The most prestigious jurisdictions for forming a company

In general, all jurisdictions can be divided into classic offshore, low-tax jurisdictions and prestigious jurisdictions. A jurisdiction’s prestige is equivalent to its ranking, determined by taking into account and evaluating information from the International Sanctions List, the OECD Grey- or Blacklist and the EU Jurisdiction White List, and data regarding the development of financial markets, and establishing whether the jurisdiction is FATF AML deficient and whether it poses any money-laundering concerns. These are the basic criteria that matter when determining whether the jurisdiction is prestigious or not. It cannot be viewed as prestigious if it appears on any financial blacklist.

Austria, France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Switzerland are among the five most prestigious jurisdictions for incorporating a company.

A general overview of Austria
The registration of a company or start-up in this jurisdiction allows the owner(s) to participate in all projects initiated by the Austrian government. The basic company types available are LLC, ULP, PJSC, PLLC, LLP and JSC.

Taxes: the income tax rate is 25%, while corporate tax of at least EUR 500 must be paid, with 20% VAT and a capital tax that varies from 0.8% to 1%. If the subsidiary is registered within the EU, the tax rate on income from dividends is 0%; if not, it’s 25%.

Austria has agreements with more than 90 countries allowing companies to avoid double taxation. It has no foreign exchange control. This jurisdiction ensures the confidentiality of business data.

A general overview of France
France is a respectable jurisdiction that will allow your company to provide products and services carrying the mark of a European company. The basic legal structures available are SP, GP, PJSC, PJSC, LLC, CLS and LLPE.

France offers a number of opportunities: the possibility of obtaining loans from French banks, the chance to obtain a residence permit, no taxation for companies registered in the country that conduct business outside France and no foreign exchange control. France has agreements with more than 89 other countries allowing companies to avoid double taxation.

A general overview of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is considered to be a respectable jurisdiction because of its high levels of rights protection, a simple and transparent tax system, the opportunity it offers to offset VAT and the availability of nominee services.

The basic company types available in the UK are PC, company with liability limited by guarantee, ULC and LLC. Again, there are no tax obligations for companies registered in the UK that do business exclusively outside the country. Corporate tax rates depend on profits (ranging from 20% to 24%). The UK has agreements with more than 100 countries allowing companies to avoid double taxation.

A general overview of the United States of America
The USA offers a respectable, highly trustworthy jurisdiction for registering a company, allowing it to provide products and services carrying the mark of a USA company. This jurisdiction imposes no tax liabilities for those companies referred to as non-resident and it also allows nominee services. There is no taxation for companies registered in the country that conduct all of their business outside the USA.

The basic legal structures available are private entrepreneur, corp., branch of a foreign company, representative office of a foreign company, partnership, LLC, joint venture or LLJSC.

A general overview of Switzerland
This jurisdiction’s good reputation stems from several factors, such as strong business development, a dynamic economy and a track record of innovation. The main company types available in Switzerland are LLC, ULP, JSC, commandite partnership and subsidiary.

Switzerland offers high levels of confidentiality, the world’s reserve currency, mechanisms to avoid double taxation, a reasonable tax system with tax rates depending on residence, the company’s level of income and legal form, tax optimisation opportunities and the possibility of setting up service enterprises which can be utilised for managing the parent company’s business operations and can serve as the overseas offices of international companies.