Seychelles Company formation

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Registering your Seychelles Company is a simple and speedy process. Within a day or two, you can expect the trouble-free formation of your Seychelles Company to be complete.

Still, there are instances whereby a Seychelles Company may be needed promptly, or even immediately. In these cases, there is the option of choosing your Seychelles Company from our list of ready companies (also known as shelf companies), so that within twenty-four hours, your Seychelles Company is a fully-functioning entity.

Why choose Meridian Trust for your Seychelles Company formation?

People on the spot: Our role as your Seychelles Company formation agents does not end there: our job is to establish your Seychelles Company by using the business structure most relevant to your requirements.

Ethical: Our legal, tax and company formation professionals all endorse the codes of conduct and ethics they are obliged to uphold by their various governing bodies.

On-going support: Once your Seychelles Company is ready, we continue to serve you: we make sure that you achieve the utmost value from your Seychelles Company.

Understanding: Our international clientele includes financial advisors, law firms, business consultants and tax advisors, so we know exactly what you expect of us.

A free initial consultation: Please call us on +357 24812050 or send us an email. We look forward to talking to you.

Seychelles - the dynamic offshore centre

Seychelles is currently an offshore tax haven on the rise, one of the most competitive and gaining confidence quickly. Its new incorporation volumes are increasing steadily, along with its recognition in the professional community. With offshore corporate legislation based on the time-tested concepts of some of its most successful competitors, and after a methodical improvement and modernisation, Seychelles now has an offshore corporate package that is hard to beat. With strong historical and business ties to both Western Europe and South Asia, Seychelles has emerged as the leading offshore tax haven in the Indian Ocean region. It competes as equal with the more widely recognized Caribbean offshore financial centres.

Zero tax

A Seychelles IBC, by the definition of the law, is not subject to any tax or duty on income or profits. A shareholder of a Seychelles IBC is also not subject to any tax on his income derived from the IBC. These provisions are enshrined into Article 109.(1) of the Seychelles IBC Act, stated as follows:

109.(1) A company incorporated under this Act or a shareholder thereof shall not be subject to any tax or duty on income or profits accruing to or deriving from such company or in connection with any transaction to which that company or shareholder, as the case may be, is a party.

In a similar fashion, a Seychelles IBC is also also exempt from any stamp duties on all transactions relating to its business, in particular on any transfers of property to or by the company, and on any transactions in respect of the shares, debt obligations or other securities of the IBC.

Essentially, a Seychelles IBC is a completely tax-free offshore corporation, insofar as it complies with a few simple rules of operation. The main requirement is that a Seychelles IBC should not pursue business within the territory of the Seychelles (except, of course, it may enter into business with any other Seychelles IBC`s). The law provides that all exemptions for a Seychelles IBC shall remain in force for a period of twenty years from the date of incorporation of the IBC.

In order to qualify as an IBC, a Seychelles company must satisfy the following criteria:

  • It may not carry on business in Seychelles.
  • It may not own real estate in Seychelles.
  • It may not do banking, insurance and registered agent business without special license.

However, a Seychelles IBC may still engage into any of the following:

  • It may maintain Seychelles-based bank accounts and deposits.
  • It may maintain books and records within Seychelles.
  • A Seychelles IBC may maintain professional relationship in Seychelles with attorneys, accountants, trust and management companies, investment advisers or other similar persons.
  • It may hold meetings of its directors in Seychelles.
  • It may lease a property in Seychelles to use as office from which to communicate with members and where books and records can be kept.
  • It may hold shares, debt obligations or other securities in another Seychelles IBC or in a Seychelles domestic company.
  • A Seychelles IBC may also own a vessel or and aircraft registered in Seychelles.
  • Shares in a Seychelles IBC may also be held by a person resident in Seychelles.

Secrecy

Confidentiality is one of the key features of the Seychelles International Business Company as details of the company beneficial owners, directors and shareholders are NOT part of public record. At registration of a new IBC, the Registrar of Companies does not require any data whatsoever on who is the actual beneficial owner of the new company. This information is only known to the licensed Registered Agent of the company and is kept in complete confidentiality. The internal corporate files of the IBC, like the Register of Members, Register of Directors and all Minutes and Resolutions, are kept at the offices of the Registered Agent and are also confidential.

The only documents of a Seychelles IBC that are held on public record are the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association. These documents do not contain any indication as to the actual shareholders or the beneficial owners of the company.

The Republic of Seychelles is an independent country. As such, it is not sharing or reporting information to any overseas "principal", or organization. Seychelles is not subject to the EU Savings Tax Directive, unlike some other offshore financial centres, which are related to the EU member states (primarily, to the UK and its overseas territories).

Seychelles has avoided entering any information-sharing agreements with foreign countries or organizations for exchange of financial aid. Client confidentiality is robustly enshrined in the Seychelles corporate and business legislation. Offshore financial services sector contributes significantly to the country`s GDP. There is an inherent interest with the government and with the general public to maintain and develop the country`s status as a competitive offshore financial centre.

Provisions against confiscation

Where any foreign governmental authority, by way of nationalisation, expropriation, confiscation, force or duress, or by imposition of any confiscatory tax, assessment or other governmental charge, takes or seizes any shares or other interest in a Seychelles IBC, a Seychelles court decision may be obtained ordering the company to disregard the attempted seizure and continue to respect the rights of the shareholder of the Seychelles IBC.

Fast incorporation

Seychelles has one of the fastest Registries of International Business Companies in the world. New IBC`s are usually incorporated within 24 hours.

Competitive Government license fees

A Seychelles IBC pays a government fee of $100 at registration, and per annum thereafter. Quite uniquely, however, this government fee applies to all International Business Companies regardless of the amount of their authorized capital, paid up capital, number of shares or other corporate variables.

This effectively outcompetes most other offshore jurisdictions!

Why?

Because most other offshore jurisdictions require substantially higher Government registration fees if the authorized capital of the IBC exceeds a certain amount - usually the capital threshold is $50´000 or $100´000. There is no such restriction in Seychelles! This means that you can have your IBC registered in Seychelles with an authorized capital of a hundred million dollars and still pay the same government fee of $100.