General information

Company structure

• ▪ Only one shareholder (can also be a legal person, no nationality restriction)
• ▪ Only one director (can also be a legal person, no nationality or residency restrictions)

Confidentiality

• ▪ Beneficial owners’ details – Not part of public record
• ▪ Shareholders’ details – Not part of public record
• ▪ Directors’ details – part of public record

Taxation

• ▪ There is a fifty year tax exemption for Antigua IBCs. This exemption applies to most forms of income, dividends, interest and royalties paid by and to foreigners. There is no exchange control and the unrestricted operation of bank accounts is permitted. An IBC benefits from the absence of capital gains and estate duties in Antigua.

Other benefits

• ▪ The directors and the shareholders meetings need not be held in Antigua & Barbuda also there is no requirement for an Annual General Meeting. All meetings may be held outside Antigua & Barbuda by telephone or other electronic means. Alternatively, directors and shareholders may vote by proxy.

Accounting requirements

Whilst there is no requirement to file audited accounts or annual returns with the authorities, a company is required to keep financial records, which should reflect the financial position of a company.

Secretary

• ▪ Required (can also be a legal person, only a resident can become a secretary)

Registered Agent

Required (can also be a legal person)

Registered office

Required

Company name

• ▪ Language: Any
• ▪ Letters: From Roman alphabet
• ▪ Company name must end with such sufixes or their abbreviations: Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Society Anonyme, Sociedad Anonima or Aktiengesellschaft
• ▪ Names Requiring Consent or a Licence: Bank, Insurance, Assurance, Re-Insurance, Trust, Trustee, Savings, Royal, Asset management, Fund Management, Investment Fund, Building Society, Municipal, Chartered

N.B.

• ▪ Restricted connections for company name: name of state, national or local government.
• ▪ Any name that implies illegal activity or implies royal or government patronage is restricted.
• ▪ Registrar may reject any name which it considers undesirable or contrary to the public interest.
  
• ▪ Company name is restricted to be identical or similar that of an existing company.
• ▪ In case when foreign language is used for company name the translation may be asked by Registrar to ensure conformity to above listed restrictions.

Incorporation

• ▪ Name check and approval
• ▪ Filling incorporation documents with the Registrar of Companies
• ▪ Registration Forms
• ▪ A standard set of original corporate documents
• ▪ Payment of the Government fees
• ▪ Provision of registered office and registered address for one year
• ▪ Provision of company secretary for one year

Please provide us with the following documents and data:

 Incorporation

• ▪ A notarized copy of valid passport (of each Shareholder, Director, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Signatory)
• ▪ A copy of proof of residential address (ex. utility bill of each Shareholder, Director, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Signatory that is not older than 3 months) in English
• ▪ Optional: A notarized copy of Bank reference (of each Shareholder, Director, Beneficial Owner, Authorized Signatory)
• ▪ Optional: CV (of each Director and Shareholder)

N.B.

• ▪ If Shareholders and/or directors are legal persons, then it is required to submit full set of apostilled company documents and if company is operating more than 1 year it is required to submit certificate of Good Standing.
• ▪ If documents are not in English language or language of particular country, then they must be accompanied by a notarized translation.

 Capital

• ▪ Amount of paid up capital

 Company name

• ▪ Three company names in order of preference