What is an offshore company and how to recognize it? List of Russian offshore companies

At this point, the difference between a structure that is not an offshore company? And the organization registered in the preferential tax zone are more than significant. It is this fact that stimulates many entrepreneurs to open companies in offshore zones.

Types and essence of offshore zones

Among the large companies, and not only, the offshore zones have become quite popular. Under them is to understand the country or part of it, in which there is no tax burden. This means that companies registered in such territory will not have to pay taxes. But for this you need to fulfill certain conditions, which usually amount to paying the annual fee and the lack of activity in the territory of this jurisdiction.

Such zones can be divided into three key groups:

- First. This group includes those jurisdictions in the territory of which there are no financial statements and there is low taxation. Moreover, companies registered in such countries can count on a high level of confidentiality. Such zones are used as a final point, in which the funds of various organizations are accumulated.

- The second. In this case, we are talking about territories for which not only tangible financial benefits are characteristic, but also financial reporting. It is in jurisdictions of this type that financial and economic operations can be carried out, provided that they are conducted within the framework of one state. Examples of such zones are Cyprus, the states of Wyoming and Delaware (USA).

- The third. This group of offshore territories includes Western European countries that use an international agreement on the absence of double taxation. They provide an opportunity for various companies to residency, with the right to subsequent management by non-residents of the country. The characteristics of this group are relevant for the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

What is an offshore company?

On the basis of the above information, it is not difficult to draw the following conclusion: an offshore company is called a company that has passed the registration process in the jurisdiction where preferential taxation is in effect and there is no currency control. Also it is worthwhile to understand the following fact: such legal entities are managed by non-residents of the offshore country. And besides, they do not carry out any economic activity on the territory of the state where they are registered.

Continuing to understand what an offshore company is, it is necessary to pay attention to the need for an inter-trust agreement for the full-fledged work in other countries of the legal entity that was registered in the preferential tax zone.

Why register offshore companies

There are several compelling reasons that justify the existence of legal entities of this type:

- Participation in business. For many companies engaged in foreign economic activity, the optimization of taxes, the acceleration of financial flows and the simplification of working with documentation are relevant. Such organizations use offshore zones also to protect their financial resources from possible illegal claims of fiscal bodies. In fact, such a company acts as an intermediary, connecting a buyer, a leading international business and a seller who registered a legal entity in an offshore zone.

- Storage of funds. There are quite a few businessmen who managed to accumulate significant sums and are interested both in their safety and in the free movement of their capital at the international level. In this case, it's time to remember what an offshore company is. Having opened such a legal entity, the owner of the enterprise or, say, the bank, will be able to maintain confidentiality (no one will know that he opened the company), not depend on the political situation in the state in whose territory his business operates, and save significantly on taxes.

- Import of fixed assets. Zones with existing tax incentives are ideal for moving the fixed capital of enterprises. Let's say there was a need to import a certain production line. To reduce the amount of tax payments, this line is purchased in the name of an offshore company, after which it is paid as a statutory fund.

It is obvious that for many Russian businessmen it is extremely beneficial to move capital to countries with tax benefits and lack of financial reporting.

If the entrepreneur does not have the desire to register a legal entity independently in the preferential zone, he can study the list of offshore companies that have already been created and put up for sale.

How are things in Russia

Perhaps not everyone knows this, but within the CIS there is also a territory within which there are significant tax benefits. This is the Kaliningrad region. At the same time, Russian offshore companies can be registered even by non-residents of this region.

Owners of similar companies in other areas have the opportunity to buy and sell securities in Russia. To conduct such transactions, an agency contract will be required on behalf of a foreign investor, whose own role may be played by its own offshore company.

How to find out the offshore company

There are several ways in which you can determine the jurisdiction in which a particular organization is located:

- Use the data available on the company's official website (see details and compare with the list of offshore zones).

- Refer to the list of affiliated companies. It is about information related to legal entities and individuals that affect the company's operations.

- Send a request to the organization regarding information concerning its owners. But such a privilege is available, mainly, to state bodies.

- Use media resources. Some journalists may have information about who owns a particular company.

Company registration

Defining what an offshore company is, it is important to touch upon the issue of its registration. In general, this algorithm can not be called difficult. To begin with, the entrepreneur determines the name of the company, after which the local registration agent begins to take certain actions.

If there is no coincidence of the proposed name, the process of registration of the Memorandum and the Charter begins. After the entrepreneur is appointed the first director, and he also signs a paper, according to which the agent does not have his own interests in the company and does not pretend to own it.

Management Process

The ability to manage the company has either a director or an attorney who acts on the basis of a power of attorney. In this case, only the bank account can be used as an asset. They, in fact, and will have to manage. You can do this by software or by fax. As for opening an account, this process can be carried out personally by an entrepreneur or an intermediary.

At the same time, participation in offshore companies implies periodic inspections by the bank for compliance with the described business direction and the actual turnover on the account. It is also possible to open an account with a Russian bank. In order to take advantage of one of the modes available for non-residents of the Russian Federation, you will have to obtain accreditation and register with the tax inspectorate.

Conclusion

Based on the above information, the creation of an offshore company can be defined as one of the most effective tools for doing business, especially international ones. We are talking about favorable terms of currency transactions and tax planning.