Offshore Company Formations

International Business Companies (IBCs)

Seychelles IBCs are international business companies incorporated under the International Business Companies Act 2016. The Act is modern and comprehensive and provides an attractive and robust framework for using Seychelles companies as a vehicle for doing business or holding investments worldwide.

Christen Consult is a specialist in the formation and administration of Seychelles IBCs. Our services include providing the Registered Address and Registered Agent, company management and administration services, the provision of directors and shareholders, bank account introductions, the preparation of corporate documentation, secretarial services, and a range of other ancillary services in Seychelles.

You can configure your tailor-made Seychelles offshore company to match your requirements. Our memorandum and articles are easy to read and maintain and have clauses that allow great flexibility in running the company. An IBC is designed to engage in international business and is not taxed in Seychelles on its worldwide profits. Our services are designed to ensure a robust and comprehensive solution to meet your international tax planning requirements.

IBC Features

Permitted Business Activities

• IBCs may engage in any lawful business in any country and may carry on transactions in whatever currencies they choose. The Memorandum and Articles of an IBC company define the business activities in which the company can engage in. These activities are regulated by specific legislation, such as:
• IBCs may not do banking, insurance and registered agent business without special license.
• IBCs may not carry on securities business in Seychelles (allowed outsides Seychelles, if it is licensed to do so in the country in which it carries on such business).
• IBCs may not carry on gambling (including interactive gambling) business in Seychelles (allowed outside Seychelles, if it is licensed to do so in the country in which it carries on such business.)
• IBCs may not carry on business as a mutual fund, unless licensed under the Mutual Fund and Hedge Fund Act of Seychelles, or under laws of any of recognized jurisdictions.

Tax Benefits

• No taxation on any business activity or transaction carried on outside the Republic of Seychelles.
• The Business Tax (Amendment) Act 2018 introduces a Territorial Tax System in Seychelles. As such, a Seychelles tax resident, including an IBC, is liable for Seychelles tax on any Seychelles-sourced income.
• In a similar fashion, foreign sourced income or international profits made by an IBC are not taxable in Seychelles.

Flexible Corporate Structure

A Seychelles International Business Company is an independent legal personality and possesses the same powers as a natural person. A Seychelles IBC requires a minimum of only one shareholder and one director. The Shareholders and Directors can be either corporate entities or natural persons, and may be of any nationality and may be residents of any country. The shareholder´s or director´s meetings additionally need not be held in the Seychelles and there is no requirement for a regular Annual General Meeting. The name of the company may be expressed in any language together with a translation into English or French. Incorporation documents may be drafted in any language together with a translation into English or French. Additionally, IBCs may own vessels under the Merchant Shipping Act 1992.

The corporate structure of the Seychelles International Business Company can be designed in accordance with the widest variety of requirements.

Privacy and Asset Protection

The Details of Directors are filed with the Registrar but are not accessible to the public, and similarly the Details of Shareholders and Beneficial Owners are not filed with the Registrar. An IBC is required to keep Registers of its Directors, Members and Beneficial Owners at its Registered Office in Seychelles, which are not publicly accessible.

Annual Returns or Financial Statements

There is no requirement under the Act for an IBC to appoint an auditor or to prepare or file annual accounts (unless the IBC earns Seychelles sourced income). There is also no requirement to hold annual general meetings of Shareholders. An IBC is required to furnish to its registered agent in Seychelles an annual compliance return stating the address at which its accounting records and minutes and resolutions are kept. An IBC is additionally required to keep accounting records for at least seven years from the date of completion of the transactions to which they relate.

Nominee Directors

Christen Consult can provide professional directors to act on the instructions of clients.

Nominee Shareholders

For clients seeking privacy in their affairs we provide nominee shareholders. Their sole purpose is to hold shares on behalf of clients. To protect our clients interest the nominee enter in to a contract known as a “Declaration of Trust” with the Beneficial Owners of the IBC company that prevents the nominee from acting without instructions from the clients.

For more information about Seychelles IBCs, contact us directly to find out how we can assist you.