What is an offshore company?

What is an "offshore company"

In recent years, there has been a new phenomenon in China's foreign investment and overseas listing. The source of foreign investment is mainly Hong Kong companies, followed by an unknown Caribbean island, the British Virgin Islands, and then offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands (see Offshore Company Law (Zhang Shiwei, China Law Press, 2004)). In fact, in recent years, it has become an open secret for many mainland enterprises to register "offshore companies" in Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and other places, and then return to the mainland to set up foreign-funded enterprises through offshore companies. Mainland enterprises set up offshore companies in the above offshore locations for the following purposes: listing in the United States, Hong Kong or Singapore; Establish a holding company to carry out capital operation; Tax planning, global trade, joint ventures, etc. In recent years, some countries and regions in the world (mostly island countries) have formulated and cultivated some particularly relaxed economic zones through legal means, which are generally called offshore legal zones. The so-called offshore company refers to a limited liability company or a joint stock limited company established in an offshore legal area. Such as British Virgin Islands, Niue, Bahamas, Seychelles, Panama, Mauritius, etc., allow international people to set up international business companies in their territories. The local government does not levy any taxes on such companies, but only charges a small amount of annual management fees. At the same time, major international banks recognize such companies to facilitate their bank account opening and financial operation. Usually, such regions and countries have good trade relations with developed countries in the world. Offshore companies registered in any of the above countries or regions have three characteristics: high confidentiality, tax reduction and exemption, and no foreign exchange control, thus attracting many businesses and investors to choose the development model of offshore companies. Compared with general limited companies, offshore companies are mainly different in taxation. Unlike the usual practice of taxation based on turnover or profits, the governments of offshore jurisdictions only levy annual management fees on offshore companies, and do not levy any taxes. Moreover, almost all offshore jurisdictions have clearly stipulated the company's shareholder information, shareholding ratio, income status and so on. Enjoy the right to confidentiality. The meaning of "offshore" means that the investor's company is registered in an offshore legal area, but the investor does not have to visit the local area, and its business operation can be directly carried out anywhere in the world.