| 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 |
