News: Registration of company in Liechtenstein - Anstalt

Company registration in Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is an attractive jurisdiction for foreign investors tending to start a new business according to the following parameters:

• information about the ultimate beneficial owners is confidential;

• lack of currency control;

• income is not taxed in case of repatriating ;

• VAT below the average European rates, there are preferential terms;

• good reputation in the world community;

• stable and secure financial sector;

• developed insurance and investment industries.

Dwarf Western European state, located between Austria and Switzerland, is known mainly due to the status of its capital. The city of Vaduz is the most important world financial center, connected with influential cities around the world.

Selection of the form of incorporation

The process of company registration will not take much time if the required documentation is properly prepared and verified. Entrepreneurs should select the appropriate type of company to determine various aspects, such as share capital, scope of activity and shareholder status.

Available organizational and legal forms:

• trust enterprise - minimum authorized capital - 30 000 CHF, the right to receive profit is assigned to the principal, but can be transferred under the terms of the internal charter;

• trust institution - repeats the conditions of the enterprise, but the right to manage assets belongs to the founder;

• foundation - has the form of a family, charitable or church instrument, is recognized as a non-trade organization, commercial activity is permitted without the purpose of making a profit, minimum capital - 30000 CHF;

• joint-stock company - may be established to enter into commercial transactions at the international level and coordinate the assets of subsidiaries, minimum authorized capital is 50 000 CHF, registration in the Commercial Register is obligatory, issuance of bearer shares is permitted;

• rust - allowed both revocable and irrevocable, minimum capital is not established, it is necessary to prepare a declaration of trust between the principal and the trustee, the duration of existence is not regulated, there are no restrictions on the use of assets.

It is planned to introduce one more organizational and legal form - the European cooperative society. The project is under consideration.

Company registration in accordance with 4 steps

Step 1. Develop and notarize the charter of the company.

Step 2. Open a corporate bank account.

Step 3. Deposit the statutory capital that meets the requirements.

Step 4. Registration in the Public and State Registries.

If the annual turnover of the company exceeds 100,000 euros, registration with the Tax Department is necessary. Competent planning and availability of all documents will allow to complete the incorporation process within a week.

Economic overview

The country is on the second place in the world in terms of economic development (GDP - 141, 1 thousand US dollars per capita).

Favourable conditions for small business development. Since 2011, corporate tax does not exceed 12.5%. Dividends paid to a foreign company are not taxable.

The annual turnover is more than 10,000 Swiss francs. The VAT rate is one of the smallest (8%), and in certain cases a reduced rate (2.5% for food, beverages, medicines, auctions) is applied. Special union with Switzerland has been concluded, which opens access to the world's largest markets.

For more information and assistance in registering a company, contact the lawyers of Law&Trust International.