Offshore Company Comparison Chart
Offshore company comparison chart comparing the popular offshore jurisdictions
Offshore Company Comparison Chart
This page contains an offshore company comparison chart comparing the following popular offshore companies: Belize IBC, BVIBC, Hong Kong company, Seychelles IBC and Seychelles CSL. Sterling provides offshore company formation and related services for all of the following offshore companies below. Complete the simple online form at the link below to obtain a quotation.
Offshore Company Quote Request
Offshore Companies Comparison Chart
| General | Seychelles | Seychelles | Belize | BVI | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company Type | International Business Company (IBC) | Company “Special License” (CSL) | International Business Company (IBC) | Business Company | Limited Company |
| Political Stability and Absences of Violence/Terrrorism (2018 World Bank Index 0-100) | 69.52 | 69.52 | 46.19 | Not ranked | 74.76 |
| Legal System | Civil/Common Law Hybrid | Civil/Common Law Hybrid | Common Law | Common Law | Common Law |
| Public Director Register? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Public Share Register? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Migration of Domicile Permitted? | Yes (incoming and outgoing) | Yes (incoming and outgoing) | Yes (incoming and outgoing) | Yes (incoming and outgoing) | Yes (incoming and outgoing) |
| Non-English Names Allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taxes | |||||
| Tax Resident? | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Income Tax Rate | 0-30% (30% on Seychelles sourced income only) | 0-30% (30% on Seychelles sourced income only) | 0% | 0% | *0%/16.5% (16.5% Hong Kong sourced income only) |
| Capital Gains Tax Rate | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Qualifies for Double Tax Avoidance Agreement Purposes? | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | Yes |
| Corporate Requirements | |||||
| Minimum Shareholders | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bearer Shares Allowed? | No | No | Yes (must be held by approved custodian) | Yes (must be held by approved custodian) | No |
| Minimum Directors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Corporate Director Allowed? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Company Secretary Mandatory? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Minimum Paid Up Capital | Any | 10% of Authorised Capital | Any | Any | Any |
| Local Requirements | |||||
| Registered Agent | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Registered Office | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secretary | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Directors | No (except if using for DTAA access) | No (except if using for DTAA access) | No | No | No (except if using for DTAA access) |
| Meetings | No | No | No | No | No |
| Shareholder and Director Registers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance Requirements | |||||
| Must maintain accounts? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Must file accounts? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts must be audited? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Must file annual return? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Meeting locations | Board and general meetings may be held anywhere including Seychelles | Board and general meetings may be held anywhere including Seychelles | Board and general meetings may be held anywhere including Belize | Board and general meetings may be held anywhere including BVI | Board and general meetings may be held anywhere including Hong Kong |
| Incorporation | |||||
| Incorporation Time (from receipt of all KYC/DD & payment) | 1 Day | 2-4 Weeks | 1 Day | 1 Day | 5 Days |
| Initial/Annual Gov’t Fees (in USD terms) | 150/150 | 1200/1200 | 100/150 | 450/450 | 512/290 (HKD3970/2250) |