Offshore Foundation Registration: Nevis Multiform Foundation

A Nevis Foundation is a unique structure that remains quite different from your average run-of-the mill Foundation.

The offshore structure is called a Nevis Multiform Foundation that was established in 2004, under the Multiform Foundation Ordinance regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission and can take on various offshore structures arrangements such as a:

-Company
-Trust
-Partnership
-or Foundation.

This gives an unparalleled level of flexibility in todays offshore environment. The Foundation is allowed to be completely owned by a non-resident, and can be incorporated entirely online.

The Nevis Multiform Foundation can be used for many reasons, whether that is for estate planning, family planning, charity or wealth protection.

Nevis is one of the few remaining jurisdictions that have kept its offshore financial market robust in the face of international governmental pressure.

The foundations provides its owners and directors with robust security and strong confidentiality measures for themselves and their assets.

Key Corporate Features of an Offshore Nevis Foundation

Nevis Foundation	Corporate Details
General
Type of Entity	Foundation
Type of Law	English Common Law
Governed by	Multiform Foundation Ordinance 2004
Registered Office in Nevis	Yes
Shelf company availability	Yes
Our time to establish a new company	1-2 Business days
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation)	USD 300
Corporate Taxation	No
Access to Double Taxation Treaties	No
Share capital or equivalent
Standard currency	USD
Permitted currencies	Any
Minimum paid up	None
Usual authorized	USD 50,000
Bearer shares allowed	Yes
No par value shares allowed	Yes
Directors
Minimum number	One
Local required	No
Publicly accessible records	No
Location of meetings	Anywhere
Corporate directorship allowed	Yes
Shareholders
Minimum number	One
Publicly accessible records	No
Corporate shareholder allowed	Yes
Location of meetings	Anywhere
Company Secretary
Required	Yes
Local or qualified	Yes
Accounts
Requirements to prepare	Yes
Audit requirements	No
Requirements to file accounts	No
Publicly accessible accounts	No
Recurring Government Costs
Minimum Annual Tax / License Fee	USD 300
Annual Return Filing Fee	N/A
Other
Requirement to file annual return	No
Migration of domicile permitted	Yes

Advantages & Top Uses of a Nevis Offshore Foundation

Advantages

• Complete Foreign Ownership
• Foundations do not have to pay any taxes of any kind including profits or capital gains
• Founders and beneficiaries are not in any public records
• Complete confidentiality of all books and registries protected by Nevis Law
• Foundations can choose variety of functioning as a trust, company, or partnership foundations.
• Strong asset protection and privacy clauses
• Assets of the Foundations  have a separate legal identity from the owners
• A Foundation is not accountable to foreign laws
• Anonymous ownership 

Top Uses

The Nevis Foundation has many uses, some of which cane be used as:

• Corporation
• Bank account
• Trust
• Investment
• Holding of physical and non-physical assets
• Estate or family planning

Nevis Offshore Foundation Corporate Details

Anonymity, Confidentiality and Disclosure

A foreign owned Nevis Foundation has complete confidentiality, list of owners, records and returns do not to be submitted and is not open to the public. Beneficial owners, directors and beneficiaries can further maintain their anonymity through the use of nominee services. While names of the corporate client, beneficial owner director, or beneficiaries are required to be filed but only to the Registered Agent who are not allowed to share information by law. 

Company Shares

Companies formed in the Marshall Islands may use registered, preference, redeemable shares, with or without par value and with or without voting rights.

 

Financial Statements Required

There are no requirements to submit any financial statements; however, a company must keep financial statements, accounts and records of the companies business standing, financials, and records. 

Director

A Nevis Multiform Foundation requires only one Director, Owner of Beneficiary who may be an individual or a corporate body, may be a resident of any country and any nationality.

Company Secretary

A Company Secretary is required. A Secretary can either be an individual or a corporate body and does not need to be local resident.

Company Meetings

Company meetings may be held anywhere in the world.

Principal Corporate Legislation

The Nevis Multiform Foundation is based on the Multiform Foundation Ordinance of 2004

Type of Law

Nevis is based on English common law

Shareholders

There be at least one (1) shareholder who may either be an individual or a corporate body, may be of any nationality and resident of any country, and may be the Director or Owner.

Trading Restrictions

A Nevis Foundation to avoid paying local taxes should conduct business outside the country, if business is conducted within the country then a 1% tax on gain is applied with a minimum of USD1,000.

Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents

English

Registered Office Required

Yes, Nevis Multiform Foundation must have a local registered office

Local Presence

There are no local requirements except for a registered office

Audit Requirements

There are no audit requirements needed 

Annual Reporting

There are no annual reporting requirements for a Nevis Foundation

Shelf Companies Available

Yes, shelf companies are readily available.

Time Required to Form Offshore Company

1-2 Business days