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Offshore Jurisdictions

Where to Incorporate Your Offshore Company

View Offshore Information by Country/Jurisdiction:

Belize	British Virgin Islands	Cyprus
Delaware Non-Resident LLC	Gibraltar Tax Exempt Company	Gibraltar Non-Resident
Irish Domestic Companies	Isle of Man	Jersey
Liechtenstein Foundations	Luxembourg Holding Company	Netherlands Antilles
Panama	UK Managed Ltd Company	UK Non-Resident LLP

British Virgin Islands - Fact File

Probably the most popular of the Caribbean corporate registration jurisdictions. Excellent efficiency. English speaking. Still a British Colony. Major ship and vessel registration area. It has not suffered from the money laundering scandals associated with the Cayman Islands.

There are no direct tax treaties even with the United Kingdom. However, Japan and Switzerland include the BVI in their respective treaties with the UK.

Star Ratings

Corporate registration efficiency: 5 / 5
Cost: 5 / 5
Confidentiality: 5 / 5
Local banking facilities: 3 / 5
Legal system: 5 / 5
Political stability: 5 / 5
Reputation: 3 / 5

Location

The British Virgin Islands comprise 50 islands in the Caribbean Sea, located approximately 60 miles east of Puerto Rico and adjacent to the US Virgin Islands.

Advantages of a BVI International Business Company (IBC)

• The International Business Company Act (Cap. 291) ("the IBC Act") is a modern piece of corporate law tailored specifically to the needs of international business, The IBC Act makes it possible for the administration of an IBC to be undertaken either in the BVI or from another jurisdiction.
• Incorporation under the IBC Act provides the following benefits and features:
• IBC companies are exempt from all BVI taxes and stamp duty (save for registration and annual license/franchise fees) even though the administration of an IBC may be from within the BVI.
• There are no minimum issued share capital requirements.
• An IBC is required to have a registered agent and office in the BVI. In most cases, nominee directors will also be employed to allow anonymity to be maintained when dealing with third parties. However, like most other jurisdictions in the Caribbean no details are maintained on public record.
• Both registered and bearer shares can be issued (and converted from one to another) and a company may acquire and hold its own shares.
• Only one director is required. A company may serve as director.
• There are no nationality requirements for either directors or shareholders, only one shareholder is required.
• The books and records of a company may be maintained anywhere.
• Directors have power to protect the assets of the company by transferring them to trustees, another company or other legal entities for the benefit of the IBC, its beneficial owner(s) and/or creditors).
• Registered agents are authorized to verify and authenticate the signatures of all company directors and officers including those of the agents concerned.
• The IBC Ordinance allows a company incorporated outside of the BVI to be re-domiciled in the BVI under the 'continuation' features of this Ordinance.
• The name of the corporation may be in any language. It must contain the word(s) Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Sociedad Anonima, Société Anonyme, an equivalent, or an abbreviation thereto.
• No accounts or annual summaries have to be filed with the Government, with the exception of the annual fee form to be completed and filed by the registered agent in the BVI.

Popular Options

1. Corporate Combined Register (Completed) & Company Seal: Taken by almost all our offshore clients, this includes all appropriate minutes, including where appropriate pre-signed transfer minutes, pre-prepared bearer or named share certificates, registers for members, directors, interests, allotments, transfers and of course your company's certificate of incorporation - Cost US$150.00.
   
2. Apostilling of company documentation pursuant to the Hague Convention of 1961: Many banks now require official company documents to be legally confirmed as original under the internationally accepted apostilling procedure which SMB can provide at the registration/pre-transfer stage of your company incorporation. Before ordering please confirm whether this process will be necessary with your bank- Please refer to fee schedule.
   
3. If you have any other requirements please contact us by e-mail, telephone or facsimile as we can provide virtually all offshore services