The British Virgin Islands (Isole Vergini Britanniche) adopts economic substance requirements

The British Virgin Islands (Isole Vergini Britanniche) adopts economic substance requirements applicable from 1 January 2019 (with a six-month transitional period for existing legal entities) if it conducts any of the following “relevant activities”:

  • attività bancaria
  • insurance business
  • fund management business
  • finance and leasing business
  • attività di sede
  • attività di spedizione
  • holding business
  • attività di proprietà intellettuale
  • distribution and service centre business.

If the economic substance fail, the BVI non-resident company needs to show that it is resident (and taxed) in another jurisdiction. Companies registered in the BVI are widely used in Hong Kong.