What is International Tax Planning?

International Tax Planning is legal activity of a company, conducted in order to minimize the taxation of its business, including usage of companies, registered in countries with privileged or zero taxation (offshore companies).

What is an Offshore Company (an Offshore)?

An Offshore Company is a judicial person that is registered in one country, given zero or close to zero taxation level of company's income, formally registered, but not conducting its activities on the territory of such countries. It mostly serves as an instrument for international tax planning.

Why Do I Need an Offshore Company?

An Offshore Company (an offshore) is one of the main instruments for international tax planning. They can also be used to purchase real estate, securities, ships and airplanes.

Is it Legal for me to Use an Offshore Company?

As any other instrument, offshore companies can be used both in legal schemes of tax planning and in illegal operations, including illegal deviation from discharge of tax and criminal money-laundering. The legality of a certain transaction from an offshore company is defined by the legislation of the country of registration, the legislation of the other countries-members of the transaction, and also by the international treaties. Many developed countries apply certain limitations on operations with offshore companies for its residents, but full prohibition is almost never used.

What is an Offshore Zone?

An Offshore Zone is a country which provides the ability of registration of judicial persons with zero or close to zero taxation regime, that are assigned to conduct business outside of such country.
There are several dozens of offshore zones - from 40 to 60, according to different calculations. The exact number depends on the definition of an offshore zone, as it is not always obvious, if a certain regime of taxation is exactly "offshore".

In What Bank Should I get an Account for My Offshore Company?

It is not necessary for an offshore company to open an account in the place where it is registered. It can be opened in any bank in one of the developed countries of the world. The choice of a bank mostly depends on the way you are going to use the account. The main ways of using accounts are: trade accounts (used for making payments in deals with goods, works, services); investment accounts (used for making payments in deals with securities); savings account (for keeping money funds on a deposit). You can open several accounts to be used for different purposes. When opening an account it is important for a person, willing to open an account in a bank, to satisfy all the demands of the bank.

What are the Limitations for Using an Offshore Company?

Many countries impose certain limitations for its residents on the use of operations with offshore companies (the so-called "anti-offshore" regulation). Full prohibition is almost never used. Nevertheless, there are certain discriminatory restrictions, for example, increasing of taxation on operations with offshores for country's residents, applying additional currency exchange regulations and so on.

What is a Nominee Shareholder and Why Do I Need Him?

A Nominee Shareholder is a person that doesn't have any actual ownership of a company, but only acts by instructions of the real owner (beneficiary) of a company, with whom he is connected by contractual relationship. Often the services of nominal owners are used in offshore companies to secure confidentiality of the beneficiaries.

What is a Nominee Director and Why do I Need Him?

A Nominee Director is a director, who doesn't do any actual controlling of a company, but only acts by instructions of the beneficiary of a company, with whom he is connected by contractual relationship. Often the services of nominal owners are used in offshore companies to secure confidentiality of the beneficiaries.

Unlike the term "nominee shareholder", the expression "nominee director" is not judicially correct, as judicially the director of a company in any case has all the rights and is fully responsible for the actions of a company, as it is anticipated by the law and constituent documents of a company.

What do I Need to do and Whom do I Have to Contact if I am Ready to Register?

All you need to do is contact us. We will tell you what documents we need from you. We require only the minimum of information from our clients. We will do all the paperwork for you.


You can contact us by email: info@westwaygroup.net
We look forward to your requests and are always ready to help you.