LIECHTENSTEIN

Geographical position. Liechtenstein is situated in the center of Europe between Austria and Switzerland.

The population is approximately 30,000 people. The area is 160 square km. The official language is German.

Political system - a constitutional monarchy. The legal system - The Civil Law.

The currency unit is Swiss Franc CHF (1.47 CHF/USD).

1	Advantages	A high international reputation of Liechtenstein. The possibility to register a tax-free and holding company Various forms of companies The submission of details of beneficial owners of the company is not obligatory.
2	Disadvantages	The need to have accounting and submit the annual report with the auditors’ opinion. A comparatively high cost of registering and administrating the Company Only 1 double taxation avoidance treaty is available
3	Corporate Law	Companies Law of 1926, Civil Law
4	Restrictions in the registration of companies by Liechtenstein non-residents	Liechtenstein non-residents have no right to incorporate companies for conduction business in the territory of Liechtenstein. Therefore, this information refers to holding and “off-shore” companies conducting business in the territory of Liechtenstein.
5	The form of companies	Aktiengesellschaft (corporation limited by shares) – a public corporation. Anstalt (establishment) – an enterprise. Stiftung (foundation) – a fund.
6	Aktiengesellschaft – a public corporation	Has a status of a corporate entity. The responsibility on the company’s liabilities is limited by its own assets.
7	Anstalt – an enterprise	A special form of a company under Liechtenstein private law, has the status of a corporate entity. The responsibility on the company’s liabilities is limited by its own assets. There are no members or shareholders of the company, therefore there is no share capital. However, beneficiaries of the company are identified, i.e. persons benefitting from the enterprise. Instead of share capital the share capital exists. Tax benefits and the freedom to determine its organisational structure are the advantages of the company.
8	Stiftung - a foundation	This structure is a foundation established with the aim to implement the founder’s intentions and wishes. The foundation is segregated from the founder’s assets and has the status of a corporate entity. The foundation has no members or shareholders. After the incorporation, the founder does not acquire the member’s rights, but the law acknowledges beneficiaries as the recipients of benefits. The founder may be a beneficiary.
9	Permitted activities	Stiftung – is not a business enterprise and is used only to manage its own assets Aktiengesellschaft, Anstalt – no special restrictions.
10	Prohibited activities	Banking, insurance and reinsurance.
11	The period of registration	1 to 2 days
12	The possibility to buy a shelf company	Yes
13	The name of the Company	Should not be identical or similar to any one registered. Should include the full description of the company’s type. The use of words denoting the national or international name of the company, especially the words “Liechtenstein”, “state”, “country”, is prohibited.
14	The Company’s share capital	The minimum subscribed share capital: Aktiengesellschaft – CHF 50,000, 100% should be paid in by the registration Anstalt, Stiftung – CHF 30,000, 100% to be paid in by registration
15	Shares	Aktiengeselschaft – registered and bearer shares with or without the face value Anstalt, Stiftung – no shares
16	Shareholders, founders: -- minimum number -- nominee shareholders -- citizenship -- trust ownership of shares	Aktiengesellschaft – shareholders, minimum one Anstalt, Stiftung – minimum one founder possible not determined permitted
17	Taxation	General provisions: Holding and off-shore companies are not subject to income tax, asset gains tax, property tax, etc. Only the following charges exist: Stamp duty – 3% of the issued capital; Annual fee – 0.1% of the capital, at least CHF 1,000; Coupon tax – 4% of the dividends distributed and other implicit types of profit distribution, is paid only by Aktiengesellschaft.
18	Capital export taxes	A standard additional tax on export from Liechtenstein of: dividends -- %; interest -- %, royalties -- %. No tax convention is applied to holding and off-shore companies.
19	Possible re-domiciliation of the Company in any other jurisdiction	Yes
20	Whether the law provides non-disclosure of the information: -- on the beneficial owner of the Company	Not required for official authorities, but the registered agent should have this information
21	Directors: -- minimum number -- a company as a director -- ethnic origin and nationality -- status	Aktiengesellschaft – at least 1 Anstalt – at least 1 Stiftung – determined by the charter permitted At least 1 director should be a resident or a citizen of Liechtenstein All rights except those being within the exclusive competence of the shareholders (determined by the Articles of Association)
22	The existence in the territory of Liechtenstein of: -- a registered office -- a registered agent -- a secretary	Obligatory Obligatory Not obligatory
21	Meetings of: -- shareholders; -- directors	Aktiengesellschaft, Anstalt – annual meetings of shareholders (founders) in Liechtenstein are obligatory No requirement as to the place and frequency
23	The requirement of: -- the accounting -- preparing the annual report -- submission of the auditors’ opinion	Yes Yes Aktiengesellschaft – obligatory Anstalt, Stiftung – not obligatory if the company does not conduct any commercial activity. In this event only the annual report is submitted giving the information on the assets and liabilities of the company. Asset administration and management of a holding are not commercial activities.
24	The information available upon request of any third parties	Names and addresses of directors, registered office, the date of registration, capital
25	Documents kept in the registered office	Not determined
26	Double taxation avoidance treaties	Austria
27	Currency control	None