Viewpoints from Kaizen
Introduction to Tax Havens
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 […]
Introduction to Seychelles
General Information One thousand miles from the African coast in the western Indian Ocean at the crossroad of Asia and Africa, Seychelles?115 islands, located between 4 and 10 degrees south of the equator, offer a diverse range of experiences – white sandy beaches, verdant mountains, and luxuriant forests. Within this seemingly enchanted, pristine world you can enjoy snorkelling on coral reefs, trekking, bird watching, diving and fishing amid unique, natural surrounds. Far away from the hustle and bustle of a busy world, Seychelles has retained a soulful way of life which is vibrant, captivating and still wonderfully authentic. This archipelago of legendary natural beauty comprises 41 of the oldest mid-oceanic granitic islands on earth which, together, constitute the Inner Islands, of which Mah? the principal island and home to the capital, Victoria, together with its close neighbors, Praslin and La Digue, are the most prominent. A sparkling collection of […]
Introduction to Seychelles Special License Company (CSL)
Introduction The Seychelles CSL (Special License Company) is a local tax resident company specially licensed by the Seychelles International Business Authority (SIBA), which is taxed at a rate of 1.5% of its worldwide income. It is registered as a normal domestic company under the Companies Ordinance 1972 but granted a special license by the Seychelles International Business Authority (SIBA) granting the special tax status and extra privacy provisions. For those looking to establish a relatively inexpensive, tax paying domestic company, the Seychelles CSL is one of the best choices in the world. A properly structured Seychelles CSL may have access to the growing list of Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties signed by the Government. With the allowance of foreign tax credits and expenses for certain items, the effective tax rate may actually be 0% in Seychelles. Seychelles Tax Treaties The Republic of Seychelles has signed and ratified several significant Double […]
Introduction to Seychelles Offshore Market
Favourably and strategically situated in the Indian Ocean, enjoying political stability and having the right legal and administrative frameworks in place, nowadays the Seychelles is becoming one of the most attractive offshore jurisdictions. It is highly recommended for those seeking an efficient and secure offshore company structure. Seychelles entered the offshore financial services industry in December 1994, following the enactment of the International Business Company Act 1994 and other legislation. Despite its small size and some other limitations, the Seychelles offshore sector had managed to succeed over the past decades. More than 30,000 Seychelles International Business Companies (IBCs) have been registered, with more than 600 new offshore companies being registered every month. As a relative newcomer to the offshore industry, Seychelles has a greater number of company names available than some other jurisdictions. Seychelles IBC benefits from zero local taxation, very few restrictions or reporting requirements and superior confidentiality. It […]
Introduction to Meetings of Board for an Indian Company
In accordance with the Indian Company Act 2103, once duly incorporated, the board of Directors of an Indian company is required to hold not less than four meetings a year and the interval between two meetings cannot be longer than 120 days. Number of Board Meetings Every Indian company is required to hold a minimum number of four meetings of its Board of Directors every year in such a manner that not more than one hundred and twenty days shall intervene between two consecutive meetings of the Board. The first meeting of the Board of Directors is required to hold within thirty days of the date of its incorporation. Every Director of the company is required to attend at least one Board meeting in a year. Quorum for Board Meetings The quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors of a company shall be one third of its total […]
Introduction to Belize
General Information Belize (formerly British Honduras) is a scenically beautiful, independent country located on the Caribbean seaboard of Central America. It has an area of approximately 23,026 sq. km and is bounded by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. The administrative capital is Belmopan, but the major commercial centre is Belize City, which is located on the eastern coast close to the major international airport. Population The total population of Belize is around 200,000 of which some 60,000 live in Belize City. Much of the country’s population is ethnically diverse and includes descendants of the original Mayan culture and people of Caribbean, Caucasian, Chinese and East Indian descent. Political Structure Belize has a long history of peace, stability and democracy. It became a British Crown Colony in 1862 and achieved complete self-rule in 1981. Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth, the […]
Identity Requirements for Registration of Company in Cayman Islands
If an individual will be a director, shareholder (owning greater than 10% of the Company) or partner of the Cayman company or partnership, we will require the following identification documents: – (1) Notarized or certified copy of the individual’s passport or national identity card or driver’s license, showing their full name, address, date of birth and nationality. (2) Notarized or certified copy of the individual’s driving licenses or other form of confirmation regarding the persons permanent residential address, such as a copy of their utility bill. If a company will be the shareholder or partner of a Cayman Islands company or partnership, we will require the following identification documents: (1) Notarized or certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation; (2) Certificate of Good Standing; (3) Notarized or certified copy of the Register of Directors, Officers and Managers; (4) Notarized or certified copy of the Register of Members; (5) List of […]
GUIDE TO MANAGEMENT OF SAMOA INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES
Meetings and Minutes of Proceedings Directors’ and shareholders’ minutes of meetings are to be signed by the chairman of the meeting or by one of the directors who is a party to the proceedings (s.103(1)(b)). Where requested, Kaizen Certified Public Accountants Limited (“Kaizen”) will assist in the preparation of resolutions. Notice and quorum provisions for meetings are set out in the articles of association. Shareholders’ resolutions may be passed without a meeting and without any previous notice of the resolution by means of a resolution in writing signed by no less than three fourths of members entitled to vote (S.99(2)). Directors’ resolutions may also be passed without a meeting and without any previous notice of the resolution by means of a resolution in writing signed by a quorum of directors. The minutes of the company may be kept at the registered office of the company in Samoa or […]
First Minutes or First Resolutions of an Offshore Company
What’s is First Minutes (First Resolution) of a Company? This document, or a set of documents, represent a number of important official decisions carried out by the Subscriber or by the Registered Agent after the offshore company is incorporated. These resolutions shape the internal structure of the company. The First Resolutions would contain information about the name, Registered Address and registration number of the new company and they would establish who is the Registered Agent of the company, who are appointed director(s) of the company, how many shares are being issued to the shareholders, and who are those shareholders. Sometimes, as the case may be, the First Resolutions would also deal with appointing a Secretary to the offshore company, appointing accountant, auditor, attorney or any other consultant or advisor to the company, resolving to open a bank account with a particular bank and appointing the account signatories to such account, […]
Features, Registration Procedures and Costs of Marshall Islands Company
General Information about Marshall Islands Location Located nearly midway between Indonesia and Hawaii, the Marshall Islands are the eastern-most island group in Micronesia. The Marshall Islands cover approximately 2 million sq. km in the Central Pacific Ocean, with two 1,280 km long parallel chains of atolls and volcanic islands separated by 179 km of sea. The Islands feature sandy beaches ringed by coconut laden palm trees, and surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons teeming with tropical fish, giant turtles and colourful coral. Population The islands have a population of just over 43,000 most of whom live in the capital Majuro. Political Structure The islands were settled some 4,000 years ago. In the 16th century, the Spanish were the first in a long series of visitors. Later, Russian navigators visited the Islands more extensively. It was not until the 18th century that British naval officer John Marshall rediscovered and gave his name to […]