Setting up an offshore company is just as easy as it was a decade ago – however, the offshore destinations themselves have changed under pressure from global regulators and they offer different conditions. You can no longer have absolute confidentiality, and you have to choose the one that offers more privacy if this is your top priority. Low (or even zero) taxes are still there to enjoy, though. You will be subject to stringent due diligence as offshores are no longer a shelter for scammers. High-risk businesses are allowed, so if you deal with gambling, crypto, or forex, you may expect to get your company quickly enough. Remember that offshores don’t work with individuals – they only accept documents via registered agents. You may seek professional help or try to find a reliable one on your own.
Why Form an Offshore Company?
The world is becoming a less stable place, and entrepreneurs from all over the world are looking for safe havens that offer certain prospects, a favorable environment, a stable and prospering economy, and enough security to carry out business activities without fear.
Offshore companies are usually incorporated in beneficial jurisdictions where assets are protected in a reliable manner, the overall incorporation process is not a painstaking affair, and local authorities are sufficiently interested in foreign investments to create the best possible conditions for them.
Offshore company formation does not mean that you need to pack your bags and settle down in the country of registration right away. While the situation in the home country is acceptable and does not require immediate action, the company can be managed from afar. However, the safe airfield is there waiting for you, so business owners simply make arrangements for a successful response to any black swan situation.
Digital nomads and creative individuals find it just as useful to have an offshore company that will help them deal with customers from across the globe. These categories may have different requirements: as many incentives as possible, low-cost company setup, high-quality communication facilities, and a beautiful environment to live in.
Offshore jurisdictions are usually selected due to the following features they offer:
- Bulletproof asset protection schemes.
- The personal data of business owners and beneficiaries can be kept private (especially if you use the nominee service as an additional layer of protection).
- The red tape associated with company maintenance is minimized: all you need is to pay an annual company extension fee. There is no need to submit your reporting or have it audited, or even keep it in the country where the company has been incorporated.
- Tax rates are kept at a minimal level or reduced to zero.
There are about 100 jurisdictions that can be called offshore countries. While an “offshore jurisdiction” is sometimes mistakenly believed to be an island, this term may be in fact applied to any destination that offers favorable conditions to non-resident companies. You may be at a loss as it is hard to choose the right country from such a large number of existing offers. However, you can click on the above link to get expert recommendations for free.
Have you ever thought of the USA as a major offshore jurisdiction? However, it actually can be considered a tax haven as the tax benefits and overall conditions it provides to foreign company owners are really worth your attention. If you are a non-resident with a large capital, you can deposit your assets in Florida, Wyoming, Nevada, or Delaware, and your personal data will be as secure as it can possibly be despite the fact that the USA stands for absolute transparency: while all the institutions around the world have to report the information about US citizens, US authorities are under no obligation to provide the information about what is happening in the country to other states.
However, well-developed economies can hardly be called the best choice. Your company will be registered in a more prestigious jurisdiction – and if this is your top priority, then such a choice is justified. Keep in mind, though, that countries with strong economies are not as interested in attracting non-resident entrepreneurs as the jurisdictions where the situation is not so bright. As a result, the latter will create better conditions for non-resident business owners than the former.
Are Offshore Companies Lawful?
This is a question that we hear quite frequently despite the fact that there are a lot of successfully functioning offshore companies, including large ones. Why is it? Well, the reason is simple: offshores are often mentioned in the media in connection with scandals (money laundering, tax evasion, and things like that), while thousands of law-abiding offshore companies remain in the shadows. As a result, the word “offshore” conjures up images of something illegal, and most people do not want to break any laws.
Well, the answer to the question is easy. An offshore company is an instrument. You can use a knife, for example, to cut vegetables or to kill people. However, it does not make knives illegal, does it? The situation with offshore companies is pretty much the same: if the activities you carry out are legal, you have nothing to fear.
There are certain things you have to check, though.
First of all, your business activities may require obtaining a license. If you conduct them without a license on behalf of an offshore company, the latter is not to blame. You simply have to get a license if you need to, and you will be able to carry out even high-risk activities (such as forex, gambling, cryptocurrencies, and so on) in countries where they are allowed.
Second, study the laws in your country of legal (tax) residence with regard to owning offshore assets. Some countries oblige their citizens to declare the possession of accounts, companies, real estate, and other assets abroad. Failure to declare your offshore company may result in problems with the law – and, once again, the offshore status of the company is not to blame in this case.
Interested in offshore company formation? You can follow the above link to get useful tips on how to choose a jurisdiction you will benefit from and ask an expert well-versed in the field to help you with the choice free of charge. We wish you luck with your undertaking!