What Is An International Business Corporation (IBC)?

An International Business Corporation or International Business Company (IBC) is an offshore financial and legal tool. Another related term is Offshore Corporation or Company, which an IBC is a subcategory of.

Some countries and territories offering this kind of advantage are:

• Caribbean and Latin America region: Aruba, Bahamas, Barbuda, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Panama, Nevis, etc.
• Asia and Pacific: Vanuatu, Hong Kong, Guam, Macau, Brunei, etc.
• Africa: Mauritius, Djibouti, Seychelles, etc.
• Even in Europe: Andorra, Gibraltar, Monaco, Cyprus, etc. 
  
  

With an IBC, this could be your private Jet on a runway in BVI

KEY FEATURES OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CORPORATIONS

As mentioned in other articles, a trust is a legal entity that permits a grantor to delegate the protection of their assets to a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiaries. In this context, an IBC is similar because your assets would belong to an IBC - not you. That is, you would control a corporation that owns the assets. Through this vehicle, you can enjoy solid protection against lawsuits and creditors. It is even possible to transfer onshore profits to a more favourable tax regime thanks to an IBC. No corporate taxes nor local fees, or stamp duties apply either.

Another key characteristic is a sound combination of privacy, limited liability and low compliance. You can do business with peace of mind because no one will know your assets or net worth. Thus you can increase profits and prevent anyone from ripping you off. You can keep secret the names of members, shareholders or owners through nominee services. As with trusts, the regulation protects all this information and breaking the law would imply prison sentences for the culprits. Also, if a foreign state wants to seize assets or take legal action, it must go through a tedious process to even begin. In some cases, there must be a bilateral agreement to investigate an IBC. In reality, only three entities will have access to this data:

• The bank with which you share your corporate account will know who the shareholders, beneficiaries and owners are.
• A registered agent must know all the people related to your corporation.
• A company that connects the agent with you must comply with professional secrecy laws.
  
  

Family celebrating with champagne in their private jet

Essentially, unless you participate in obscure activities, other States or greedy individuals will have trouble finding out about your International Business Corporation. In principle, people’s names are not registered with local authorities. This data is not available to the public. All these individuals may reside anywhere, but in some cases, some restrictions apply to the residents of the territory where the IBC was set up. On top of that, IBC’s members and directors can celebrate meetings anywhere in the world, which provides an extra layer of privacy.

IBCs do not have any currency restrictions, meaning you can preserve your wealth in any currency of your liking. You will not face any loss of value to other more powerful currencies like the euro or the US dollar. An IBC is an excellent tool for conducting business as well as private activities abroad, as all transactions are kept confidential. As a side note, it is also ideal for registering expensive items such as ships or yachts.

The registration process is also quick as it only takes one to five days. It must be noted that an IBC does not allow doing business in the country where it is located or possess any local Real Estate. It is not possible either to provide insurance, reinsurance, or banking services with an IBC. However, doing business is convenient because there is freedom of operation: trading, shipping, manufacturing, etc., as long as it is outside the territory in question.

Other common uses for IBCs are the protection of intellectual property, the diversification of portfolios or international trade.

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With an International Business Corporation, you could also own a private yacht in the Caribbean Sea

GENERAL REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR AN IBC

Even though it is different in each jurisdiction, the process is usually as follows:

1. Register the IBC with the corresponding regulatory authorities and present the required documentation.
2. Indicate what the business activities will be as well as other requested details.
3. Submit any required licensing fee.
4. Wait for authorities to confirm that everything with the application is okay.
5. If it is authorized, now you can choose the kind of business structure you want to provide your IBC with (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or Corporation).

DOCUMENTS NEEDED

• Certified (perhaps apostilled) copies of passport and visa accompanied with the shareholder's identification.
• A business plan sharing the purpose, activities and structure of the IBC.
• A memorandum of Association (or similar document, according to the jurisdiction). This specifies the name of the company, the location of its office, and the names of shareholders, along with the distribution of shares.
• An article of association. This outlines how to audit records, issue shares, pay dividends, and provide voting rights.
• Proof of funding and capacity to run the business as described.
• Incorporation fee.
  
  

 Enjoy good food and a great glass of wine, knowing you are well protected with an IBC

DOES THE “C” IN IBC STAND FOR CORPORATION OR COMPANY?

Both terms are interchangeable to some extent, but in reality, “corporation” is more precise. That is because a corporation is not necessarily a building, a factory or an office but rather a document in an attorney’s office. Once this type of corporation is established, it is possible to operate it as a company, conduct business, and have offices or property. That is why the “C” in IBC stands for corporation.

CONCLUSION

If you want to operate your business or just protect your assets in a low-tax jurisdiction, an International Business Corporation might be the right choice for you. Aside from zero to no taxes, you can protect your privacy while trading internationally, creating bank accounts, ensuring intellectual property and much more. And as discussed, many countries and territories offer this legal instrument to secure your new life abroad.