utilize the benefits of the double-tax avoidance treaties, concluded by Seychelles. In perspective, a CSL is the appropriate choice when it`s […]

Offshore companies, like onshore corporations, use shares to reflect their ownership. Shares are in essence units of internal accounting, which represent a participation of an owner in the company. Taking (or buying) a share in a company means simply that a person has agreed to invest some of his personal money, or assets, or intellectual rights or property into the company. When he does so, he acquires the right to participate in the profits of the company, in proportion to his share. In addition to the right to receive dividend, the shareholder would also usually have the right to participate in the decision-making process of the company – although this may not be the case with non-voting shares. There are a few different types of capital. Authorized share capital This is the total amount of money that the company has been allowed (by its Memorandum of Association) to cash in […]

While Hong Kong remains as the primary conduit for foreign investment into China, Seychelles is an attractive niche China investment gateway; with Seychelles companies increasingly being used as tax-efficient vehicles to hold equity investments in Chinese companies. The Seychelles / China Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (“DTA” provides for certain China tax relief which is not available under the Hong Kong / China DTA. While the Hong Kong / China DTA caps Chinese withholding tax at 5% if the Hong Kong company owns 25% or more of a Chinese company, it only caps Chinese withholding tax at 10% if the Hong Kong company owns less than 25% of a Chinese company. In contrast, under the Seychelles / China DTA, irrespective of whether a Seychelles company holds more or less than 25% of the issued shares in a Chinese company, Chinese withholding tax on dividends is capped at 5%. Therefore, the Seychelles […]

The Seychelles Special License Company (or “CSL” as it is better known) – is a relatively new product which came about by virtue of the passing of the Seychelles Companies (Special Licenses) Act in 2003. Having seen the success enjoyed by the Mauritius International Financial Services sector (which utilized its “DTA??its Double Tax Avoidance Treaty – with India as the basis for creating a lucrative company product) Seychelles, with a number of favorable DTAS (including with behemoths China and Indonesia) saw the potential for creation of a similar product hence the passing into law of the Seychelles Companies (Special Licenses) Act. (A copy of the Act can be viewed by visiting the Downloads section of our website at Our Services). Of added advantage is the CSL’s ability to sidestep blacklisting by onshore jurisdictions by virtue of its classification as a low-tax (as opposed to zero-tax like the IBC) Domestic Company. […]

The Seychelles International Business Company (based on the classic Bahamas and British Virgin Islands IBC Model), is a tax-free corporation designed for use in all forms of international trading and investment activities. With no reporting requirements, minimal record-keeping obligations, and unparalleled privacy features the Seychelles IBC has risen in stature to become one of the most sought after IBCs in the International Financial Services World. Unlike the historically popular Caribbean (and Channel Islands) IBC Centres (most of which, as British Colonial territories, are facing enormous pressure to bring their privacy features and tax rates into line with the rest of Europe) Seychelles is a politically stable and independent republic and has signed NO Tax Information Sharing Treaties. Key Benefits of the Seychelles IBC include: It’s Inexpensive: An annual operating license fee of only $100 only is payable to government (regardless of the amount of the IBC’s stated maximum authorized share […]

Offshore companies, like onshore corporations, use shares to reflect their ownership. Shares are in essence units of internal accounting, which represent a participation of an owner in the company. Taking (or buying) a share in a company means simply that a person has agreed to invest some of his personal money, or assets, or intellectual rights or property into the company. When he does so, he acquires the right to participate in the profits of the company, in proportion to his share. In addition to the right to receive dividend, the shareholder would also usually have the right to participate in the decision-making process of the company – although this may not be the case with non-voting shares. There are a few different types of capital.   Authorized share capital This is the total amount of money that the company has been allowed (by its Memorandum of Association) to cash […]

Seychelles Company Registration Costs Our fees together with the first-year maintenance fee for a Seychelles readymade (shelf) company are USD950 excluding delivery fee. In particular, our fees cover: first year license fee first year registered agent fee and year registered office fee first year nominee company secretary fee One complete company kit including the corporate documents and company seal our incorporation service charges   A extra USD200 will be charged if the shelf company chosen comes with a Chinese name.   Documents to be provided by client for the purpose of incorporation Photocopy of passport of each of the shareholder and director Residential address with proof, such as utility bills, telephone bills of each shareholder and director Amount of share capital (unless otherwise advised, all company will be incorporated with a standard share capital of USD50,000) and percentage of shareholding by each shareholder, if more than one shareholder A brief […]

1. Seychelles Company Registration Fee Our services for handling the registration of a new Seychelles international business company together with the first-year maintenance fee are USD950 excluding delivery fee. In particular, the fee covers: (1) first year license fee (2) first year registered agent fee and year registered office fee (3) first year nominee company secretary (4) one complete company kit (5) our incorporation service charges An extra USD200 will be charged for addition of Chinese company name.   2. Documents to be Provided by Client for Incorporation (1) Photocopy of passport of each of the shareholder and director (2) Residential address with proof, such as utility bills, telephone bills (3) Proposed name of the company (at least two in order of preference) (4) A brief description of the principal business activities of the proposed Samoa company (5) Amount of share capital (unless otherwise advised, all company will be incorporated […]

General Type of entity: CSL Type of law: Hybrid Shelf company availability: No Our time to establish a new company: 2 weeks Minimum government fees (excluding taxation): US$1,000 Corporate taxation: 1.5% on Worldwide Income Double taxation treaty access: Yes Share capital or equivalent Standard currency: US$ Permitted currencies: Any except Rs Minimum paid up: US$1 (At least 10% of authorized share capital must be issued and paid up) Usual authorized: US$5,000 Directors or Managers Minimum number: Two Local required: No (but necessary for DTA reliance cases) Publicly accessible records: Yes Location of meetings: Anywhere Members (Shareholders) Minimum number: Two Publicly accessible records: No Location of meetings: Anywhere Company Secretary Required: Yes Local or qualified: Local Accounts Requirement to prepare: Yes Audit requirements: Yes Requirement to file accounts: Yes Publicly accessible accounts: No Other Requirement to file annual return: Yes, but not public Change in domicile permitted: Permissible

The term tax haven has come to be associated with unsavory, immoral, and perhaps even illegal activities in the minds of many people. Novels like The Firm as well as constant negative media coverage and government propaganda have all caused the public to associate tax havens with shady business deals and characters of questionable nature. As a result, many people wonder why anyone would want to take their money offshore. The reality of tax havens and those who use them could not be further from the truth. Since the French Revolution, the wealthy have moved money offshore to protect their assets and to avoid paying taxes on gains. There are currently over 200 jurisdictions that offer these and other special incentives to foreign investors across the globe. They vary from sun-drenched Caribbean islands with palm-lined beaches to mountainous, European principalities filled with castles and picturesque villages. First, it is important […]