Belize became a British Crown Colony in 1862 and gained its independence in 1981, population – 334 297. The legal system of Belize is based on the English Common Law.

 Advantages 

• Tax exempt
• Politically stable
• Low incorporation and annual fees
• High confidentiality – no public records
• IBC may be used for international trade, the custody of movable and immovable property, for doing business over the Internet, holding intellectual property rights, for inheritance purposes, stockbroker/forex consultants etc.

The Republic of Panama – an independent state with a presidential government, gained its independence from Columbia in 1903. The legal system of Panama is based on the Spanish Civil Code with amendments adopted from the Common Law – especially regarding company legislation, which is based on the model of Delaware State (USA).

Advantages 

• Tax exempt
• No requirements to prepare and submit Financial Statements
• Low incorporation and annual fees
• Panama corporations are widely used for international trading operations, investment and asset management, as means of protecting assets and for the registration of ships and yachts

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) became autonomous in 1967. BVI is a British overseas territory, executive authority is vested in the Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands, population – 32 680. The legal system of British Virgin Islands is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages 

• Tax exempt
• No restrictions on doing business and buying property in the BVI
• A BC can be used for international trade, business commerce over the Internet, holding intellectual property rights, for the custody of movable and immovable property, for inheritance purposes, stockbroker/forex consultants etc.

The Commonwealth of Dominica used to be a British colony, but gained independence in 1978 and became an independent parliamentary republic. Population – 72 162. The legal system of Dominica is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages 

• Tax exempt
• High confidentiality – no public records
• Not required to prepare and submit financial statements
• An IBC can be used for international trade, asset protection, as a holding company or an investment company, etc.

Nevis is a part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, having gained its independence in 1983. The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is a federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic Westminster- style parliament, population – 54 310. The legal system of Nevis is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages

• Tax exempt
• High confidentiality – no public records
• Not required to prepare annual financial statements
• Exempted from any reporting requirements
• Corporations can be used for trading, copyright, shipping or marketing

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a presidential republic in free association with the USA. It gained independence and full sovereignty in 1986, a self-government was achieved in 1979. Population – 69 747. The government of the Marshall Islands operates under a mixed parliamentary- presidential system as set forth by the country’s Constitution. The legal system of Marshall Islands is based on the US and English Common Law, the Customary Law and local statutes.

Advantages 

• Tax exempt
• Not required to prepare and submit annual financial statements
• Marshall Islands corporations are used for investment and asset management, as a means of protecting assets and for the registration of ships and yachts

The Republic of Seychelles is an independent, politically stable country with a democratically elected government. Seychelles gained its independence in 1976, having been a British colony since 1812, population – 90 000. The legal system of Seychelles is based on the English Common Law and the French Civil Law.

Advantages

• Tax exempt
• Politically stable
• Low incorporation and annual fees
• High confidentiality – no public records
• Not required to prepare annual financial statements (statements of assets and liabilities)
• An IBC can be used for international trade, asset protection, as a holding company or an investment company, etc.

Malta is a Presidential Republic, member of the European Union since 2004, politically stable country with a multi-party democracy.Malta in independent Republic since 1964, population – 445, 500.The legal system of Malta is based on English Common Law.

Advantages 

• EU country
• Tax refunding system makes this jurisdiction with lowest corporate tax for non-resident Malta shareholders
• LTD can be used for holding company, international trade, assets protection, investment company, etc

Hong Kong used to be a territory of the United Kingdom. In 1997, it has assumed the status of an administrative district of China and is currently one of the leading Asian and global trading centers, boasting a population of over 7 million people. Hong Kong has gained its official status of a Special Administration Region, or SAR, which is a part of the People’s Republic of China. SAR has its own executive, legislative and independent legal authority. Hong Kong claims its own legislation and operates its own judicial structure. Hong Kong has a well – established legal system that is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages 

• If business is conducted outside Hong Kong, no income (corporate) tax is applied

• An LTD may be used for international trade, especially for trading operations in Asia, including China

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory; the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor of Gibraltar, population – 30 000. Gibraltar is a part of the European Union, having joined the Union pursuant to the European Communities Act 1972. The legal system of Gibraltar is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages 

• If business is conducted outside Gibraltar, no income (corporate) tax is applied
• High prestige of Gibraltar
• LTD can be used for international trade, assets protection, investment company etc.

Cyprus is a Presidential Republic, a Member State of the European Union since 2005. Cyprus is a politically stable country with multi-party democracy. Cyprus has been an independent republic since 1960, population – 850,000. The legal system of Cyprus is based on the English Common Law.

Advantages

• Member State of the EU
• The lowest income tax rate in the EU
• Good taxation rules
• An LTD can be used as a holding company, for international trade, asset protection, as an investment company, etc.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic, a Member State of the European Union since 2005, politically stable country with multi-party democracy. Latvia restored its independence on August 21st, 1991. Before that date, the republic was occupied by the Soviet Union for fifty years. Population – 2 003 000. Latvia legal system is based on Civil Law.

Advantages 

• Member State of the EU
• Low corporate income tax rate
• The company’s management does not have to be located in Latvia in order to receive the status of a resident
• An LTD can be used as a holding company or for international trade

The Netherlands is the constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of twelve provinces in Western Europe and three islands in the Caribbean-Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, Saba (Caribbean Netherlands), population – 16 819 599. The legal system of the Netherlands is based on the Civil Law.

Advantages 

• High international prestige as a member of the European Union
• Low tax rate in comparison with other European countries
• BV may be used as a holding, intermediary company, for international trade, royalties, financial transactions,  company etc.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain — one of the leading trading states in Europe, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, population – 63 425 792. The legal system of United Kingdom is based on the English Common Law.

LTD Advantages 

• High international prestige as a member of the European Union
• Low tax rate in comparison with other European countries
• LTD may be used as a holding company, for international trade, as an intermediary company etc.

LLP Advantages 

• High international prestige as a member of the European Union
• No corporate (income) tax
• An LLP may be used for international trade, service provision, asset protection, as an investment companies etc.

Scotland is an autonomous state within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, population- 5 254 000. The legal system of Scotland is based on the English Common Law with local amendments.

Advantages 

• High international prestige as a member of the European Union
• No corporate (income) tax
• An LLP may be used for international trade, service provision, asset protection, as an investment companies etc.
• It is not necessary to submit annual financial statements to Companies House, but this does not exempt the company from fulfilling legislative requirements as to preparing and retaining those

Switzerland is a federal republic divided into 26 Cantons. Every Canton and every community has a different taxation system, population – 7 300 000. The legal system of Switzerland is based on the Civil Law.

Advantages 

• High international prestige of Switzerland
• Comparatively low total income tax rate
• Gmbh and AG can be used as a holding company, for international trade

The Republic of Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government representing constituencies. On August 31st, 1963 Singapore has declared independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore gained independence as the Republic of Singapore in 1965, population – 5 399 000. The legal system of Singapore is based on the English Common Law.

 Advantages 

• High international prestige of Singapore
• No income tax for income of SGD 100 000
• EPC can be used for international trade, especially with  Asia

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state; consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories, population – 35 427 524. Legal system – Common Law prevails everywhere except in Quebec, where Civil Law predominates.

Advantages

• High international prestige of Canada
• No corporate (income) tax
• Not required to file corporate tax returns
• No restrictions on the residency of partners
• LP can be used for international trading, software developers, web programmers, IT service providers, online based businesses (website development, marketing services, auctions, web stores)

The United States of America (USA) – a federal presidential constitutional republic comprised of 50 states and federal districts, population – 313 338 000.

Advantages 

• High international prestige as a US company
• An LLC may be used for service provision, as an investment company, etc.