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British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a group of islands located in eastern Caribbean, 60 miles from Puerto Rico. The capital of BVI is Road Town, Tortola. Tortola is BVI’s largest island and it is the center of government and commercial activities. Its official language is English and it is using British legal system. The official currency is US dollars, and there are no exchange controls and no restrictions on currency movement. BVI is a well-known and pre-eminent offshore jurisdiction or offshore financial center, especially in the sense of company formation. BVI maintained its leadership position in company formation and financial service due to its government policy to encourage foreign business ventures, its commitment to privacy, and its integrity and stability.
Taxation is one of the main reasons that bring BVI a global leader of offshore jurisdiction. International Business Companies are exempt from all local taxes, and individuals who employed outside of BVI are not subject to income tax. Further, capital gains, stamp duties, inheritance, and gift tax are fully exempted.
Generally there are 4 main types of business vehicles in BVI: companies limited by shares, companies limited by guarantee, unlimited companies, and partnership. The most common type of the vehicle is companies limited by shares. It is a separate legal entity and it can enjoy limited liabilities to the par value of the shares issued.
Quick Overview
| Location of Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands |
| Official Language | English |
| Type of Offshore Company | International Business COmpany |
| Type of Law | English Common Law plus local Ordinances |
| Language of Documents | English |
| Minimum Number of Directors | One. May be a person or a company. |
| Residence Required of Directors | No |
| Minimum Number of Shareholders | one |
| Minimum Number of Shares | one |
| Minimum Paid Up Share Capital | USD $1.00 |
| Recommended Share Capital | USD$ 50,000 (other currencies are allowed) |
| Permitted Currencies | any |
