Cayman Islands

Consist of three islands in the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands are British Overseas Territory. The Cayman Islands are popular because of strict laws on confidentiality of companies and the laws on banking secrecy.

Capital

Georgetown

Official language

English

Form of Government

Constitutional monarchy

Legal system

Based on English common law

Economy

Main industries are tourism, finance, offshore business. Economy of the Cayman Islands is strongly dependent on tourism services sector, which accounts for 70% of GDP, and financial services sector. About 90% of all food and consumer goods are imported. The standard of living of the population is among the highest in the Caribbean.

Currency

Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD)

Corporate law

  • Companies (Amendment) 2009 Law
  • Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law 1995 
  • Exempted Limited Partnerships Law 1991 
  • Mutual Fund Law 1993 as amended
  • Partnership Law 1995 
  • Stock Exchange Company Law 1996 
  • Trade and Business Licensing Law (1995 Revision)
  • Special Trust (Alternative Regime) Law 1997
  • Trust (Foreign Element) Law 1997
  • Trust Law 1996 (Revision)

Form of Company

  • Ordinary Resident Company
  • Exempt Company
  • Ordinary Non-Resident Company
  • Limited Duration Exempt Company 
  • Foreign Company 
  • Exempt Limited Partnership
  • Limited Partnership
  • Trusts

Exempt Company

  • The minimum share capital for exempt companies is not installed. The company can be registered with and without the obligatory payment of capital.
  • The shareholders of company can be both legal and natural persons who are residents of any country in the world. The minimum number of shareholders is one.
  • A minimum of one director is required: legal or natural person, a resident of any country in the world. The Secretary is not required.
  • Shareholders' Meetings may be held anywhere in the world by telephone. Minutes of meetings can be stored at any address specified by the shareholders of the company in the founding documents.
  • The issue of registered shares and bearer shares, shares with no par value, and specified in any currency is approved.
  • The law guarantees confidentiality of the owners and directors. Disclosure of information is a crime, a request for information is denied. Details of the constituent documents, copies of which are stored in the register of companies, may be submitted to third parties only after the court decision made on the basis of evidence about the involvement of the company into an illegal or criminal activity.
  • The company may engage in any activity not prohibited by law. Companies are not allowed to own property in the Cayman Islands, to borrow from the public; engage in the business of banking, insurance or mutual funds without a license.
  • The name of the company shall contain the words, pointing to its legal form.
  • Annual reports are not required to be filed, but it is necessary to send a simple declaration of the annual changes in the structure of the company and confirm implementation of activities outside the Cayman Islands.

Trust

  • The maximum term of the trust is 150 years.
  • The creation of purpose trusts is possible.
  • To get the exemption, the trust must register and pay a fee of 500 KYD, then the trust will be exempt from taxes for 50 years.

Taxation

There are no any forms of taxation of individuals, companies or trusts. There are no taxes on income, capital gains, dividends, investments, or money orders. The company receives a twenty-year guarantee of exemption from the government, and this period may be extended up to 30 years on application.

Agreements on avoidance of double taxation

No Agreements. The Cayman Islands have agreed to assist foreign governments in cases where there are illegal activities and crimes. This assistance does not apply to tax offenses, the government will not disclose the information requested in connection with an investigation of illegal tax operations. The Hague Convention is not ratified by the Cayman Islands.