International income is legally tax exempt? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Can conduct local business in this country? | No | No | No | No | No |
Can have local Staff and physical office premises? | No | No | No | No | No |
Location of multi-currency corporate bank account? | London | London | London | USA | USA |
How long to secure the COI of the corporate structure? | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 1 week | 3 weeks |
Fast turnkey solutions available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Client must travel during the engagement? | No | No | No | No | No |
Can conduct any type of business? | No, only legal services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How long to secure corporate bank account number? | 2 months | 2 months | 2 months | 6 weeks | 2 months |
Total business setup costs (US$ unless specified) | €10,205 | £8,963 | £8,090 | 11,500 | 12,500 |
Subsequent annual costs (excl. accounting & tax) | €6,545 | £1,213 | £3,600 | 2,375 | 5,800 |
Accounting and tax considerations | | | | | |
Corporation tax on locally sourced income? | 12.5% | 25% | 25% | Up to 28.7% | 23%-31% |
If properly structured, will be a legally tax-exempt entity? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Must register for local GST or VAT? | No | No | No | No | No |
Must submit an annual corporate tax return? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Can access double taxation treaties? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Annual financial statements submitted to the Government? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Independent statutory annual audit required? | No | No | No | No | No |
Must submit a local annual personal income tax return? | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Withholding tax on overseas repatriation of profits? | No | No | No | No | No |
Legal and compliance considerations | | | | | |
How long to set secure entity numbers? | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 1 week | 3 weeks |
Resident director / partner required? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Minimum number of directors? | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Minimum number of shareholders or partners? | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Recommended minimum paid-up share capital? | €10,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 | US$51,000 | US$51,000 |
Resident company secretary or agent required? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Individual and corporate shareholders or partners allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Public register of shareholders & partners & directors? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Public register of Ultimate Beneficial Owners? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Multi-currency corporate bank account considerations | | | | | |
The bank signatory must travel? | No | No | No | No | No |
Type of financial institution? | UK PSP | UK PSP | UK PSP | USA bank | USA bank |
Regulated by what Government authority? | UK FCA | UK FCA | UK FCA | USA FED | USA FED |
Minimum deposit required? | Nil | Nil | Nil | US$51,000 | US$51,000 |
Monthly bank charges? | £20-200 | £20-200 | £20-200 | US$50-500 | US$50-500 |
Financial institution credit rating? | A | A | A | A | A |
Dedicated bank officer available? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Quality of e-banking platform? | Good | Good | Good | Very good | Very good |
Corporate visa debit cards available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Doing business through this corporate structure | | | | | |
Can make local sales to local customers? | No | No | No | No | No |
Can have local staff and local physical office premises? | No | No | No | No | No |
Can do business with local Suppliers? | No | No | No | No | No |
Director must visit country once a year? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Foreign currency repatriation controls? | No | No | No | No | No |
FATF blacklisted country? | No | No | No | No | No |