Author: Prominee

Taking effect on the 1st January 2019: Guernsey adopted Economic Substance laws.

Already in force: the Cayman Islands adopted laws & regulations regarding economic substance requirements.

Bermuda is added to the list of jurisdictions adopting an Economic Substance Regime. Bermuda is used by numerous insurance companies (for example: AIA in Hong Kong) in order to lower the costs and avoid stamp duty on shares. Insurance companies already have on the ground staff in Bermuda so this should not be a problem for them.

The Bahamas follow many other jurisdictions by adopting substantial economic presence requirements: activities must be conducted from the Bahamas.

Las Islas Vírgenes Británicas (Islas Vírgenes Británicas) adopta requisitos de sustancia económica aplicables a partir de 1 enero 2019 (con un período transitorio de seis meses para las personas jurídicas existentes) si lleva a cabo cualquiera de las siguientes “actividades relevantes”: banking business insurance business fund management business finance and leasing business headquarters business shipping business holding business intellectual property business distribution and service centre business. Si la sustancia económica falla, la empresa no residente de BVI debe demostrar que es residente (y gravado) en otra jurisdicción. Las empresas registradas en BVI son ampliamente utilizadas en Hong Kong.

Mauritius is phasing out their Global Business Companies (GBC) on the 30 junio 2021. Only one single regime of GBC will survive, with 2 resident directors in Mauritius required, and a single 15% corporation tax rate.

The low-cost model is spreading in many markets: airlines, tourism, manufacturing, housing, finance, etc… There was a time when the customers were doubtful regarding low-cost airlines (safety, reliability, etc). But within a decade: the prices were so low that the customers were too attracted to ignore them. After almost a decade of offering PROMINEE® services (we are approaching the 10th anniversary of this website): the customers are starting to understand that they have been paying too much for some services. The debacles of some expensive competitors prove that very high priced operators are not a guarantee of trust & reliability. ... Lee mas

After Belize, Barbados is the next country to alter their assets rules for IBCs and ISRLs (International Society with Restricted Liability). IBCs and ISRLs will be phased out on the 30th June 2021, and all companies will be converted into RBC (Regular Barbados Companies). This was done under the pressure of the OECD and the EU Code of Conduct Group. If you want to re-domicile your Barbados company: contact us.

It is not very surprising that Belize continues to shoot itself in the foot. It probably shows that this jurisdiction is just after your money (and they do not care about serving you). In two regulations (dated 2018 and 2019), the government has banned: all IBCs from holding Intellectual Property (!) all IBCs from being holding companies (holding shares of other companies). Penalty is: US$25,000 for the first offence, and US$100,000 for any subsequent one. If your IBC is a shareholder of any other company in the world: you are committing an offence. If you want to re-domicile your Belize ... Lee mas

While it is not in the interest of this blog to talk about digital currencies, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is of interest (as it is a great jurisdiction to incorporate into). This year the country adopted the: Declaration and Issuance of the Sovereign Currency Act 2018. Results of the investigation: It appears that the President of the Marshall Islands (Hilda Heine) has (unfortunately) been convinced by an Israëli startup (Neema) that the project was a way to get US$30 million into the country’s budget ; With 12 million of the new currency units kept by the government, and distributed ... Lee mas