Background

The Federal Territory of Labuan is an island group, 92 sq km in size, with a population of 78,000 situated off the north-west coast of the former British Borneo and Brunei Darussalam. Labuan is part of Malaysia and comprises seven small islands of which Pulau Labuan is the largest. Labuan lies off the north-west coast of Borneo, 8 km from the Malaysian state of Sabah and is strategically located roughly equidistant from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. It is mostly flat with a good harbour and is accessible by air, with daily services from Kuala Lumpur and from most Asian capitals.

Labuan is located on the major shipping and air routes of the Asian Region and is Malaysia’s only deepwater harbour. It has a warm humid tropical climate, with daily temperatures averaging 30°C with two monsoon seasons ie from April to June and from September to December. The main language is Bahasam Melayu but English, Tamil and various Chinese dialects are widely spoken. Many documents and publications are available in English (including the Labuan offshore Legislation).

Political & Economic History

In 1984 the administration of Labuan was taken over by the Federal Government of Malaysia which consists of thirteen states and two federal territories (ie Kuala Lumpur and Labuan). Malaysia has an unusual political system with power held in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect a head of state every five years from among their number. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament comprising of a House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) and a Senate (Dewan Negara), Executive power is held by the Prime Minister who governs with the assistance of a ministerial cabinet. Appointments are for a five year term.

Malaysia is economically strong and considered politically stable. Under the auspice of LOFSA (the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority) the Malaysian government has invested heavily in improving the physical infrastructure of Labuan which is now completely modernised and boasts a state of the art telecommunications system including an Internet Gateway which provides an e-commerce platform. More than 50 of the world’s top banks have branches in Labuan.

Advantages of Labuan Companies:

• All offshore business transactions attract no stamp duty and capital gains are not subject to any form of tax
• Not subject to Malaysian exchange controls
• Malaysia enjoys tariff reductions in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and has signed more than 60 Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties (“DTAs”)
• Malaysia boats an English style legal system
• Labuan IBFC offers a wide range of financial products and services (including both conventional and Islamic)
• Corporate documents are written in English
• There is no requirement to disclose to the authority the names of the beneficial owners of the Company
• Company names can be in a foreign language

Features of Labuan Companies:

• Speedy setup: A Labuan Company can be incorporated in as little as 3 days.
• It may use “(L)” as part of its name. An offshore company may also have as part of its name the word “Berhad” or “Bhd” but must then add the word “(L)”.
• There are no minimum share capital requirements. The share capital may be denominated in any currency except Malaysian Ringgit. Separate classes of shares may be created with differing rights to dividends or otherwise. A minimum of one shareholder is required to establish a company. Shareholder can be individuals or corporations. Shareholders need not be resident.
• Companies require a minimum of one director.
• Corporate Directors are permitted
• Directors may be resident in any country
• Only one shareholder minimum is required
• A Local secretary is required (which OCI Provides)
• Directors meetings can be held anywhere
• The standard authorised capital is US$ 10,000; divided in to 10,000 shares of US$ 1. The minimum issued capital is one share, which may be fully or partly paid.
• An annual return in the prescribed form made up to a date not earlier than 14 days before the date of lodgment is required to be lodged each year and not later than 30 days prior to the anniversary of the date of incorporation of the company.
• Classes of Shares Permitted: Registered shares of par value, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with no voting rights.
• There is no exchange control in Malaysia. The Malaysian currency is the Ringgit (RM). Save for certain exceptions, offshore companies in Labuan are required to carry on business in a foreign currency.

Procedure to Incorporate

To incorporate an Offshore Company in Labuan you must submit to the Registry:

• Memorandum and Articles of Association,
• Consent form to act as a director,
• Statutory Declaration of Compliance with the Companies Act
• Certificate of Identity
• Statutory declaration by persons before appointments as directors
• The incorporation fee.

Company Name Options & Restrictions

Labuan Company names must include one of the following words, or an abbreviation thereof:
Corporation
Incorporated
Limited
Public Limited Company
Societe Anonyme
Sociedad Anonima
Aktiengesellschaft
Naamloze Vennootschap
Perseroan Terbat

Names resembling the name of an existing company or names that in the opinion of the Registrar suggest Royal or government patronage are not permitted. Names, which the Registrar considers undesirable, will be rejected. Certain names/words require consent or a license ie Bank, building society, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, investment fund, trust, trustees, Chamber of Commerce, university, municipal or their foreign language equivalents. Re Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability any of the following may be used: Limited, Incorporated, Corporation, Sociètè Anonyme, Sociedad Anonima or their relevant abbreviation. If the Malaysian word Berhad is used then it must be preceded by “(L)” to denote that the company is incorporated in Labuan.

Business Restrictions

A Labuan Offshore Company should only carry on business in, from or through Labuan. A Labuan Offshore Company may not:

(a)  Do business with a resident of Malaysia (except as permitted by the Offshore Banking Act 1990);

(b)  Carry on the business of Banking or Insurance or such similar business unless it is licensed so to do under the Offshore Banking Act 1990 or the Offshore Insurance Act 1990;

(c)   Do business in the Malaysian currency save for defraying its administrative and statutory costs;

(d)  Carry on the business of shipping or petroleum operations in Malaysia

(e)  Operate as a trust company.

Exceptions to carrying on business with residents of Malaysia:

A Labuan Offshore Company is not treated as carrying on business with residents of Malaysia if:

(i)                it makes or maintains deposits with a person carrying on business in Malaysia;

(ii)               it makes contact with professional advisers carrying on business in Malaysia;

(iii)            it prepares and maintains books and records in Malaysia;

(iv)            it acquires or holds any lease or property for operational purposes or accommodation of its employees;

(v)              it holds directors’ or members’ meetings within Malaysia;

(vi)            it holds shares, debt obligations, or other securities in a company incorporated under the Offshore Companies Act 1990 or in a domestic company, or holds shares, debts obligations or other securities for the purposes of a transaction entered in to in the ordinary course of a money-lending business.

Taxation

Labuan Offshore Trading Companies pay 3% tax on net audited profits or the sum of RM 20,000 (where no audit is required). Non-Trading companies are tax exempt.

The locality of profits from trading in goods and commodities is generally determined by the place where the contracts for purchase and sale is effected. “Effected” means more than where the contract is signed and includes the location of negotiation, conclusion and execution of the terms of the contracts.

If a Labuan Company earns commission by securing buyers for products or by securing suppliers of products required by customers, the activity which gives rise to the commission is the arrangement of the business to be transacted between the principals. The source of the income is the place where the activities of the commission agent are performed.

Double Taxation Agreements

To date Malaysia has signed 74 double taxation treaty agreements (DTAs), making its DTA network the most extensive in the region. Labuan companies can now make an irrevocable election to be taxed under the Malaysian Income Tax Act 1967 (ITA), thereby affording the Company access to all of Malaysia’s DTAs. A Labuan holding company which has a co-located office in Kuala Lumpur must make the election to be taxed under the ITA.

Malaysia’s DTA partners include: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan (Income Tax Exemption Order), Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Financial Records

A set of accounting records must be kept in Labuan.

A trading company, which pays 3% of audited net profits, is required to appoint an auditor and file audited financial statements. However trading companies which elect to pay tax of RM 20,000 p.a. are not required to file financial statements. Such companies are exempt from appointing an auditor if they have not carried out licensed activities and the members of the company have resolved that no auditor be appointed.

There is a filing fee for “adoption of accounts” and if the accounts of the Labuan Company have been audited, and for the “lodgement of the said audited accounts”.

A non-trading Labuan Company is not required to appoint an auditor nor file audited financial statements.

OCI Labuan Company Formation Services

At OCI we believe in giving you more for your money than would the average IBC formation service. Hence included in the incorporation package for your Labuan Offshore Company is the following:

Services:

• Unlimited name availability inquiries
• Advice from an experienced International Corporate Lawyer on how to structure your company
• Preparation (overseen by a lawyer) of application to incorporate the company
• Preparation (overseen by a lawyer) of the company’s memorandum of association
• Preparation (overseen by a lawyer) of the company’s articles of association
• Attending to filing incorporation request with the company registry
• Attending to payment of government filing fees
• One year’s Registered Agent service in the country of incorporation
• One year’s Registered Office service in the country of incorporation
• Mailing address in the country of incorporation
• Delivery of Incorp pack by international courier (ie DHL/Fedex/TNT etc)
• Unlimited free legal consultations for 12 months

Documents included in your Incorp pack:

• Certificate of incorporation
• 2 sealed/stamped copies of the company’s Memorandum of Association
• 2 sealed/stamped copies of the company’s Articles of Association
• Resolution appointing first director/s
• Resolution appointing first shareholder/s
• Up to 5 share certificates
• Resolution to open a bank account
• Resolution to rent an office
• Resolution/s to engage a Phone, Internet & Website service provider
• Resolution to hire a staff member/s
• Resolution to appoint a company lawyer
• Resolution to appoint a company accountant
• Resolution appointing you as the company’s authorised representative in commercial negotiations
• Resolution issuing a Power of Attorney in your favour
• Agreement authorising you to represent the company in commercial negotiations
• Power of attorney authorising you to sign documents on behalf of the company
• Register of directors
• Register of shareholders
• Expression of wishes (ie an “Offshore” Will)
• Lawyer authored User Guide (“How to Use Your Offshore Company”)

Price (all inclusive): $US 2,750

With tax effective offshore company management (ie including Professional Corporate “Nominee” Director, Shareholder & Company Secretary): $ 3,150

From 2^nd year: $1,850 (+ Nominees as/if required)

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

Centrally located at the Alpine crossroads of Western Europe, and renowned for its International Banking/Fund Management Industry, Switzerland, despite a relatively small population (circa 8 million) stands at or near the top of the peak in terms of Internationally focused Company Formation jurisdictions.

Boasting a stable, progressive economy Switzerland holds the 2nd highest rating in Europe (behind only Ireland) in the Index of Economic Freedom and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report currently ranks Switzerland’s economy as the second most competitive in the world.

With a pro-business regulatory environment, outstanding infrastructure and the ability to deliver one of the lowest Corporate Tax Rates in Europe (as little as 9%, potentially) it’s no surprise that many start-ups (especially since the beginning of the tech boom) have chosen to make Switzerland their Corporate Headquarters.

Swiss Company Features

Company Type: S.A. or S.A.R.L.

Time To form: Min 10 days

Paid up Capital: CHF (ie Swiss Francs) 50,000 for an S.A. and CHF 20,000 for an S.A.R.L.

Privacy: Switzerland offers a high level of confidentiality. For an S.A. the names of shareholders remain anonymous. S.A. Companies can have Bearer shares

Accounting: Swiss Companies must generate a set of accounts annually but there is no Audit requirement.

Taxation: Tax can be as little as 9% if the majority of turnover comes from outside Switzerland

Number of Directors: Minimum of 1 director is required (at least 1 director must be resident in Switzerland). Nominee Directors are permitted

Number of Shareholders: Minimum of 1 shareholder. Can be Corporate or natural person

Differences Between a Swiss S.A. and S.A.R.L. Company

Prices and Inclusions

Set up price for a Swiss company: $US5,500 (From 2^nd year $3,750)

Set up price inclusions:

• The Certificate of Incorporation issued by the local registrar.
• Company secretarial maintenance.
• The Memorandum and Articles of Association.
• Registered Office in Switzerland
• Registered Agent in Switzerland.
• Share certificate(s).
• Board resolution authorizing appointment of director and the issuance of of shares.
• Unlimited free consultations with our In-House Lawyer for 12 months

Renewal fee inclusions: 

• Registered office in Switzerland for one year
• Registered agent in Switzerland for one year
• Annual Governmental charges
• Managing all company compliance requirements.
• Unlimited free consultations with our In-House Lawyer for 12 months

Optional Services:

Swiss resident Nominee Director: $3,990

Power of attorney $165

Metal Company Seal: 165

Rubber Corporate Stamp: $75

Local telephone/fax number in Switzerland with answering service: $1,250

Notarisation and apostille of Corp docs: $165

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

As at the time of writing there are no laws or regulations in Switzerland aimed specifically at ICOs. Moreover, hitherto the Swiss Financial Services Regulator (“FINMA”) has been reluctant to share with service providers etc information about how they deal with inquiries regarding ICOs.

In February this year, however, FINMA published a practical guide in regards to ICOs in which it explains how it deals with such enquiries in this field and provides certain details on how FINMA applies Swiss financial market laws to ICOs.

Legal Classification of the Token to be issued

As outlined in the Practical Guide, FINMA discusses the treatment of three types of digital tokens which boast different functions, whilst at the same time acknowledging that mixed forms of Token are also possible (ie “hybrid” tokens).

Payment tokens (ie “pure” cryptocurrencies)

Payment Tokens (which are akin to pure cryptocurrencies) include Tokens which are accepted as a method of payment in particular for the purchase of goods or services. These tokens are invariably not linked to other functions or projects. “Cryptocurrencies give rise to no claims on their issuer“. These tokens are considered a digital means of payment or exchange.

Utility tokens

The second category of tokens, Utility Tokens, are tokens that provide access to a digital application or service by means of blockchain-based infrastructure. Such Tokens do not include any promise of performance or profit expectations.

Asset tokens

The third and final category of Tokens, Security Tokens, “represent assets such as participations in companies” and provide a right to income, dividends or interest. These Tokens in effect represent a claim against the issuer. “In terms of its economic function, the investment tokens are analogous to equities, bonds or derivatives“.

Anecdotally we have seen, that the delimitation set by FINMA between the different categories of tokens is not so obvious in practice. A Token will often have the characteristics of several kinds of Token (e.g. payment token and asset token or utility token and payment token).

Once the token has been classified, the Founders/Promoters of the ICO must determine which financial laws apply to his/her project and what license (if any) needs to be applied for authorizing the Token Issuing Company to issue and trade these tokens.

Determination of applicable laws

On this topic, the Practical Guide provides some guidance:

Payment tokens (“ie pure” cryptocurrencies)

FINMA is of the view that payment tokens do not represent securities, except in the case of a pre-sale of tokens. If however you intend to issue the Token in Switzerland such issuance must adhere to Swiss anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.

Utility tokens

Utility tokens are not considered to be securities provided (a) they only confer on the acquirer the right to access a digital service and (b) can already be used in this way at the time of issue.

Asset tokens

FINMA regards asset tokens as securities and has indicated that the legal and regulatory consequences of such a classification must be adhered to. (For example, if the token has the characteristics of a derivative, its sale may require a dealer’s authorization). Such a classification also invokes obligations under the Swiss Code of Obligations, eg the Promoter will need to have Lawyers draft a prospectus for the issuance of equities or bonds in the form of digital tokens.

Practical Tips

If you are considering launching your ICO from Switzerland, before you incorporate, it would be wise to send an enquiry to FINMA about the applicability of financial market regulation to your proposed ICO and the potential application of licensing requirements (including with your inquiry a White Paper containing all the required information per the Practical Guide).

Next up you’ll need to consider how to legally structure your ICO/Token issuing entity (e.g. via incorporation of a Company or Foundation, type of company, etc.) and how best to minimize taxes both in Switzeland and at home. For example, different tax rates may apply in Switzerland depending on which Swiss Canton you decide to call home.

Following receipt of FINMA’s response to your preliminary enquiry, you’ll need to prepare/draft:

(i)                the legal documentation necessary for the issuance of the tokens (ie including an application to FINMA for a license should same be required) and/or a prospectus

(ii)              the documents relating to the ICO itself, including the general terms and conditions governing the supply of the Token and the entitlements the Token offers.

In summary, to avoid regulatory challenges, would-be ICO Launchers are strongly advised to carry out a preliminary Swiss legal assessment as regards the token to be issued, and/or to submit an enquiry to FINMA about the applicability (or non-applicability) of Swiss financial market regulations/laws to ICOs and the likely applicability (or not) of licensing requirements.

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

At OCI we incorporate a LOT of ICOs/Token Offering Businesses every month.

By far the most common question we get asked is “Do I need to apply for a Special License For My ICO?”

In summary it comes down to this.:

(a)  If what you are offering is in effect a Security you will need to apply for a Special License in pretty much any jurisdiction you might be thinking of incorporating in.

(b)  If what you are offering would not be classified at law as a Security does the proposed jurisdiction classify a Utility token issuance as a Licensable Activity? If it does then, to incorporate in that particular country, you will need to also apply for the relevant license

Tokens

In an ICO the Issuing Entity (usually a Company) commonly issues a Token in return for a financial contribution by a third party.

Depending on their function, crypto tokens may be classified as Utility Tokens or Security tokens.

Security Tokens typically require Registration as a Security in the country of the offering entity before same can be offered for sale.

Utility tokens, (also known as user tokens or app coins), entitle future access to a company’s product or service. The defining characteristic of utility tokens is that they are not designed as investments; if properly structured, this feature can exempt utility tokens them from laws governing securities.

By creating utility tokens, a startup can sell “digital coupons” for the service it is developing, much as electronics retailers accept pre-orders for video games that might not be released for several months. (Filecoin, for instance, raised $257 million by selling tokens that will provide users with access to its decentralized cloud storage platform).

Utility tokens however present challengers to Regulators as regards their legal characterization. The nature of a utility token typically is to permit the holder to access a service provided by the issuer’s platform. This is commonly a pre-sale made by a start-up seeking capital to develop the promised service. While token-holder rights bear resemblances to, for example, licensees, franchisees, or club memberships, utility tokens may have other features that lend securities-like properties to them.

What is a Security?

Generally, the term “Security: is used to describe a financial instrument which contains a promise by the issuer, (which is usually a company), to pay the holder of the instrument a defined amount on or by a specified date (this date is when a debt security is said to “mature”), usually with interest.

In the United Kingdom, the term “security” applies only to equities, debentures, alternative debentures, government and public securities, warrants, certificates representing certain securities, units, stakeholder pension schemes, personal pension schemes, rights to or interests in investments, and anything that may be admitted to the Official List.

Some jurisdictions however have given the term Security a very broad definition For example in the USA a Security is defined as “ any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security,” or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing“

The scope of the term “security” has been more extensively explored in the U.S. The most well known case on this point is a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in SEC v. W.J. Howey Co. (328 U.S. 293 1946) (‘Howey’s case). Howey’s case established that an “investment contract”, which is one type of security as defined by the Securities Act of 1933, means “a contract, transaction, or scheme whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits solely from the efforts of the promoter or a third party”

If the Token you are offering clearly operates like equity or debt (via payments, voting rights, etc), then almost certainly your Token would be classified as  Security.

Under Hong Kong Law the concept of what is a Security, is in general consistent with best international practices that prohibit accessing public capital unless registration or authorisation requirements are complied with or a relevant exemption applies. The Securities and Futures Ordinance (‘SFO’) s definition of “security” provides little assistance in relation to tokens that do not clearly fall into pre-established categories, such as shares or debentures. In Hong Kong an  entitlement to participate in a Collective Investment Scheme (“CIS”) ” can also be considered a Security That said the definition of “collective investment scheme” (‘CIS’), is widely drafted and remains open to interpretation in its application.

Summary

In short if a crypto token derives its value from an external, tradable asset, it would be classified as a security token.

Specifically if a Token promises the holder the right to share in the profits of and or management of the issuing Company, or a relative thereof, almost certainly such an offering would be considered a Security and would need to be registered as such in the proposed country of incorporation.

If, however, what you are offering is but a Utility Token then in 90% of tax free or law tax jurisdictions (eg Hong Kong, Seychelles, Belize, Nevis, Panama, Dominica etc) you should not need to apply for any form of Special License.

That said certain jurisdictions have decided to specifically make Utility Token Offering ICOs a licensable activity. These jurisdictions currently include Gibraltar and Malta. Hence if you intend to incorporate in one of these jurisdictions (even if what you are offering is not a Security) you will need to apply for an ICO License.

If you are about to launch an ICO and are in any doubt about your licensing obligations/requirements you should seek legal advice in the proposed country of incorporation, prior to launch.

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

On the 1^st June 2018 the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced radical changes to the ability of EU Forex Traders to access leveraged trading. The new changes which came into effect on 30 July 2018 include a cap on the amount of leverage that can be offered to retail traders, negative balance protection and a 50% margin close-out rule.

If you are a European forex trader the net effect of these changes is that you now have a greatly reduced ability to make profit from forex trading.

But there is a solution.

The Solution is to set up an Offshore Company and have that Company open a Brokerage account a/with a non-European Broker. This will afford you access to the best possible trading terms, particularly in terms of leverage (and can potentially deliver a tax planning opportunity, see below)

To summarise how it would work is:

• You set up a zero tax International Business Company (“IBC”)
• The IBC opens an account with a non EU Broker
• You are appointed as the IBC’s authorised trader (ie you place the buy and sell orders on behalf of the company)
• Ideally the IBC should be seen to be managed/controlled/owned from Offshore (which can be achieved via the deployment of an Offshore based Nominee Director and Nominee Shareholder etc)
• For all intents and purposes the IBC’s trading profits are generated in a nil tax environment ie tax free/offshore (ie provided the IBC is structured/administered properly)
• When you need some living/spending money the IBC pays you a wage, or consulting fees or a commission (eg a percentage of trading profits generated)
• That living/spending money can be paid to your local bank account (which means it would be assessable income wherever you are ordinarily resident for tax purposes though you should also be able to claim a sizeable amount of allowable deductions eg for home office, car, equipment, insurances, travel, stationary etc etc to reduce the amount of your “taxable” income at home)
• If you don’t want the authorities to know how much money you are earning by way of wages you could also use an anonymous ATM or Debit/VISA card to withdraw your wages from an Auto Tele Machine (though technically, unless it’s a loan drawdown, such a receipt would be assessable income for tax purposes)
• The majority of trading profits could be reinvested Offshore potentially tax free.  This will enable you to build your Capital base much faster thanks to the power of compounding

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

A Scotland LP is a privately-owned Limited Partnership wherein 2 or more persons or corporate entities are nominated as the Partners/Members of the LP. At least one of the Partners in the LP must be nominated as “General Partner (i.e. “Managing Partner”). The Partners/Members may be natural persons or corporate bodies from any country (ie there is no requirement to have a Scottish resident Partner).

Key Features:

• Minimum two partners (Nominee partners can be provided)
• Company House will hold in the public records only the names of the Members/Partners (which are commonly offshore entities).
• Each Scottish LP must have a Registered office in Scotland (which service OCI can provide)
• There is no requirement to keep accounts
• There is no requirement to file a tax return with the Scottish/UK Revenue Service
• There is no audit requirement
• Shelf partnerships are available for purchase
• Not perceived as a “Tax Haven” Entity but can achieve the same ends (ie a nil tax result, see below)
• Particularly advantageous for those looking to do business in Europe
• Low set up cost (can be capitalized with as little as GBP2!)
• No requirement to file beneficial owners’ details
• Nominee Partners can be deployed
• Board Meetings can be held anywhere
• VERY high political/economic stability
• Affords access to UK Banks

Common Uses For Scottish LPs

Non-Resident Scotttish LPs (ie where the Partners are companies/persons based outside the European Community) are commonly used for:

• the holding of investments/assets including real property, Mutual Fund Interests, IP etc
• holding the shares of limited companies
• international trading operations
• consultancy and personal service companies

Taxation

A Scottish LP is not liable to declare income or pay tax in the UK where the members of the Scottish LP are based outside the UK and there is no business activity taking place inside the UK.

LPs are classified, for tax purposes as pass through entities. That is the Partnership is not liable to file a tax return or pay tax provided it distributes its income to the Partners. In accordance with general UK tax protocols, the income of the LP is treated as being the income of its Partners, and therefore the Partners agreed share of Partnership profits are only taxable in the Partners’ countries of residence (eg the jurisdiction of incorporation, in the case of corporate Members).

Where the Partners of a Scottish LP are themselves zero tax entities (eg 2 tax free International Business Companies or nil tax Offshore trusts or nil tax Private Foundations) profits generated from a Scottish LP can be banked free from tax.

Price and Inclusions

OCI (www.offshoreincorporate.com) can assist you to set up a Scottish LP.

Included in the all-inclusive set up price of $800 for a Scottish Limited Partnership are the following components:

Services:

• Unlimited name availability inquiries
• Advice from an experienced International Corporate Lawyer on how to structure your Limited Partnership
• Preparation (overseen by a Lawyer) of application to register the Limited Partnership
• Preparation (overseen by a Lawyer) of the Limited Partnership agreement
• Preparation (overseen by a Lawyer) of the Statement of Particulars
• Attending to filing the Limited Partnership registration request with the registry
• Attending to payment of government filing fees
• One year’s Registered Agent’s service in the country of registration
• One year’s Registered Office service in the country of registration
• Mailing address in the country of registration
• Delivery of registration pack by international courier (ie DHL/Fedex/TNT etc)
• Unlimited free legal consultations for 12 months

Documents included in the Set Up Pack:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Partnership Agreement (drafted/tailored by our In House Lawyer)
• First Minutes recording formation
• Membership Certificates
• Combined Company Register
• Certificate of Incorporation (on Companies House card)
• First Minutes recording formation
• Membership Certificates
• Combined Company Register
• Resolution to open a bank account for the Partnership
• Resolution to appoint a lawyer for the Partnership
• Resolution to appoint an accountant for the Partnership

From 2^nd year: $600

Includes:

• Annual Government fee
• Provision of Registered Office in Scotland
• Provision of Registered Agent in Scotland
• Mailing address in the country of registration
• Unlimited free legal consultations for 12 months

Additional Services Available:

Provision of 2 (OCI Owned) Tax Free IBCs to act as Nominee Partners: $US800 per year

Assistance to open bank account: From $475

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

We are often asked Where is the best place to incorporate my tax free Offshore Company?

It may interest you to know that to date over 75% of all clients have chosen to incorporate their nil tax Company in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a terrific jurisdiction in which to house a Company in that:

 
1. HK does not tax its Companies on income earned outside of Hong Kong

2. HK companies are not widely perceived as “Tax Haven” companies

 
3. There is so much money flowing out of China via Hong Kong to places like the US and Europe on any given day that payments from a HK company to you are unlikely to attract regulatory type inquiry.

4. Hong Kong is the gateway for investment into China and ideal location for your international headquarters if you aspire to sell your products or services in China

5. Hong Kong is nowhere near as regulated as other big financial centres. Many businesses/companies that would otherwise require special licenses elsewhere to do business can operate in and from Hong Kong as of right.

6. (If you aspire to live in Hong Kong) work/residency permits are relatively easy to obtain once you register a Company/Business in Hong Kong.

7. Hong Kong has a highly educated and relatively inexpensive work/labour force.

8. Availability of high quality professional and ancillary services: Historically Hong Kong is the New York of the Orient and hence offers access on the ground to high quality law firms, Banks, Finance/Accounting Professionals etc.

9. Hong Kong doesn’t levy CGT (Capital Gains Tax) and does not impose WHT (withholding tax) on payments made by a HK Company to person/entities resident outside of HK  which makes a Hong Kong Company an ideal structure for holding shares in other companies or as an IP holding entity

10. Incorporating in Hong Kong will give you access to THE widest selection of banks. (A number of banks will not accept “island tax haven” type Companies as customers including all Hong Kong Banks and several noted European banks)

Additionally a Hong Kong Limited Company isn’t classified as a for offshore use only corp and thus, at Incorporation, it is given a Business License PLUS a local tax number. Internationally more and more suppliers are asking to sight a tax ID before they will do business with you. Not all Offshore jurisdictions can or will supply a Tax Number.

(and if you run a website business you might like to note a Hong Kong Company is the only zero tax company we are aware of for which Paypal will supply a Merchant account)

To set up a Hong Kong Company may not be as expensive as you think. With OCI you can incorporate a nil Hong Kong for as little as $US2,500.

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

Wyoming’s state legislature and Governor have signed into Law new provisions that will exempt certain types of crypto assets from securities laws.

The legislature recently passed, and the governor signed, five bills that many in the Cryptosphere view as highly beneficial to blockchain, ICO and cryptocurrency businesses.

The Wyoming lawmakers have also finished work on measures to exempt cryptocurrencies from the state’s money transmission laws and approve the use of blockchain-based records for corporations.

The key provisions exclude “a developer or seller” from the applicable securities laws provided the Developer/Seller complies with certain conditions; Specifically, that the token being offered isn’t being offered as an investment and that the token can be exchanged for something – ie, that it has some kind of utility.

The exemption will also only apply in the event that the seller or developer “has not entered into a repurchase agreement of any kind or entered into an agreement to locate a buyer for the token.”

In addition, the new law also lays out an exemption from being classified as a broker-dealer in relation to the token, provided that the standards listed above are met.

Certain parties are excluded from the bill, namely banks and other financial institutions such as credit unions and savings and loan associations.

 Blockchain Tokens

Bill number HB 70 addresses “open blockchain tokens.”  With certain exceptions, the bill exempts from specified state securities laws and the state money transmitter law, certain activities related to such tokens.

Firstly, the said law exempts from specified state securities laws a person who develops or sells the token if:

(a) the person files a notice of intent;

(b) the “purpose of the token is for a consumptive purpose, which shall only be exchangeable for, or provided for the receipt of, goods, services or content, including rights of access to goods, services or content;” and

(c) the person did not sell the token to the initial buyer as a financial investment.

To fulfil this third element, the token cannot be marketed as a financial investment and at least one of the following criteria must be met:

• the developer or seller must reasonably believe he/she sold the token for a consumptive purpose;
• the token has a consumptive purpose available at the time of sale and can be used at or near the time of the sale for that purpose;
• the initial buyer is prevented from reselling the token until it can be used for a consumptive purpose; or
• the developer or seller takes reasonable precautions to prevent buyers from purchasing the token as a financial instrument.

The provisions st out in (b) and (c) attempt to cover what is commonly known as a “utility token” or “consumer token.”

Secondly, the new law exempts “facilitators” (ie persons “who facilitate the exchange of an open blockchain token”) from specified state securities laws if they file a notice of intent, have a “reasonable and good faith belief” that a token subject to exchange meets the requirements of (b) and (c), above, and take “reasonably prompt action” to cease exchanging any token that does not meet those requirements.

Thirdly, the new law exempts from the state money transmitter law a person who develops, sells, or facilitates the exchange of an open blockchain token.

Interestingly, this exemption is not limited only to those tokens that meet the requirements of (b) and (c), above.

Taken on face value these new legislative provisions would appear to place Wyoming on the list of tax jurisdictions wherein one might consider launching/incorporating an ICO (particularly given that a Wyoming LLC can, if structured a certain way, potentially deliver a nil tax outcome).

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com

If you don’t want a competitor to know that you own a particular enterprise or if you don’t want outside parties to be able to find out (without your consent) how much profit your business is making then you might want to set up a Private Offshore Company.

To ensure that your Privacy is safeguarded there are, in essence, five boxes you will want/need to tick.

Firstly to minimise the chances of your ownership of the company being discovered you will want to ensure your Private Offshore Company is incorporated in a country which does NOT have a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (“TIEA”) with your home state (or a DTA ie a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement as these Treaties sometimes have information exchange provisions) .

Secondly you might want to open an account at a Bank which can/will issue you with an anonymous card ie a VISA or Master or etc Card on which your name (and ideally your company name) does not appear. (such banks/products do still exist us Contact Us for details).

Thirdly, for maximum privacy, you’d be well advised to include a (nil tax jurisdiction resident) Nominee Director/Shareholder as part of the Corporate structure. For more information on how that can work for you please read these pages:

https://offshoreincorporate.com/faq/should-i-engage-nominees-or-should-i-direct-and-hold-the-shares-in-my-offshore-company/ &

https://offshoreincorporate.com/faq/how-can-i-protect-my-underlying-ownership-of-my-offshore-company-where-a-nominee-is-engaged-to-act-as-director-or-shareholder/

Fourthly, if you want maximum privacy and to avoid your name being recorded anywhere as the “beneficial owner” of the Company then you would be wise to include a Private Foundation as part of the Corporate Structure (ie to hold the shares of/own your Private Offshore Company).

Fifthly, if you don’t want your name to appear anywhere in the bank’s records you could also nominate someone else to be the signatory on your bank account. (A/The Nominee Director is commonly deployed for this purpose).

Some International Corporate Services Providers can also supply a Nominee Beneficiary for your Foundation so that your name doesn’t appear in the bank record as a Beneficiary of the Foundation when it comes time to apply for a bank account. Alternatively you could set up what’s known as a Discretionary Foundation (ie one where beneficiaries can be added or removed at any time) and nominate a tax free Charity as the initial beneficiary.

Would you like to know more? Then please Contact Us:

www.offshoreincorporate.com

info@offshorecompaniesinternational.com

ocil@protonmail.com

oci@tutanota.com

oci@safe-mail.net

ociceo@hushmail.com