A Samoa offshore company or called an International Company (IC) also referred to as an International Business Company (IBC) is incorporated under the International Companies Act in 1987, and though the industry has been around for thirty years it has largely remained a secret international company formation destination.
Though it is relatively unknown it offers very noteworthy offshore financial opportunities. An International Company (IC) formed in Samoa enjoys many of the typical benefits associated with other offshore company formation jurisdictions including tax benefits, client confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. It also benefits from administrative flexibility, no financial reporting requirements, and no language restrictions—all in a stable political and economic environment.
Samoa has an English common law system that protects the identity and records of offshore investing shareholders and directors. The government has taken a strong stance against fraud and money laundering in the wake of many global commissions that have risen to try and reshape the offshore industry.
All companies offshore or international are governed by the International Companies Act 1988 regulating the usage and terms of the company. Samoa has taken transparency more seriously in the last few years and remains committed to providing a safe regulated offshore financial environment for international investors making sure to keep its financial industry well supportive throughout the radically changing landscape of the offshore market.
For more information on the Advantages of Samoa as an Offshore Financial Center, click here.
Table of Contents:
Samoa Company | Corporate Details |
General | |
Type of Entity | International Company (IC) |
Type of Law | English Common Law |
Governed by | International Companies Act 1987 International Trusts Act 1987 The Offshore Banking Act 1987 The International Insurance Act 1988 |
Registered Office in Samoa |
Yes |
Shelf company availability | Yes |
Our time to establish a new company | 1-3 Business days |
Minimum government fees (excludes taxation) | USD $300 |
Corporate Taxation | No |
Access to Double Taxation Treaties | No |
Share capital or equivalent | |
Standard currency | US Dollar |
Permitted currencies | Any |
Minimum paid up | USD $1 |
Usual authorized | USD $1,000,000 |
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 (optional) |
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 Gov Tax | **USD $300 |
Annual Return Filing Fee | N/A |
Other | |
Requirement to file annual return | No |
Migration of domicile permitted | Yes |
A Samoan IC application is made to the Registrar of International and Foreign Companies through a licensed company. A client must provide the company’s Memorandum together with the Articles of Association and registration fee. Prospective customers must provide:
All International Companies incorporated in Samoa that conduct their business activities outside of the country and are not residents are not liable to pay any taxes, including but not limited to:
Anonymity, Confidentiality and Disclosure
The International Companies Act 1987 has provisions that protect the names and information of beneficial owners and shareholders of Samoan based ICs. The legislation ensures confidentiality making it a criminal offense to divulge information regarding shareholders, officers or directors of a Samoan based IC. Though both Directors and Shareholder information are not made publicly available, we offers nominee services, which add an extra layer of security and anonymity to ensure the highest standards of confidentiality in the international offshore market.
Company Shares
A Samoan IC may issue bearer shares, shares of par value or no par value, preferences shares, redeemable shares, shares with no voting rights and discounted shares. We do not recommend bearer shares, but offers nominee services for added layers of security.
Required Capital
There is a US$1 minimum share capital and a usual authorized share capital of $1,000,000, which may be issued in any currency
Financial Statements required
No financial statements are required to be submitted and need not be audited. Financial statements are not open to the public.
Directors
One Director is required for a Samoa IC. A Director may be of any nationality and may be either an individual or a corporate entity.
Company Secretary
A Samoan IBC requires a local qualified secretary.
Company Meetings
Company meetings of a Samoan IC may take place anywhere and are not required.
Principal Corporate Legislation
There are four pieces of legislation that cover Samoa offshore financial market.
International Companies Act 1987
International Trusts Act 1987
The Offshore Banking Act 1987
The International Insurance Act 1988
Type of Law
English Common Law
Shareholders
A Samoan IC must have a minimum of one shareholder of any nationality. Corporate shareholders are allowed.
Trading Restrictions
A Samoan IC cannot trade with local residents or own conduct any business activities in local real estate.
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Exchange Controls
There are no foreign exchange controls in Samoa for IC’s.
Powers of the Company
A Samoan IC has all of the same rights, powers and privileges as a natural person.
Language of legislation and Corporate Documents
The Memorandum, name and Articles of Association can be in any language, including Chinese characters.
Registered Office required
A Samoan IC is required to have a registered office in Samoa
Local Presence
A local secretary is required as well as a local registered office.
Audit Requirements
There are no audit requirements for a Samoan IC.
Annual Reporting
There are no reporting requirements or any requirements to file accounts, though a company must prepare its financial records.
Shelf Companies available
Shelf Companies are readily available
Time required to form offshore company
1-3 Business Days
Name Restrictions
A Samoan IC may not use any name that is identical or similar to an existing name, a name that is seen as undesirable by the Registrar, a name that suggest royal or government patronage or that suggests an association with the banking or insurance industries.
Language of Name
Any language may be used for the company name, including Chinese characters, though the Register may request an English translation.
Names of Company requiring a special licence or permission
A Samoan IC must first obtain an appropriate license to conduct business activities in banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, and trust management
Permitted limited liability suffixes
A Samoa IC must contain the words “Limited”, “Corporation”, “Incorporated”, “Berhad”, “Société Anonyme”, “Sociedad Anónima”, or its abbreviations.
Access to Double Tax Treaties
Samoa is not a party to any Double Taxation Treaties
Annual Government Tax
1 years US$300
5 years US$1,000
10 years Government fee US$1,500
20 years Government fee US$2,000
Samoa Company Registration Process with Offshore Protection
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