Offshore company - documents for incorporation

An offshore company is a legal entity established in a tax haven or offshore financial center, being protected by specific legislation which guarantees a status of partial or full tax exemption. Yearly maintenance fees range from US $100 to US $1500 or more, depending of the type of the company and its jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, annual company fixed tax is paid to the government such as it is the case with the Republic of Panama. Shareholders and directors of an offshore company may enjoy generally a high level of privacy. In some jurisdictions, offshore companies may trade or do business only outside of the country in order to be tax exempt, while in others companies may do local and international business.

What documents are needed to incorporate offshore?

For example to have a company in British Virgin Islands requires following incorporation documents - Memorandum and Articles of Association, First Minutes and Resolutions which includes in the standard incorporation procedure prescribed by the Business Companies Act.

As for Panama company's these documents are needed - copy of the public deed issued by Notary Public of Panama, translation into english language of the Articles of Incorporation, Certification of Incorporation, certificates of shares, assignments of subscription of shares, Initial Minutes, government receipt for the first annual franchise tax payment (US$300).

For this article it is end, next post will contain information on Gibraltar offshore company and United Arab Emirates offshore company. Stay tuned.