Seychelles Offshore Companies – General Information 

Seychelles is a Premier Offshore Jurisdiction. A Seychelles Offshore Company (Seychelles IBC) is used for International Trade, Investment and Tax Planning. This type of entity is popular for trading companies and investment companies. Bearer shares are allowed.

A Seychelles Offshore Company cannot trade within Seychelles. Banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance business, fund management, collective investment schemes, trust management, trusteeship business provision are not permitted.

A Seychelles Offshore Company does not pay any tax on its worldwide profits and there is no requirement to file accounts with the Seychelles authorities.

Seychelles is not party to any double tax treaties.

2011 year showed that amongst the major offshore jurisdictions the bigger amount of offshore companies was set up in Seychelles (over 7000).

Principal Corporate Legislation 

International Business Companies Act 1994 as amended.

Type of Law 

Common.

Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents

English.

Type of Company for International Trade, Investment & Tax Planning

International Business Company (IBC)

Share Capital

Standard authorised share capital is US$100,000. Minimum paid up share capital is US$1.

Classes of Share Available

Registered shares, shares of no par value, bearer shares, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights. 

Bearer Shares

Permitted. 

Restrictions on Trading

Cannot trade within the Seychelles. Banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, collective investment schemes, trust management, trusteeship business provision are not permitted.

Registered Office Required

Yes, must be maintained in Seychelles.

Directors

The minimum number of directors is one. Director can be of any nationality and need not be resident in Seychelles. Corporate directors are permitted.

Shareholders

The minimum number of shareholders is one.

Publicly Accessible Records 

No.

Nominee Shareholders and Nominee Directors

Allowed.

Location of Meetings of Directors and Shareholders

Anywhere.

Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities

No. 

Personal Presence Required

No.

Taxation 

Nil.

Double Taxation Treaty Access

None.

Requirements to File Accounts

None.

Requirement to File Annual Return

None.

Audit Requirements

None.

Currency

Seychellois Rupee (SCR). 

Exchange Control

None. 

Language of Name 

English.

Required Words 

Words such as “Assurance”, “Bank”, “Building Society”, “Royal”, “Trust Company”,”Trustee Company” etc. will require justification.

Name of a Company

The words Limited, Ltd, Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc., Societe Anonyme или Sociedad Anomina, Public Limited Company, Societe, a Responsabilite Limitee, Berhad, Proprietary, Namloze Venootschap, Besloten Venootschap, Aktiengesellschaft or Limited Life Company , S.A., PLC, S.A.R.L, Bhd, Pty, NV, BV, A.G., LLC must be part of the name of every company.

Time to incorporate

Two days.