Company registration in Curacao
Curaçao is a popular jurisdiction for registering legal entities and doing business. This is especially true for companies in the gambling business: online casinos, bookmakers, etc. However, companies operating in other areas can also register here. This jurisdiction is particularly of interest to organizations that wish to do business in South or Central America and have a connection with the Netherlands, whose crown territory this island is.
The law firm Lawtter Solutions offers clients company registration services in Curaçao. We provide a turnkey registration procedure and provide all the necessary services for starting a business.
8 400 EUR*
5-7 days
0%, 2%, 22%
Without personal visit
Advantages
Advantages of Curaçao for Doing Business
Curaçao offers several significant advantages for doing offshore business. The main ones are the following:
Political stability
E-Zone was canceled in 2019
Classic offshore
Possibility of remote registration
Nominee service
Closed register of beneficiaries
Absence of exchange controls
You can change the form of ownership
Developed legal system and legislation
Treaties for the avoidance of double taxation
Tax information exchange agreements
Registration of a company in Curaçao is possible in several organizational and legal forms. The main ones are the following:
Private Limited Liability Company (NABV/BV)
In such companies, shareholders do not bear full responsibility for the company’s obligations. Liability is limited to the authorized capital. Shares are distributed only among the founders of the company. However, in Curaçao, there are no requirements for authorized capital for organizations of this type.
Public Limited Liability Company (NV)
In such legal entities, shareholders are also liable within the authorized capital. In such companies, a minimum amount of authorized capital is provided; it is $35,000, and at least 20% must be contributed upon registration. In public companies, shares can be distributed without any restrictions.
Limited Partnerships
This is a type of partnership that must have at least 1 general partner and 1 limited partner. The general partner bears full responsibility for the obligations of the Limited Partnership. The others are responsible only for their share in the partnership. Information about the Limited Partnership and the general partner is entered into the Commercial Register; information about limited partners is not entered there.
General Partnerships
In a General Partnership, all partners are general partners. Accordingly, they bear unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership. Information about the partnership and partners is entered into the Commercial Register.
Director
An offshore B.V. company in Curaçao must have at least one director. For companies like N.V., a manager is appointed instead of the director. Both the director and manager must be residents of Curaçao. This is a mandatory requirement. Companies do not have the right to appoint a director who is included in the sanctions lists. A person who has reached the age of 18 can be appointed to the post of director.
Shareholder
Any type of company must have at least 1 shareholder. In this case, there are no residency requirements. Shareholders can be individuals and legal entities that are not on the sanctions lists. Shareholders may be persons over 18 years of age.
Address
The company must have a legal address and office in Curaçao and be registered with the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce.
Company Name
The name must be unique. Private limited liability companies have the ending N.A.B.V/B.V., and public limited liability companies end with N.V.
Authorized Capital
Curaçao’s legislation does not establish a minimum authorized capital for B.V. companies. For companies in the N.V. legal form, the minimum requirement for authorized capital is $35,000. Moreover, at least 20% of the amount must be contributed upon legal entity registration.
Local Account
Companies that are registered in Curaçao are not required to open a local bank account. You can operate a company with a bank account opened in any country.
Registration Agent
According to the Curaçao legislation, a company is required to have a local registered agent.
Reporting
All companies are required to prepare and submit reports.
Before you register or buy an offshore company in Curaçao, you need to know about the peculiarities of taxation in the jurisdiction. It is different for residents and non-residents.
Income Tax
For non-residents of the island, the tax rate on income earned outside of Curaçao is 0%. Companies that are tax residents of Curaçao are required to pay income tax at a rate of 22%.
Corporate Tax
Corporation tax in Curaçao must be paid by both residents and non-residents. The rate for non-residents is 2%. For residents, it varies from 2 to 30%, depending on the type of activity.
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Only tax residents of Curaçao pay value-added tax. The VAT rate varies from 6% to 9%, depending on the type of activity.
Tax on Dividends
There is no tax on interest, dividends, or royalties in Curaçao.
Annual Report
Curaçao has a territorial tax system. This principle implies the formation of taxable profit only received from the territory or from companies registered in the territory or services provided in the territory. The reporting period in the jurisdiction is equal to the calendar year. The report must be prepared and submitted by June 30 of the year following the reporting year.
Registration of a company in Curaçao is possible in several organizational and legal forms. The main ones are the following:
Private Limited Liability Company (NABV/BV)
In such companies, shareholders do not bear full responsibility for the company’s obligations. Liability is limited to the authorized capital. Shares are distributed only among the founders of the company. However, in Curaçao, there are no requirements for authorized capital for organizations of this type.
Public Limited Liability Company (NV)
In such legal entities, shareholders are also liable within the authorized capital. In such companies, a minimum amount of authorized capital is provided; it is $35,000, and at least 20% must be contributed upon registration. In public companies, shares can be distributed without any restrictions.
Limited Partnerships
This is a type of partnership that must have at least 1 general partner and 1 limited partner. The general partner bears full responsibility for the obligations of the Limited Partnership. The others are responsible only for their share in the partnership. Information about the Limited Partnership and the general partner is entered into the Commercial Register; information about limited partners is not entered there.
General Partnerships
In a General Partnership, all partners are general partners. Accordingly, they bear unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership. Information about the partnership and partners is entered into the Commercial Register.
Director
An offshore B.V. company in Curaçao must have at least one director. For companies like N.V., a manager is appointed instead of the director. Both the director and manager must be residents of Curaçao. This is a mandatory requirement. Companies do not have the right to appoint a director who is included in the sanctions lists. A person who has reached the age of 18 can be appointed to the post of director.
Shareholder
Any type of company must have at least 1 shareholder. In this case, there are no residency requirements. Shareholders can be individuals and legal entities that are not on the sanctions lists. Shareholders may be persons over 18 years of age.
Address
The company must have a legal address and office in Curaçao and be registered with the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce.
Company Name
The name must be unique. Private limited liability companies have the ending N.A.B.V/B.V., and public limited liability companies end with N.V.
Authorized Capital
Curaçao’s legislation does not establish a minimum authorized capital for B.V. companies. For companies in the N.V. legal form, the minimum requirement for authorized capital is $35,000. Moreover, at least 20% of the amount must be contributed upon legal entity registration.
Local Account
Companies that are registered in Curaçao are not required to open a local bank account. You can operate a company with a bank account opened in any country.
Registration Agent
According to the Curaçao legislation, a company is required to have a local registered agent.
Reporting
All companies are required to prepare and submit reports.
Before you register or buy an offshore company in Curaçao, you need to know about the peculiarities of taxation in the jurisdiction. It is different for residents and non-residents.
Income Tax
For non-residents of the island, the tax rate on income earned outside of Curaçao is 0%. Companies that are tax residents of Curaçao are required to pay income tax at a rate of 22%.
Corporate Tax
Corporation tax in Curaçao must be paid by both residents and non-residents. The rate for non-residents is 2%. For residents, it varies from 2 to 30%, depending on the type of activity.
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Only tax residents of Curaçao pay value-added tax. The VAT rate varies from 6% to 9%, depending on the type of activity.
Tax on Dividends
There is no tax on interest, dividends, or royalties in Curaçao.
Annual Report
Curaçao has a territorial tax system. This principle implies the formation of taxable profit only received from the territory or from companies registered in the territory or services provided in the territory. The reporting period in the jurisdiction is equal to the calendar year. The report must be prepared and submitted by June 30 of the year following the reporting year.
Registration companies
Company Registration Process
Registration of a legal entity in Curaçao can be done online. It is not necessary to visit the island to open a company. In order to incorporate an offshore company in Curaçao, you need to go through 5 stages: