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  • 11th Mar 2020

    Panama – The Tax Haven With Papers

    For a wide audience, Panama is a remote and exotic country that attracts the world’s richest, and occasionally makes headlines. We, at Clevver, decided to shed light upon its “mystical” tax laws & inform you about the possibilities Panama enables.

    Have a look at the key facts about Panama:

    Panama – Politics & Jurisdiction

    Panama is a small transcontinental country in Central and South America. With a presidential representative democratic political system, the president serves as both – the head of state and the head of government. Panama is a multiparty country and has enjoyed political stability for the past thirty years. In fact, since 1989, the country has witnessed five peaceful transfers of power among opposing political groups. Panama’s judiciary is based on the civil law system and accepts the compulsory dominion of the International Court of Justice with reservation.

    Why is Panama considered as a tax haven?

    All over the world, Panama is best known for being a tax haven, attracting renowned multinational companies, such as Procter and Gamble, Nike, Adidas, Halliburton, Amazon, and Nestle, among others.

    The reason why it attracts thousands of companies can be easily spotted in its tax jurisdiction; For instance, Panama charges a paltry 0.5% annual tax rate on a firm’s capital. Apart from tax saving, investors are free to choose from three categories of Panama business ownership, including partnership, sole ownership, or corporation. Investors should be ready to invest anywhere between $2,000 to $50,000 for Limited Partnerships.

    Tax Facts

    Annual tax rate0.5% on a firm’s capital
    The local equivalent to a limited liability companySociedades Anonima (S.A.)
    Company SuffixCorp.; Inc.; S.A. (freedom of choice)
    Income tax on foreign establishments (operating outside the country)0%
    Corporate tax on foreign establishments (operating outside the country)0%
    Capital gains tax on foreign establishments (operating outside the country)0%
    Estate tax on foreign establishments (operating outside the country)0%
    Founders & Shareholders need to be residentsNo
    Identity submission to public recordsNo
    Legal SystemCivil Law

    The Panama Tax Deal for Foreign Investors

    Panama legislation presents a broad scope of desirable financial services, including international banking, the incorporation of foreign firms, listings of ships, yachts, planes, and the creation of any Panama trust and foundation. There is no income, corporate, capital gains, or estate taxes enforced on foreign establishments that only conduct commerce outside of the country.

    Please bear in mind, Panamanian income tax is based on the territoriality principle, meaning that Panamanian-source income would be subject to taxation. If you operate in Panama, you will be subject to an income tax of 25%.

    This doesn’t apply to companies operating outside the country.

    What Requirements Should Be Met?

    For non-Panamanian firms, no reporting fulfillments are necessary.

    Moreover, organizations are not required to keep books, and their executives and shareholders can be from any country, or they can reside at any corner of the globe. What makes it even easier is that entities don’t have to be in Panama to register.  It’s also not obligatory to publicly register the identities of corporate shareholders.

    Why Start a Business Organization in Panama?

    In many countries, tax systems are very complex, and tax optimization is considered unethical. Nevertheless, many multi-million firms continue to engage in tax optimization practices to boost their economic standing and gain a competitive advantage in the global market. And countries like Panama offer tax reprieves that attract international businesses. 

    This is one way how SMEs/ start-ups can compete with big players in today’s cutthroat environment. With that said, investing in Panama provides the following benefits:

    • Utmost secrecy

    Panama has stringent banking secrecy laws. Panamanian banks are not allowed to disclose any information about offshore bank accounts. The only exception is when a bank receives a special Panamanian court order, based on a criminal investigation.

    • Freedom to hold meetings from wherever

    Expanding doesn’t have to be complicated.  Even shareholder meetings don’t have to be held in Panama and can be organized in any country.

    • Panama is a cooperative tax jurisdiction

    With effect from 26 January 2018, Panama was exempted from the EU’s blacklist of ‘bad’ tax-havens. This decision was taken, thanks to the country’s efforts towards tax transparency, as well as successful anti-money laundering efforts.

    • Stability

    Panama has had a stable democracy for quite a long time now. It has had no political instability/ civil unrest since 1989.

    • Continued economic growth

    Panama has witnessed a steady growth of the economy over the last fifteen years. This trend makes it an ideal location for international entities keen on growth.

    • Security for foreign investments

    Panama’s legislations give foreign investors equal rights as Panamanians regarding asset ownership, finances, and commerce.

    That said, despite the apparent benefits of forming an offshore company in Panama, there are some significant downsides, as well. For one, the business owner must stay in the country. Two, 50% of the company must be owned by a resident. However, for a non-resident investor wanting to form an offshore company, a registered agent based in Panama can help to circumvent these problems. The agent, who can either be a Panama lawyer or a law firm, will register your article of incorporation when the corporation is formed.

    Final Word

    Are you thinking of selling your products and services globally? With ClevverCompany assistance, incorporating is easy. We offer excellent business incorporation support services, catering to multiple locations across the planet. Currently, we are implementing operations aimed at going global, meaning you can expect to access Clevver services in more places soon. Do you want to learn more about remote incorporation assistance and other services for your company’s global expansion? Fill out our contact form. You can also subscribe to our exclusive newsletter for global entrepreneurs, just fill out our yellow popup below!

    DISCLOSURE NOTICE: Any legal or tax advice in this communication (including any attachments) is for information purposes only and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used against Clevver or its Sender. The sender is neither an Accountant nor a Lawyer and cannot be made liable. Please, contact your tax accountant for individual consultation. Clevver does not provide any legal advice itself. Clevver works together with a network of lawyers and tax advisors that provide all necessary individual legal advice.

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