What your need for setting up an IBC...



An IBC is established in accordance with law in the country of its chosen domicile. It is a government-created financial vehicle, designed for doing business world-wide, but not in the country of its domicile (except for using the services of local accountants, lawyers, etc.).


In order to establish an International Business Corporation, you must first have an Offshore Trust or a Private Interest Foundation established.

If you already have such an Entity established, you simply send a Letter Of Wish to the Trustee or Council and request an IBC established for the Entity, with the information needed to establish it (see below).

If you don't have an Offshore Trust or Private Interest Foundation established yet, you can often order the IBC together with it when you have the necessary information ready (see below).

You can also use other people's offshore presence to provide the required offshore ownership on a nominee basis. Please contact us, if you are interested in this.


The information you need to submit to the Trust/Foundation administration when ordering your IBC is the answers to these questions:
  1. Where is it to be domiciled?
  2. Who is the owner?
  3. What is the name(s)?
  4. Who are the Director(s)?
  5. Who is the resident agent?
  6. Who is the service provider that will do the set-up?

Let's discuss your possible answers:
  1. Although domicile is important, it is by no means the most important feature of your IBC...

    Please get clarity over what exact features you need this IBC to have - and then discuss this with your service provider. Starting out with a firm choice of domicile, without having other good reasons for it that "you heard good about this country" is outright incompetent - and a clear invitation to get screwed and overcharged!


  2. Have VERY strong reasons for wanting anything but your Offshore Trust or Private Interest Foundation being the owner, 100%!

    The only exception you should consider would be some kind of Joint Venture with someone else who also has an Offshore Trust. Technically, you could make yourself the owner, but unless you give up your US citizenship (if you have one) and make yourself a "Perpetual Traveler" that never stays in any one country for more than 179 days, you will retain your tax liability for the profits of your IBC... (A US citizen is liable for taxes to the IRS, regardless where in the world he/she resides. Citizens of most other countries only incur tax liability when they reside in the country for more than 180 days.)


  3. Please provide at least three prioritized possibilities for an adequate name, all ending with the suffix "Inc.", Ltd." or "Corp.", "Incorporated, "Limited", or "Corporation".

    This is a legal requirement with the purpose of telling people who do business with this IBC that it is a corporation and hence has limited liability. The suffices all mean the same. The difference is purely a matter of personal preference.

    The more unusual a name you pick, the greater are your chances for getting it approved. However, don't spin your wheel on trying to come up with anything smart or fancy you can use for marketing or advertising. You establish your IBC because you want PRIVACY, so any kind of volunteer publicity would totally defy this purpose! Simply make the name a comfortable reference for yourself, and nothing more. Don't let it refer to your own name, though!


  4. Determine who is going to be Director(s) for your IBC.

    This can be a tricky decision. You can appoint yourself, if the IBC can do with just one Director (most often, though, two are required), but your best bet is to have the Trust appoint nominee Directors for you. This enables you to have all documents for the IBC signed by someone who is not you - which truly gives you some superb protection of your privacy!

    (Be aware that nominee Directors have duties and work to do , so don't expect then to do it for free... Total yearly fees between $200 and $1000 are normal. However, considering the added privacy and less hassles to worry about, it is probably more than worth it for you...)


  5. The resident agent is a legal requirement from the government in the country you use as domicile.

    All countries demand a local, domestic agent, whom they have on public record, and with whom they can communicate legal matters with the IBC. The address of this agent is the official, legal address of the IBC, but you do not need to use that address to conduct the IBC's business affairs from. In fact, it would be foolish to do so.


  6. The service provider is the company you choose to set up the IBC for you.

    The choice of this provider is probably the most important of all choices in regards to the set-up of your IBC. You can find many providers who are happy to take your money and dump an IBC at your feet - and you get stuck because they now want serious fees for additional services, which you might have thought of as redundant or not have thought of at all!

    A good provider will discuss the use you have planned for this IBC, and will guide you through to a proper choice of domicile, based on what features you need, and what money you have available for start. A good provider will also guide you to people you can trust as nominee Directors, shareholders, bank account signatories, executive services etc..


When you have the answers to these six questions, then you should continue with:
"Your final check list".