Seychelles CSL
Special Licence Company
Unlike the Seychelles IBC (which is a nil tax vehicle and a non-resident for Seychelles tax purposes), the new Special Licence Company ("CSL") is a tax resident company and may carry on "permitted" business inside as well as outside of Seychelles. The CSL is a Seychelles domestic company (under the Companies Act 1972), which is granted a special licence under the Companies (Special Licence) Act 2003 ("the Act"). The CSL has substantial appeal (particularly to international groups / multinational corporations), as a vehicle for permitted uses including:
An international holding company
a headquarters company
a franchise company
a marketing company
a human resource services company
a company holding intellectual property
a regional data processing company
an investment services company
an asset or investment holding company
FEATURES OF SEYCHELLES CSLs
Fiscal advantages
Liable to Seychelles business tax at the rate of 1.5% on its world-wide taxable income (as an exception to the Seychelles "territorial" tax system, any foreign income derived by a CSL will be deemed to be Seychelles-sourced income)
Exemptions:
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From withholding taxes on dividends, interest and royalties
From stamp duty on property transfers, share transfers and other business transactions
From trades tax on all furniture and equipment imported into Seychelles for office use
under the Social Security Act and on work permit fees for expatriate workers
granted under the CSL Act shall be guaranteed for ten years from the date of incorporation of a CSL and shall continue in force thereafter unless otherwise provided for by written law (the statutory guarantee period is anticipated to shortly be extended to 20 years)
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The CSL (unlike the IBC) has access to Seychelles' steadily expanding network of double taxation avoidance treaties - including China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia, Botswana and Oman
Seychelles Government application (formation) fee: US$ 200
Seychelles Government Annual License fee: US$ 1200
Seychelles Government Annual Company Return filing fee: US$ 200
SEYCHELLES CSL
CORPORATE FEATURES
GENERAL
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Type of Company
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CSL(Special Licence Company)
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Political Stability
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Good
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Common or Civil Law
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Hybrid
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Disclosure of Beneficial Owner
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No
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Migration of Domicile Permitted
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Yes
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Tax on Offshore Profits
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Nil
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Language of Name
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Latin Alphabet
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CORPORATE REQUIREMENTS
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Minimum Number of Shareholders
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One
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Minimum Number of Directors
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Two
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Bearer Shares Allowed
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No
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Corporate Directors Permitted
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No
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Company Secretary Required
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Yes
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Standard Authorised Share Capital
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US$ 100,000
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LOCAL REQUIREMENTS
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Registered Office/Agent
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Yes
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Company Secretary
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Yes
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Local Directors
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No
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Local Meetings
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No
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Government Register of Directors
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Yes
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Government Register of Shareholders
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Yes
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ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS
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Annual Return
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Yes
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Submit Accounts
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Yes
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RECURRING GOVERNMENT COSTS
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Minimum Annual Tax/Licence Fee
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US$ 1200
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Annual Return Filing Fee
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U$200
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Other
Confidentiality: use of nominees is permitted, and whereas shareholder / beneficial ownership name and address are required to be disclosed to the Registrar of Companies - such information is subject to strict confidentiality obligations on the Registrar and will not be available pursuant to any public search of the Registry
Requirement: registered office and Company Secretary in Seychelles
Trading restrictions: A CSL may carry on permitted business inside as well as outside of Seychelles, as authorized by its "special license". Although a CSL entity may be used as an operating vehicle for an offshore bank or insurance business - it may only do so upon obtaining the requisite additional license
A Seychelles CSL has the same powers as a natural person, including the right to sue and be sued. It is a separate legal entity with limited liability and has perpetual existence
Provision for "redomiciliation": a foreign company or Seychelles IBC may be continued as a CSL - and a CSL may redomicile to another jurisdiction
Mandatory suffix to denote limited liability: "Limited"
An CSL is a Seychelles resident for taxation purpose
Price:
Formation and Year 1 Total: U$4170
(including Seychelles government application fee of $200, Seychelles government annual licence fee of
$1200, Seychelles government annual company return filing fee of $200, DHL courier fee of $70, professional
formation fees of $1550, annual company secretary appointment & document filing fee of $950)
Optional: provision of director services for $900
Annually thereafter: U$2600
Product #CSL