Also known as: |
Stiftung |
Stiftung |
Foundation |
Trust |
Trust |
Best use of foundation? |
Charitable activities |
Asset management and tax planning |
Asset management and tax planning |
Asset management and tax planning |
Asset management and tax planning |
Requires capital injection to local account before proceeding with registration? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
How soon can we supply you a foundation registration certificate? |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
2 weeks |
2 weeks |
How long to supply corporate bank account numbers? |
2 months |
2 months |
2 months |
3 months |
2 months |
How soon can the foundation start holding assets? |
2 months |
2 months |
2 months |
3 months |
2 months |
How soon can the foundation start hiring staff and signing agreements? |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
2 weeks |
2 weeks |
Corporate tax rate on annual net profits from trading income? |
8.5% |
12.5% |
18% |
8.7% |
Up to 1% |
Corporate tax rate on annual net profits from investment income? |
Up to 8.5% |
0% |
Up to 18% |
Up to 8.7% |
Up to 1% |
Limited liability entity? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Government approval required for foreign owners? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Resident council member or legal representative required? |
Yes |
Yes |
Only if trading |
No |
No |
Registered agent required? |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Minimum paid up share capital? |
€ 50,000 |
€ 30,000 |
€ 50,000 |
US$1 |
US$1 |
Can trade with global customers? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Corporate bank account location? |
UBS |
LGT |
Deutsche Bank |
Citibank |
Wells Fargo |
Average total business set up engagement costs? |
€ 33,190 |
€ 32,195 |
Request a proposal |
Request a proposal |
Request a proposal |
Average total engagement period? |
3 months |
3 months |
2 months |
2 months |
2 months |
Accounting and tax considerations |
Switzerland |
Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg |
Delaware |
Nevada |
Legally tax exempt if properly structured? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Tax incentives available in the country of registration? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Must file an annual tax return? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Must file annual financial statements? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Must appoint an auditor? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Can access to double taxation treaties if properly structured? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Withholding tax on payments to foreign beneficiaries? |
35% |
0% |
15% |
30% |
30% |
Foundation Registration |
Switzerland |
Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg |
Delaware |
Nevada |
Recommended entity type? |
Private foundation |
Private foundation |
Private foundation |
Private foundation |
Private foundation |
Time to register a new foundation? |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
2 weeks |
2 weeks |
Minimum members of council members / directors / legal representatives? |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Resident council member / director / representative required? |
Yes |
Yes |
1 director if trading |
No |
No |
Minimum number of beneficiaries? |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Can the beneficiaries be corporate entities? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can the beneficiaries be individuals? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Minimum statutory paid up capital? |
€ 50,000 |
€ 30,000 |
€ 50,000 |
US$1 |
US$1 |
Minimum amount of assets put under foundation management? |
€ 50,000 |
€ 30,000 |
€ 50,000 |
US$1 |
US$1 |
Shelf foundations available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Public register of council members and beneficiaries? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Business Considerations |
Switzerland |
Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg |
Delaware |
Nevada |
Good entity for holding global assets? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Good entity to trade with global customers? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can secure charitable status? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Our Client needs to travel to complete foundation registration? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Temporary physical office solutions available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Local bank signatory required? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Can be wholly foreign managed? |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
The entity will likely be regulated by? |
Federal Foundation Supervisory Authority |
STIFA |
Ministry of Justice |
State of Delaware |
Nevada Secretary of State |
Monthly VAT reporting to the Government always required? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Must sign an office lease agreement during incorporation? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Shareholders & directors documents to be attested/translated? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Each foreign director / council member needs a personal tax number? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Foreign director / council member needs a residence visa? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Requires to hire staff in the country of registration? |
1 director |
No |
1 director if trading |
No |
No |
Can secure residence visa for directors or staff members? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Other useful information |
Switzerland |
Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg |
Delaware |
Nevada |
This country is a member of WIPO/TRIPS? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
This country is a member of the ICSID? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Average monthly office rental? (per sq. m) |
€ 60 |
€ 30 |
€ 50 |
US$40 |
US$20 |
Minimum statutory monthly salary? |
€ 4,700 |
None |
€ 1,999 |
US$1,320 |
US$1,320 |
US$ deposit interest rate? (1 year average) |
0% |
0% |
0.4% |
1.09% |
1.18% |
Overseas remittance currency controls? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Banking considerations |
Switzerland |
Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg |
Delaware |
Nevada |
Multi-currency bank accounts available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Corporate visa debit cards available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Quality of e-banking platform? |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Crowd funding available in this country? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |