Guernsey Offshore Company: Was a favorite with investors. Now waiting to see the impact of EU pressure.
Guernsey Offshore Company: An offshore center for many of the revered financial institutions.
Guernsey which is also known as Bailliage de Guernsey in French is a set of small islands under the British Crown. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands. Following islands are included in Guernsey (apart from the main island of Guernsey).
• Alderney
• Sark
• Herm
• Jethou
• Brecqhou
• Burhou
• Lihou
Some other small islands are also included.
The capital is Saint Peter Port. The island is situated near the coast of Normandy peninsula in the English channel. Official languages are English and French and Guernsey has population of nearly 66,000.
The financial sector, that is the financial services sector constitutes the Island’s main source of income. But other sectors also play an important part in Guernsey’s economy.
Tomatoes and flowers are main exports and tourism industry provides an additional boost to the economy of the Island.
Guernsey is literally a heaven for companies who want an incorporation in other countries without taxes, specially financial services ones. Guernsey offshore company is a popular choice because of its proximity to both the UK and mainland Europe and is the reason Guernsey offshore company has been chosen by many international and multinational organizations.
Guernsey has been an offshore destination for the formation of offshore companies from the 1960s due to its favorable legislation for the offshore companies and investors. Since then it has developed into one of the world's leading destinations for incorporating an offshore company, and is popular not only in Europe but all over the world due to its tight legislation, superb infrastructure and immaculate due diligence procedures.
This has made it more expensive and a typical bare bones company costs about US$ 4,700 to form and about US$ 3,500 annually. These costs are much higher than Seychelles or Mauritius.
Trust legislation in Guernsey which also came into effect in the early 1960s is particularly attractive, and has lead the way for other for other tax havens.
The tax laws in Guernsey have been designed to promote financial activity in the country to boost the economy.
A Guernsey offshore company is deemed to be resident for tax purposes and a tax rate of 0% is applied on such companies unless the Guernsey offshore company has income which consists of:
• Profits reaped from activities which come under the regulatory responsibilities of the Office of Utility regulation and hence such activities are regulated by it. In this case the company will be taxed at the rate of 20% per annum.
• In case of income derived from land and buildings situated in the territory of Guernsey tax will be levied at the rate of 20%.
• Particular banking activities as follows:
o money lending
o lease purchase
o hire purchase
o similar financing arrangements carried on in the island
Guernsey’s laws and regulations have been pretty different from the European Union over time. However, under EU pressure to close loopholes, Guernsey is amending its laws and regulations rapidly, so we need to wait and see how the changes will affect the activity of set up offshore company.
Due to stringent laws and strong restrictions imposed after 9/11, because of its fear that it maybe used for money-laundering or terrorism finance, ready made or offshore companies for sale are not present in Guernsey.
The time taken in the formation of a company in Guernsey is around 8 to 10 days, subject to its stringent due diligence procedures, which are more complicated even than Mauritius'.
Guernsey is one of the pioneering tax havens and was like Switzerland. It is respected, easily accessible by EU residents and old money and is firmly a part of the financial establishment.
As the world changes, and investors with money are coming from all parts of the world, not just from Europe and the US, so too new tax havens e.g. Seychelles and Mauritius, have emerged without the frills but with all the benefits! And must be explored.