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Offshore companies

Gibraltar – merchant account

Offshore Merchant Account

Open an offshore company with a merchant account that will allow you to accept online payments through your e-shop or website.

Your offshore company will be registered in Gibraltar, which brings other benefits, such as low tax rates, high privacy and legal stability. Gibraltar company formation takes a few business days.

As a resident company you do not have to pay any VAT and the corporate income tax is a mere 10%.

Everyone active in e-commerce in Gibraltar must have an office there, but you do not need to worry, we will arrange that for you.  

Merchant account and bank account

If your business involves accepting debit and credit card payments, a merchant account will be necessary. With increasingly stringent bank regulations, opening a merchant account for an international company may be difficult and time-consuming nowadays.

Our offshore merchant account package includes opening a bank account for your company; you will become a fully functioning e-merchant accepting online payments.

Our merchant accounts allow you to process payments through PayPal, Securepay or Easy Pay and other European providers. Your bank account will be opened with a reliable and reputable Gibraltar International Bank.

The opening of an account cannot be guaranteed 100% as measures against the financing of terrorism and laundering of money are, naturally, in place in Gibraltar.

Why set up in Gibraltar?

As a British overseas territory, Gibraltar is within the EU and the European Economic Area.  It has an access to the single European market and may benefit from the European rules on the free movement of goods, persons and capital.

Gibraltar is not part of the Schengen Area, or EU Customs Union and is not subject to common agricultural policy. For the VAT purposes, the territory of Gibraltar is not considered part of the European territory, but it is a third country.

The single European passport allows Gibraltar-based companies to operate in banking, investment, insurance and other services within all 30 Member-States of the EU and the European Economic Area and to access the market of 500 million people. With its modern international airport, Gibraltar offers an easy connection with the entire Europe.

Key benefits of company formation in Gibraltar

  • Privacy
    • The legal system of Gibraltar does not have any provision requiring the company to publish information about the beneficial owners of Gibraltar companies. Such information may be published upon the order of the Supreme Court only.
  • Taxation
    • Gibraltar is a VAT free jurisdiction, merchants are not liable to VAT.
    • Gibraltar companies are exempt from local taxation.
    • Corporate income tax rate is 10%.
  • Simplicity
    • A Gibraltar company registration is completed remotely, no personal visits are required.
    • There is no minimum share capital.
    • 2 persons are enough to set up a company in Gibraltar.

Taxation in Gibraltar

The law of Gibraltar is based on the common and statute law of England and Wales, but it is separate from the law of the United Kingdom.

Non-resident companies do not have to pay income tax unless the source of income is Gibraltar proper.

Gibraltar does not know any capital gains tax, wealth tax, sales tax or value added tax. The main tax for companies is corporation tax at 10% and social insurance contributions. Some transactions and property transfers require stamp duties.

What is included in the price:

  • Gibraltar Ltd. company formation
  • Gibraltar government registration fees
  • Registered office for 1 year
  • Registered agent for 1 year
  • Incorporation certificate
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • Register of directors
  • Register of shareholders
  • Shares
  • Business license
  • Merchant account
  • Bank account

Timescale

The first step is the company formation and registration in the Companies House. The registration process is completed in about 5 business days.

The opening of a company account usually takes about 10 business days after all required documents are signed and verified.

The opening of a merchant account takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the current bank capacity.

COMPANY STRUCTURE

Name

The name of the new company should be in English, it must be different from the existing ones, and it must end in either Ltd. or Limited.

Administration

Gibraltar companies must have at least one director, one shareholder and one secretary. There are no requirements for nationality or residency; directors, shareholders and secretaries can reside anywhere in the world.

If the director and shareholder are the same person, a different secretary must be appointed. Therefore, a Gibraltar company formation requires two persons only.

Directors, shareholders are on public record. If you seek privacy, you can appoint a nominee director, nominee shareholder and nominee secretary. 

Share capital

Gibraltar companies do not have a capitalisation requirement. The standard currency is the pound sterling and the standard authorised share capital is GBP 2,000 divided into 2,000 shares with the nominal value of GBP 1.00 each.

In addition, you may only allocate a certain number of shares to a shareholder. For instance, your company could have 2,000 shares, and you can issue only 100 to the shareholder. The remaining shares would be classed as ‘floating shares’.

Annual requirements

In order to keep a Gibraltar company in good standing, certain annual requirements must be met. Financial requirements include the payment of a yearly renewal fee, costs for registered office and payment for a registered agent. There are two legal requirements – to file financial statements and a tax return, both on a yearly basis.

You do not need to worry about the annual requirements as we will inform you about them in good time. According to the law of Gibraltar, directors are responsible for meeting the annual requirements.

Annual fees

Gibraltar companies must be renewed with a registration agent and Gibraltar public authorities, on a yearly basis. Companies are also required to renew their business licence every year.

The renewal of the company ensures that the company is in good standing. If you use the nominee service, this must also be renewed on an annual basis.

The yearly renewal fee is EUR 5,400.

The yearly renewal fee includes:

  • Registered office
  • Registered agent
  • Gibraltar government fees
  • Business licence

In addition to the above, there are costs of the preparation of annual financial statements and tax return.

Audited financial statements approx. EUR 2,900

Corporate income tax EUR 2,900

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

If you would like to receive information about any individual requirements or additional services, such as the nominee service or apostilled documents, please contact us.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED?

  • Certified passport copy
  • Certified document proving your address (such as current utility (electricity, Internet) bill…)
  • Curriculum vitae or access to your full LinkedIn profile
  • Source of wealth (pay slip, bank statement confirming where the funds have come from)

Offshore companies

Advantages

entering the international market
tax relief
less paperwork
incl. bookkeeping

Interested in more?

Complexity

Establishment of the company, its settlement, delivery of apostilled documentation, bookkeeping. All under one agency.

Support

Do you have a foreign company and don’t know if you have fulfilled all your legal obligations? We can help you to check and comply with all government requirements.

Management

Are you dissatisfied with the performance of your directors? Are they not meeting deadlines? Try us.

Fair price

Do you already have an offshore company? Do you want better conditions? Change your registration agent.

Parker & Hill

Reliably & happy to help you