Seychelles International Business Company (IBC) Incorporation & Registration
Overview of a Seychelles Offshore IBC
Seychelles offers attractive offshore formation opportunities through an International Business Company (IBC) to businesses seeking the benefits of a secure, confidential and tax-free environment.
Seychelles has been offering clients offshore formation packages since the passing of the International Business Companies Act in 1994, and has grown rapidly in the sector due to its flexible structure, exceptional protection regulations and enabling legislation, making it among the best jurisdictions for offshore company formations.
The republic of Seychelles is compromised of over 100 islands, located a thousand miles east of Africa in the Indian Ocean; and unlike other natural disaster-prone offshore jurisdictions such as the Caribbean, the island lies far away from the cyclone belt.
Seychelles is part of the British Commonwealth, and benefits from a stable political environment enabling the offshore sector with comprehensive offshore packages, created and supported by one of the most auspicious legal and regulatory authorities in the offshore global arena.
Seychelles is a flourishing offshore financial center; its formation market has become one of the fastest growing company registries in the world due to its efficacy, innovation and its broad range of offshore services.
If you are looking for a jurisdiction with firm privacy regulations and tax-free opportunities in a supportive offshore environment, Seychelles may be the perfect choice for your next offshore company formation.
Advantages of a Seychelles Offshore Corporation
There are a number of advantages that make a Seychelles IBC a unique and attractive place to establish an IBC.
- Reasonable and set license fees
- No minimum capital requirement
- Only one shareholder or director is mandatory
- An IBC may own or manage a Seychelles-registered vessel or aircraft
- Low government fees
- Tax free structures
- A growing matrix of tax treaties used for investment into other countries
- An international trade zone
- No corporate tax
- Not required to file accounts
- Records are not publicly accessible
- Asset protection
- Well-respected and established offshore jurisdiction
- Favorable corporate laws offering an array of sophisticated, modern & flexible offshore products
- Solid banking secrecy, considered one of the best jurisdictions for protecting the privacy of its foreign investors
- Free from undesirable measures and exchange agreements
- Holds 46 tax treaties, all compliant to OECD standards
- Names of company directors and shareholders are not placed in the public registry
- Offers lenient policy on reporting interest incomes to overseas tax authorities
- Issues an innovative “Special License” company that can be used to take full advantage of Seychelles’ growing network of double taxation agreements
- No exchange controls
- Fiscal Incentives
- A skilled, professional and bilingual population
- Modern communication network
- Residence permit and work permit are available for foreign investors
- A skilled, professional and bilingual population
Top Uses of a Seychelles Offshore Company
A Seychelles IBC has many potential business uses. An offshore company can be used for, including but not limited to:
- International trading
- Asset protection
- Tax avoidance
- Protection of intellectual property
- Estate planning
- Holding Company
- Financial management
- Leasing of other asset
Key Corporate Features of a Seychelles Offshore IBC
| Seychelles Company | Corporate Details |
| General | |
| Type of Entity | IBC |
| Type of Law | Based on British Common Law and French Civil Law |
| Governed by | International Business Companies Act 1994 |
| Registered Office in Seychelles | Yes |
| Shelf company availability | Yes |
| Our time to establish a new company | 1 Business Day |
| Minimum government fees (excluding taxation) | US$ 100 |
| Corporate Taxation | No |
| Access to Double Taxation Treaties | No |
| Share capital or equivalent | |
| Standard currency | USD (local currency Seychellois Rupee SCR) |
| Permitted currencies | Any |
| Minimum paid up | No minimum |
| Usual authorized | US$ 50,000 |
| Bearer shares allowed | Yes (but required to be immobilized by the registered agent) |
| No par value shares allowed | Yes |
| Directors | |
| Minimum number | One |
| Local required | No |
| Publicly accessible records | No |
| Location of meetings | Anywhere |
| Corporate directorship allowed | Yes |
| Shareholders | |
| Minimum number | One (which can be the Director) |
| Publicly accessible records | No |
| Corporate shareholder allowed | Yes |
| Location of meetings | Anywhere |
| Company Secretary | |
| Required | No |
| Local or qualified | No |
| Accounts | |
| Requirements to prepare | Yes |
| Audit requirements | No |
| Requirements to file accounts | No |
| Publicly accessible accounts | No |
| Recurring Government Costs | |
| Minimum Annual Tax | US$ 100 |
| Annual Return Filing Fee | NA |
| Other | |
| Requirement to file annual return | No |
| Migration of domicile permitted | Yes |
Seychelles Offshore Company Registration Packages
Includes:
- Government Registration Fee (First year)
- Registered Office Address (First year)
- Registered Agent Services (First year)
- Company Secretarial Maintenance
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Memo & Articles of Association
- Appointment of 1st Directors
- Consent Actions of the BOD
- Share Certificates
- Register of Directors
- Register of Officers
- Register of Shareholders
- FREE Phone and/or email consultations
Seychelles Offshore Company Registration Requirements
The only requirements that need to be filed with the Registry are a Memorandum and the Articles of Association, which can be filed together or within 30 days of incorporation. To register, you will need
- passport copy
- proof of address
- bank statement
- application form
- applicable government fee
Once the forms and documents are arranged, they are electronically submitted online to the country business registry, where the application is filed. The whole process is completed usually in a matter of days.
Offshore Company Corporate Taxation
There are a number of tax incentives for establishing a Seychelles International Business Company including:
- Zero tax on all profits derived outside of Seychelles
- No stamp duty on exchange of shares or the sale of any assets
- Zero personal income tax
- Zero corporate tax
- No capital gains tax
- No sales tax
- No withholding tax
- No value added tax
- No import of export tax
