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Creating an International Company: What You Need to Know

Our firm is here to inform you and help you realize your offshore business project, and more specifically, your offshore company formation (the term “offshore” is very often misused – it simply refers to a company based abroad that is completely legal).

Each case being unique, contact us in the middle of the page to outline your situation in a few lines (country of residence, wishes, nationality, etc.). Our experts are at your disposal for a clear and detailed response.

Creating an international company requires thorough research above all. Indeed, depending on your objectives, certain jurisdictions should be preferred. Regulation, taxation and advantages – advanced knowledge is essential to create an offshore company without making mistakes. In the second part of the page, discover our list of 14 countries with no taxation (or almost none), ideal for finding the jurisdiction suited to your needs.

Offshore company formation requires skills, time and a clear vision regarding tax optimization. Our experts are listening to set everything up, and above all, to choose the jurisdiction best suited to your needs. We have been exercising our professional activity in service of our clients since 2006.

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    The Advantages of an International Company

    By establishing your company in a country with attractive taxation, you can considerably increase your profits,

    You can greatly facilitate the management and administration of your offshore company (particularly in terms of filing and publishing financial statements – local corporate law being often more flexible),

    The international company can make use of Nominees – which is legal under Anglo-Saxon law. Thus, the names of the manager and shareholders do not appear in the Commercial Register, ensuring your anonymity.

    Finally, an international company often has much lower operating costs (office rental, employee hiring, accountant hiring, and IT service providers – ideal for creating tax substance).

    Tax Havens and Offshore Company Formation

    Tax havens are major international financial service centers where taxation is low or even zero, and, de facto, these countries’ taxation is primarily designed to favor international trade and the creation of international companies. These jurisdictions present appreciable advantages, both for companies and individuals.

    Indeed, these jurisdictions benefit from:

    • Very low taxation
    • Business flows conducted by non-residents, namely anonymous parties

    Why and How to Create an Offshore Company?

    An international company is advantageous because it notably allows protecting one’s assets, uniting, for example, assets held under a holding company. The legal and tax regime of the country where the holding is based will apply to all assets, in case of death (for example).

    In certain cases, it is possible to transfer one’s assets to an international company to avoid any problems (commercial litigation, disputes, etc.).

    Creating an Offshore Company, Bank Account and Credit Card

    ICD Fiduciaries is by your side to accompany you in your international company creation process.

    What are the prerequisites for establishing a company in the United Kingdom, Switzerland or Gibraltar? Could I obtain an intra-Community VAT number? What about the advantages related to establishing one’s offshore company in Eastern Europe?

    Clearly, we will establish for you an international company equipped with bank accounts that you can directly manage online.

    Your international company will have a bank account and related credit cards (Visa or MasterCard).

    The Main Jurisdictions for Offshore Company Formation

    The creation of an international company can be carried out in a large number of countries (we have a dedicated team for each jurisdiction below):

    • England company formation (A safe bet in “Europe”)
    • Latvia (Ideal for relocating in Europe)
    • Luxembourg company formation (always a must)
    • Hong Kong company formation (a stronghold in Asia despite recent events)
    • Dubai company formation (Between Asia and Europe)
    • Singapore company formation (Currently booming)
    • Jersey company formation
    • Ireland
    • Delaware
    • Canada company formation
    • Gibraltar
    • Malta
    • Mauritius
    • Creating a business in the USA
    • Macao company formation
    • Monaco
    • Cyprus
    • Switzerland
    • Ras al Khaimah
    • Seychelles
    • BVI
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Cayman Islands
    • Saint Vincent
    • Belgium
    • Liechtenstein

    Offshore company formation is an opportunity to seize. Such an entity is a real asset for entrepreneurs, whether they are based in France, the United Kingdom, or more broadly in Europe. Topics related to taxation and taxes are keys for entrepreneurs wishing to maximize their profits. The money thus received will be ideal for innovating and pursuing their quest for new market shares.

    Solutions exist to lighten one’s taxation in many countries. From now on, put all the odds in your favor to succeed.

    Creating an International Company: What You Need to Know

    Managing your international company from France

    Creating an international company doesn’t necessarily mean moving and going to live in a new country, specifically the one where the offshore company will be created.

    In our time, it is entirely conceivable to create a company abroad and manage it from France. Naturally, everything depends on the type of company and the activities it carries out. But know that it’s possible in many cases.

    This solution has the advantage of not having to rebuild your life elsewhere, in a sometimes distant country. By staying in France, you can continue to enjoy your loved ones, your habits, and the French way of life.

    Take the time to research thoroughly, because depending on the destination, the type of company and its activity, the rules can vary for managing your business remotely.

    What is the definition of an offshore company?

    It is a company created abroad, so it is not located in the manager’s country of residence. Tax provisions and obligations are imposed and must be respected.

    Which European jurisdictions are most popular?

    Currently, countries like Latvia are gaining ground. However, England, Ireland, Gibraltar, or Jersey remain jurisdictions perfectly compatible with entrepreneurs’ current needs.

    How to properly choose your offshore jurisdiction?

    Choosing your jurisdiction well depends on many factors such as the country of residence, tax objective, business sector, or even your ability to travel (particularly to open the bank account linked to the offshore entity created). The best option is to contact us to have a clear and precise roadmap.

    Is it possible to create your offshore company online?

    Yes, this is possible but not in all jurisdictions. In some countries, it’s even possible to open a bank account without traveling. Strict tax rules apply and declarations must be duly made.

    Is it legal to create an offshore company?

    Creating an offshore company is legal but it’s necessary to meet all tax obligations related to transparency in your country of residence. Namely, declaring activities and profits made abroad.

    How to create an offshore company?

    To create such an entity, it’s highly recommended to opt for the services of a professional. Indeed, the administrative, legal and tax obligations are significant, and the slightest deviation can lead to an in-depth tax audit.

    Identifying the costs necessary for company creation and maintenance

    Creating an international company necessarily involves costs. Depending on the destination and your project, the creation cost can range from a few hundred euros to several thousand euros. Beforehand, you must define what budget is allocated to creating your international company.

    It’s also necessary to differentiate between destinations that require share capital and those that don’t.

    Similarly, the company’s maintenance fees must also be taken into account.

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      Opening an account with an international bank

      Among the steps for creating an international company, opening an international bank account is essential. It must be opened in the name of your offshore company. You’re not obliged to opt for a banking establishment located in the same country as your company, even though this often simplifies things.

      Know that if you’re required to declare a foreign account in your name to the tax authorities, you’re not required to declare a foreign account assigned to your company, as it’s a legal entity.

      The international account sometimes guarantees a certain level of anonymity. However, know that total banking secrecy is increasingly difficult for banks to maintain when a state pressures them.

      Beware of the targeted jurisdiction’s reputation

      Some states are catalogued as tax havens and have a bad image internationally.

      Avoid these destinations, because your collaborators, clients and shareholders risk withdrawing to avoid being associated with a tax haven. And with social networks, a company’s image can very quickly deteriorate.

      Nevertheless, this doesn’t prevent certain countries from offering very attractive tax advantages without being considered tax havens. These are the destinations you should favor for your tax optimization process. We particularly think of Hong Kong, Ireland, Malta, Gibraltar and many others.

      Tax Havens: 14 Countries with No Taxation (or Almost None)

      When you’re considering significantly increasing your income, internationalization must be your main concern. To do this, choosing a new country of tax residence constitutes the first step in the process of opening up to the world.

      Thus, optimizing your taxation depends on the country in which you choose to establish yourself. This is why it’s essential to choose a country that has a territorial tax system or better, a country with no taxation.

      Beyond this list of countries with 0% taxation, there are countries that have interesting territorial taxation. But before choosing a country to expatriate to, the most important thing isn’t to focus solely on taxation. You must take into account your objectives and lifestyle.

      If in addition to benefiting from good taxation, you don’t sacrifice your desires and lifestyle, this represents a bonus.

      Thus, discover the list of countries without taxation in the world

      1. Singapore
      2. United Kingdom
      3. Bahamas
      4. Bahrain
      5. Brunei
      6. Cayman Islands
      7. Maldives
      8. Monaco
      9. Oman
      10. Qatar
      11. Saint Kitts and Nevis
      12. United Arab Emirates
      13. Malta
      14. Antigua and Barbuda

      Singapore

      This small Asian country positions itself as a favored destination for foreign investors who are entitled to very affordable tax rates.

      Corporate tax is 17% in the country. However, expatriates benefit from partial exemption on their taxable profits.

      Indeed, up to 300,000 SGD, an expatriate is entitled to a 75% exemption on the first 10,000 SGD and 50% on the remaining 290,000 SGD. This equates to 152,000 SGD exemption over the first three years.

      Foreign companies also have the right to favorable taxation on their profits in the first three years of operation. Indeed, a new foreign company is entitled to 0% taxation on the 0 to 100,000 SGD bracket. Then, 8.5% is levied on the 100,000 to 300,000 SGD bracket and 17% is levied on profits exceeding 300,000 SGD (about 200,000 euros).

      Furthermore, the 5% VAT doesn’t apply to export sales and the country applies no withholding tax, allowing shareholders to freely receive their dividends.

      United Kingdom

      London is a destination favored by many wealthy people because of its favorable tax regime. The British administration has established a favorable status for expatriates called “non-domiciled tax status” (UK Non-dom or UK Non-domiciled).

      Thanks to this status, you can reside in Great Britain without paying taxes on your overseas income. The only condition is not to repatriate funds locally.

      Indeed, you’re only taxed on income generated on British territory. This means you pay no tax on income obtained outside the country, and before requesting UK Non-dom status. To obtain this status, you simply need to notify HMRC of the intention to reside temporarily on British soil.

      The Bahamas

      An American island located 45 minutes from Miami by flight, the Bahamas is a dream destination when you want to expatriate. Thanks to its geographical location, it’s very easy to get to the United States, Central America or South America. The Bahamas has another advantage: the island offers you life in the sun almost all year round. But the most important advantage related to this ranking is taxation.

      Indeed, the Bahamas is one of the best destinations when it comes to taxation: it’s a tax haven for investors. Obtaining a temporary residence visa is very easy, as you only need to pay $1,000 each year. People who invest in business creation receive favors from local authorities. In this sense, a US real estate investment is an asset from the Bahamas.

      Bahrain

      Located in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain has advantageous taxation for people who want to expatriate. Like its neighbors in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, individuals and companies are not subject to any taxation. As a temporary resident, life in Bahrain is quite easy.

      However, to become a permanent resident, you must make some sacrifices. An investment in a property purchase of at least $135,000 is necessary. Also, creating an offshore company is facilitated by the authorities. You can also invest at least $270,000 in a local company to obtain permanent resident status in Bahrain.

      Brunei

      An exotic destination, Brunei is a small state located on the island of Borneo. The country is split in two between Malaysia and the South China Sea.

      There is no taxation in this part of the world. However, you should know that Brunei is not really a country that represents a dream destination. With a population’s standard of living that’s not at all impressive and a government often criticized (likened to a dictatorship), Brunei is not a country where all conditions are necessarily met for doing business.

      Cayman Islands

      Life in the Cayman Islands is what people looking for a paradisiacal place dream of. The conditions for settling in the Cayman Islands are almost the same as in the majority of destinations located in the Caribbean.

      However, you must invest a little more than in the Bahamas, meaning having a minimum of $145,000 per year and investing in US real estate or in a local company for at least $600,000.

      Obtaining permanent resident status as quickly as possible will depend on what you’re prepared to invest. The more you invest, the faster the procedure will be. Corporate tax doesn’t exist in the Cayman Islands, there are just some miscellaneous taxes to pay. This makes it an ideal territory for business creation.

      Maldives

      The Maldives is among dream destinations with its bungalows by the water. It’s also a country where no taxes exist. So there are all the assets to please entrepreneurs. However, becoming a permanent resident is a real ordeal.

      Indeed, it’s complicated to obtain permanent resident status in the Maldives because religion constitutes a barrier. If you want permanent residency, you’ll have to become a Sunni Muslim, it’s the only condition to fulfill and it’s non-negotiable. This condition therefore reduces the possibilities of settling on this island.

      Monaco

      The Principality of Monaco is well known for its 0% taxation and excellent standard of living. The other advantage lies in the fact that to become a permanent resident in Monaco, it’s not complicated from the moment you can invest the few million euros that are asked of you.

      With its very low corporate tax rate, business creation is encouraged in the principality. However, residing in Monaco poses a problem for French citizens.

      In fact, a French citizen cannot benefit from the tax advantages offered by the principality, even if they were living legally in Monaco. This is an unprecedented and quite incomprehensible situation, but it stems from an exclusive agreement signed between France and Monaco authorities. If you want to have permanent resident status and make the most of the tax advantages offered on Monaco territory, you must therefore obtain a second passport (European or other). Then, you must renounce your dear French citizenship.

      Oman

      Located in the Middle East, Oman is a rich country with an excellent standard of living that’s favorable to entrepreneurship. Although it developed with its oil revenues, the country is preparing its conversion.

      New investment sectors are being established and the country is opening its market to investors in different types of business. This ambition helps lighten taxation, making it attractive to investors. In this momentum, Oman has instituted an investor residence visa that provides special status.

      Qatar

      Despite its small size and thanks to oil, Qatar has the highest standard of living in the world with an excellent per capita income. The country is constantly developing, which constitutes an advantage for foreigners, especially since its taxation is accessible. Another advantage is its large foreign community.

      As a bonus, its important political presence in the world earns it favor from major powers. Therefore, expatriating to Qatar can be a good option. Obtaining temporary residency in Qatar isn’t very complicated. However, requesting permanent residency isn’t the simplest either.

      Saint Kitts and Nevis

      Located next to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis is an exotic destination that attracts many visitors. And for good reason, it’s very easy to obtain residency on the island. The authorities have even established a whole citizenship by investment program, which allows you to access a second passport quite easily.

      Unlike Monaco where millions of euros may be necessary to settle there, the State of Saint Kitts and Nevis will only ask you to make a donation of $150,000. This constitutes a considerable advantage for a potential investor.

      United Arab Emirates

      The United Arab Emirates is the most touristic and best-known country in the Gulf. It’s also a country of choice for settling, as Dubai is in a perfect geographical position between Europe and Asia. Thanks to this position, you can get anywhere in the world quite easily.

      As in the majority of Gulf countries, the country hosts a large community of expatriates. Although it’s not possible to access permanent resident status, you can benefit from tax resident status thanks to a visa renewable every 3 years.

      Malta

      A member country of the European Union, Malta is a good destination for those who don’t wish to exile themselves to the ends of the earth. Certainly, the beaches aren’t of the same level of beauty as those of the Bahamas, but the island offers very attractive tax advantages. Among the advantages offered to foreigners is the possibility of obtaining tax residency that allows benefiting from taxation only on income repatriated to Malta.

      Any other non-repatriated income receives no taxation. This means there’s no wealth tax, and no taxes on donations. Furthermore, Malta offers an advantageous tax regime for companies, with an international entrepreneurial environment, simplified procedures, as well as a solid banking system.

      Antigua and Barbuda

      A small paradisiacal archipelago with its more than 300 beaches, Antigua and Barbuda has accessible taxation. Indeed, since April 2016, no tax is levied on income. Moreover, there are no inheritance rights and no wealth tax. Furthermore, it’s easy to obtain nationality since 2012, simply by making an investment.

      The two most observed investment choices are a financial contribution of $200,000 and the purchase of real estate with a minimum value of $400,000.

      Income taxes are light, and companies don’t pay taxes based on turnover, which is particularly advantageous for investors. Small bonus: citizens of the archipelago can travel without a visa to 131 countries, including all European Union countries.

      Our expert services in international tax optimization

      By choosing an appropriate jurisdiction for establishing your tax residency, or domiciling your company, you benefit from advantageous tax conditions. Thanks to our experience, we will present you with the services that will suit you best.

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