About United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is perhaps the easiest and least expensive jurisdiction in the world in which to incorporate. Certainly within Europe and especially within the European Economic Area, the ease of doing business across international boundaries leads many international business entities to incorporate in the UK.
There are no restrictions on where offices, directors or shareholders are resident. UK companies can be managed from any global position, enabling them to conduct business activities anywhere in the world.
Where UK companies do not carry out any trading activities within the UK, it is possible for companies in the United Kingdom to be treated as non-resident, for corporate tax exemption purposes.
Benefits of Setting up an Offshore Business in the United Kingdom
- Following Brexit, Corporation Tax will drop to under 15%
- Corporate tax exemptions on dividends received from subsidiaries in many countries
- No tax on capital gains from the disposal of trading subsidiaries
- No withholding tax on distributions from the holding company to its parent or shareholder
- No capital gains tax on profits arising from the sale of shares in the holding company by non-resident shareholders
- Highly prestigious and credible marketplace
- Very stable jurisdiction with an excellent reputation
- Nominee agents may be used for an extra level of privacy
- Fast and efficient registry. Company formation can be processed within a day
Key Corporate Features
| General | |
| Type of Company | Private Limited |
| Type of Law | Common |
| Shelf company availability | Yes |
| Time to establish a new company | 1 day |
| Corporate Taxation | 20% - 23% |
| Double Taxation Treaty Access | Yes |
| Share capital or equivalent | |
| Standard currency | GBP |
| Permitted currencies | Any |
| Minimum paid up | £1 |
| Usual authorised | £1,000 |
| Directors | |
| Minimum number | One |
| Local required | No |
| Publicly accessible records | Yes |
| Location of meetings | Anywhere |
| Shareholders | |
| Minimum number | One |
| Publicly accessible records | Yes |
| Location of meetings | Anywhere |
| Company Secretary | |
| Required | No |
| Local or qualified | No |
| Accounts | |
| Requirements to prepare | Yes |
| Audit requirements | Yes, but small company exceptions |
| Requirements to file accounts | Yes |
| Publicly accessible accounts | Yes |
| Recurring Government Costs | |
| Annual Return Filing Fee | £30 manually or £15 electronically |
| Other | |
| Requirement to file annual return | Yes |
| Change in domicile permitted | Yes, but subject to approval of Inland Revenue |
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