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US Delaware


The State of Delaware is situated on the east coast of the United States and the leading jurisdiction for the incorporation of companies in the United States (US). Companies incorporated in Delaware account for more than half of the Fortune 500 companies with one out of every three companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange.

 

Corporate Requirements

 

1. The minimum number of Directors and Shareholders for a Corporation is one. Corporate Directors are not permitted. A President, Treasurer and Secretary must be appointed.

2. The Registered Office and Registered Agent must be situated in Delaware. The Office and Agent details are also included in the Certificate of Incorporation.

3. There are no minimum capital requirements.

4. Corporate governance for LLCs is by a written agreement among its members. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws, shareholders and directors are not required to hold meetings, as the law permits shareholders and directors to act by written,unanimous consent.

5. There are no restrictions on the type of business for a Corporation as Delaware permits a general purpose clause covering any legal business activity for which a Corporation is incorporated. LLCs may not take on the business of insurance or banking which require a license.


Law & Taxation

 

The legal infrastructure in Delaware is regarded as the best in the US with the state's internationally renowned Court of Chancery which deals exclusively with corporate matters. The corporate laws of Delaware are very user-friendly and have often been cited by other states as a standard for testing corporate legal matters. Offshore investors considering setting up in Delaware are primarily interested in company structures such as the Corporation and the Limited Liability Company (LLC). LLCs are a hybrid of a Corporation and a Partnership, sharing the same features as a Corporation but they may also choose to be taxed as a corporation, partnership or trust. There is no state income tax for Delaware Corporations or LLCs that do not conduct business in the US. Typically, the only tax payable is an annual franchise tax which falls due on 1 March (Corporation) and 1st June (LLC) respectively.