| Summary at a glance | | | | | | |
| Legally tax-exempt structure? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes, for re-invested | No |
| Must have a Stripe account in this country? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can have a Stripe account in another country? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Must rent a local office? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Must hire local employees? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Multi-currency payments allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum charge amount per currency? | $4 | 50¢ | €0.50 | £0.30 | €0.50 | €0.50 |
| 3D secure payment authentication possible? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chargeback protection possible? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quickbooks/Xero/Expensify software integration possible? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API software solution available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WeChat/AliPay billing available? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| SEPA direct debit available? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instant Debit Card Payout facility available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| International country-specific card charge fees? | 3.4% + HK$2.35 | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + €0.25 | 2.9% + 20p | 2.9% + €0.25 | 2.9% + €0.25 |
| Double tax treaties access? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Corporation tax? | 0% | 0% | 12.5% | 0% | 0-20% | 5-10% |
| VAT/GST/Sales tax rates | 0% | 0% | 23% | 20% | 20% | 18% |
| Type of company recommended? | LLC | Single person LLC | LLC | LLP | LLC | LLC |
| Personal travel required during the engagement? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Preferred country for e-commerce trade? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| How soon can you have a certificate of incorporation? | 1 week | 1 week | 3 weeks | 1 week | 3 weeks | 3 weeks |
| How soon can you have corporate bank account numbers? | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Stripe account available? | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Total company engagement set up costs | US$10,105 | US$9,000 | €8,355 | £8,090 | €10,400 | €11,675 |
| Legal & accounting and tax considerations | | | | | | |
| Resident shareholder or director required? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Minimum number of directors? | 1 | 1 member | 1 | 1 partner | 1 | 1 |
| International e-commerce transactions subject to VAT? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Minimum number of shareholders? | 1 | 1 member | 1 | 1 partner | 1 | 1 |
| Lease agreement required before company incorporation? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Public register of shareholders and directors | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid-up share capital required? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Standard Corporate Tax Payable % | 0% | 0% | 12.5% | 0% | 0-20% | 5-10% |
| Access to Government grant/tax rebate programs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Must prepare annual financial statements? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Independent statutory audit required? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Annual tax return to be submitted | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to how many double tax treaties | 37 | 68 | 74 | 130 | 52 | 76 |
| Local substance requirements, including staffed office? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withholding tax on dividends paid to individuals | 0% | up to 30% | up to 25% | 0% | 0-7% | 0% |
| VAT/GST/Sales tax rates | 0% | 0% | 23% | 20% | 20% | 18% |
| Banking considerations | | | | | | |
| Does our Client need to travel to visit Bank? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Initial deposit for US$ corporate bank account | US$50,000 | US$10,000 | €500 | €1M | €5,000 | €10,000 |
| Time taken to open corporate bank account | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Multi-currency visa debit cards issued | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated bank officer with cell phone contact | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fees for incoming wire transfers | 0.125% | 0.1% | €12.5 | £7.50 | €25 | Up to €100 |
| Fees for outgoing wire transfers | $5 | $10 | €5 | £7 | 0 | €20 |
| Multi-currency visa debit cards issued | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Logistics considerations | | | | | | |
| GDP per capita (US$, 2019) | 48,713 | 60,745 | 68,090 | 30,625 | 18,686 | 24,628 |
| Global Competitiveness Index Ranking | 3 | 2 | 24 | 9 | 31 | 38 |
| Ease of Doing Business Global Ranking | 3 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 18 | 88 |
| OECD member country? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CRS reporting obligations (click link)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FATF blacklisted country? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Country credit rating? | A+ | AA+ | AA- | AA | A+ | A+ |
| Estimate of engagement costs | | | | | | |
| Company formation fees? | 3,350 | 1,590 | 1,935 | 1,150 | 3,250 | 3,200 |
| Legal registered office fees? | 1,550 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 2,200 |
| Estimate Government fees? | 255 | 310 | 270 | 40 | 250 | 375 |
| Corporate bank account opening fees? | 4,950 | 4,950 | 4,950 | 4,950 | 4,950 | 4,950 |
| Tax and VAT/GST registration fees? | 0 | 950 | 0 | 750 | 750 | 950 |
| Estimate of total fees in Year 1? | US$10,105 | US$9,000 | €8,355 | £8,090 | €10,400 | €11,675 |
| View a detailed sales invoice with our latest notes! | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
