At a glance
Legal system: English common law
Status: British Overseas Territory
Currency: US dollar
Corporate tax: None on income earned outside the BVI [confirm with agent]
Directors / shareholders: One of each is sufficient; no residency requirement
Public disclosure: Directors’ and shareholders’ details are not on the public register
Annual audit: Not required
Why companies choose the BVI
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Tax-neutral treatment of overseas business. Companies that do not conduct business within the BVI are not subject to BVI income, capital gains or inheritance tax. Your own tax position in your country of residence is separate, and we’ll flag it in your consultation.
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Familiar law. English common law gives predictability to banks, counterparties and investors.
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Flexibility. One director and one shareholder are enough, with no residency requirement.
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Light public footprint. Director and shareholder details are not publicly listed, although they are held by the registered agent and, where required, available to authorities.
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Wide international acceptance. BVI companies are common in holding, trading and investment structures, so many banks and counterparties know them.
Who it suits
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Holding companies for investments or shares
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International trading and consulting businesses
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Joint ventures and investment vehicles
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Businesses that want a neutral jurisdiction between several countries
Who it may not suit: businesses that need to operate physically in the BVI, regulated activities such as banking, insurance or fund management, and anyone for whom the substance and reporting rules below would be a poor fit. We’ll tell you if that’s you.
What a BVI company must do each year
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Registered agent and registered office: a licensed BVI agent must be maintained, with annual government and agent fees.
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Annual financial return: most companies file a basic balance sheet and income statement with their registered agent. It is not public and no audit is required, but the authorities can request it. Late filing carries fines and can lead to strike-off.
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Economic substance reporting: companies carrying on certain “relevant activities” must report annually through their agent and may need real local substance. Whether it applies to you depends on what the company does.
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Records: accounting records that explain the company’s transactions must be kept.
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Due diligence: the agent and any bank will verify your identity, address and source of funds, and keep ownership information on file.
How it works
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Consultation. We confirm that the BVI fits your goals, residency and business model.
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Recommendation. You receive a written summary of costs, timelines and obligations.
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Introduction to a licensed BVI agent. We coordinate due diligence and documents. The agent files the incorporation with the BVI registry.
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Banking and ongoing support. We help with banking introductions, annual renewals and filings.
Costs
Advisory and coordination
Who it’s paid to: Alloffshore
Amount: €100
Incorporation, government fees and first-year registered agent and office
Who it’s paid to: Partner agent
Amount: €1285
Annual renewal (agent, office, government)
Who it’s paid to: Partner agent
Amount: €1285
What you’ll need to provide
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A passport copy for each director, shareholder and beneficial owner
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Proof of address dated within the last 3 months (utility bill or bank statement)
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A short description of the business and expected activity
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Source of funds information
Banking with a BVI company
BVI companies are accepted by many banks, but each bank sets its own criteria. We help you choose banks that fit your activity and location, prepare the application, and understand what each bank will ask for. We can’t guarantee approval, as banks decide independently.