Business, Corporate and Investor Services

Services

Cayman Islands


The Cayman Islands, which comprises three islands in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba, is a British Dependent Territory. The financial services sector is one of the main industries in the Cayman Islands, and there is a substantial commitment to the continued development of the offshore financial services industry. It is one of only two offshore centres approved by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for public listing in the Hong Kong bourse.

 

Corporate Requirements

 

1. Chinese character names are permitted and can be included in a company's Certificate of Incorporation.

2. All Exempted Companies must have a registered office provided by a licenced service provider. A minimum of one shareholder and one director are required and corporate directors are permitted.  Annual returns must be lodged but details of the directors or members will not be disclosed.

3. In April 2001, the Cayman Islands issued new due diligence guidelines requiring disclosure of information on all officers, members, beneficial owners and authorised signatories of Cayman Islands companies to service providers. This information is required by law for all new companies and must be provided by existing companies within a prescribed transitional period. Such information is confidential, under the Confidential Relationship (Preservation) Law, which makes it a criminal offence to divulge confidential information or to willfully obtain or attempt to obtain confidential information relating to a Cayman Islands company.

 

Law & Taxation

 

Cayman Islands' companies law is based on English common law. There are two types of Cayman Islands companies: the Exempted and the Non-resident. The ongoing licence fees for a Non-resident Company are slightly less than that for an Exempted Company but a Non-resident Company must submit a more detailed annual return. The Cayman Islands received a Royal decree in 1798 that freed them from taxes in perpetuity and this decree remains in force. Exempted Company names do not have to end with the suffix 'Limited' and they may apply for a 20- year tax exemption certificate, further enhancing their tax exempt status. Furthermore, the company name may be expressed in Chinese characters, so long as its translated name is provided.

 

In November 2001, a new agreement with the United States (US) for the exchange of information was signed. This provides for the exchange of information, upon request, for criminal tax evasion, civil and administrative matters relating to US federal income. The agreement applies to criminal tax evasion for taxable periods commencing 1 January 2004, and to all other tax matters for taxable periods commencing 1 January 2006.