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Establishing a Company in Liechtenstein |
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The holding of assets
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Assets of holding companies can be invested in any kind of property; e.g. bank accounts, publicly traded or not traded shares, participations in other companies, real estate property, art and so on.
The earnings stemming from the assets held by a holding company, be it interest on bank accounts, dividend payments from shares, earnings from participations in other companies, proceeds of sales or royalties qualify as income of the holding company which are in case of a private asset structure subject to an annual tax of CHF 1’800 only.
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The pursuit of business
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Profits stemming from business transactions of companies constituted after January 1, 2011, are subject to ordinary corporate tax with a tax rate of 12.5% on the taxable net income.
Companies pursuing business transactions and having been constituted prior to January 1, 2011, are until December 31, 2013 subject to a specific annual capital tax of 0.1% of the assets held only, at least CHF 1’800 per year.
It is not necessary that such an offshore company sets up an office in Liechtenstein or employs people. The management of such an offshore company can be provided on a contractual basis by the Liechtenstein trustee.
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Regulation of succession/avoidance of inheritance tax
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Especially foundations are qualified for all purposes of estate planning as well as to avoide inheritance tax. The succession in the assets is regulated by the so-called by-laws. These are regulations setting forth who the first beneficiary of the assets is and who qualifies as second beneficiary once the first has died. As no formal change of ownership takes place in case of succession, no inheritance tax becomes payable.
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Asset protection by means of a holding company
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If assets – earmarked for the personal benefit only – are held by a holding company (normally a foundation) not all assets are endangered in case of losses or liabilities incurred during the course of business activities pursued by the beneficiary. |
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