Where to Incorporate: Compare Jurisdictions Side by Side

Stable, credible Asia-Pacific base with an imputation tax system

Corp. tax

30%

VAT / GST

GST of 10%

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 800 - 3,000

Treaties

45+

Zero mainstream corporate tax with 100% foreign ownership and low costs

Corp. tax

0% for most activities

VAT / GST

10%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 3,000 - 7,000

Treaties

45+

Low-cost international business company with fast incorporation

Corp. tax

0% on foreign-source income for a qualifying IBC

VAT / GST

General Sales Tax of 12.5% (domestic activity)

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 1,000 - 3,000

Treaties

0+

Long-established offshore holding jurisdiction with strong privacy

Corp. tax

0% on business company profits

VAT / GST

None

Setup

3-5 days

First-year cost

USD 2,500 - 4,000

Treaties

2+

Lowest flat corporate tax in the EU with modest running costs

Corp. tax

10% flat

VAT / GST

20%

Setup

1-2 weeks

First-year cost

USD 1,000 - 3,500

Treaties

70+

Credible North American base with a broad treaty network

Corp. tax

About 26.5% combined federal and provincial

VAT / GST

GST/HST of 5% to 15% depending on province

Setup

1-5 days

First-year cost

USD 800 - 3,000

Treaties

95+

Tax-neutral jurisdiction of choice for investment funds and holding vehicles

Corp. tax

0%

VAT / GST

None

Setup

3-7 days

First-year cost

USD 4,000 - 9,000

Treaties

0+

Stable Central American base with a territorial tax system

Corp. tax

30% on domestic-source income

VAT / GST

13%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

5+

Low-tax EU jurisdiction with an IP box and non-dom regime

Corp. tax

12.5%

VAT / GST

19%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 2,000 - 5,000

Treaties

65+

Digital-first EU base that taxes profit only when distributed

Corp. tax

0% on retained profits, 22% on distributed profits

VAT / GST

24% (raised from 22% in mid-2025)

Setup

1-5 days (faster with e-Residency)

First-year cost

USD 700 - 2,500

Treaties

60+

Estonian-style distribution tax with fast, low-cost incorporation

Corp. tax

0% on retained profits, 15% on distributed profits

VAT / GST

18%

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 800 - 3,000

Treaties

58+

Largest EU economy with a credible corporate framework and vast treaty network

Corp. tax

Approx. 30% combined

VAT / GST

19%

Setup

2-4 weeks

First-year cost

USD 3,000 - 8,000

Treaties

95+

English-law British territory with modest tax and a gaming and crypto framework

Corp. tax

15% on income accrued in or derived from Gibraltar

VAT / GST

None

Setup

3-10 days

First-year cost

USD 2,500 - 6,000

Treaties

0+

Channel Island known for funds, insurance and holding structures

Corp. tax

0% standard rate

VAT / GST

None

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 4,000 - 10,000

Treaties

15+

Territorial low-tax gateway to Mainland China and Asian trade

Corp. tax

16.5% profits tax

VAT / GST

None

Setup

1-7 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

50+

EU base with a 12.5% trading tax rate and strong holding regime

Corp. tax

12.5% on trading income, 25% on passive income

VAT / GST

23%

Setup

3-10 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

75+

British Crown dependency with 0% corporate tax and e-gaming and shipping niches

Corp. tax

0% standard rate

VAT / GST

20% (in a customs and VAT union with the UK)

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 3,000 - 8,000

Treaties

12+

Well-regulated Channel Island for holding, funds and wealth structuring

Corp. tax

0% standard rate

VAT / GST

Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5%

Setup

2-5 days

First-year cost

USD 4,000 - 10,000

Treaties

15+

Large oil economy where corporate tax mainly affects foreign shareholders

Corp. tax

15% on foreign

VAT / GST

None currently (a GCC-framework VAT is under discussion)

Setup

3-8 weeks

First-year cost

USD 6,000 - 14,000

Treaties

40+

Malaysian midshore centre with a low flat tax and access to treaties

Corp. tax

3% of net audited profit for qualifying Labuan trading activity

VAT / GST

None (Malaysian SST does not generally apply to Labuan entities)

Setup

1-2 weeks

First-year cost

USD 3,000 - 6,000

Treaties

70+

EEA member with a low flat tax and long-standing foundation and trust framework

Corp. tax

12.5% flat

VAT / GST

8.1% (in a customs and VAT union with Switzerland)

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 6,000 - 15,000

Treaties

20+

Low-cost EU and eurozone base popular for fintech and EMI licensing

Corp. tax

15%

VAT / GST

21%

Setup

1-2 weeks

First-year cost

USD 1,200 - 4,000

Treaties

55+

Established EU holding and fund domicile with a deep treaty network

Corp. tax

Approx. 24.9% combined

VAT / GST

17%

Setup

2-4 weeks

First-year cost

USD 6,000 - 15,000

Treaties

85+

Cost-competitive Southeast Asian base with a broad treaty network

Corp. tax

24%

VAT / GST

Sales and Service Tax (SST) of 5% to 10%; no VAT

Setup

1-2 weeks

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

75+

EU member with a full-imputation refund system lowering effective tax

Corp. tax

35% headline, reduced to an effective ~5% for many shareholders via the 6/7ths refund system

VAT / GST

18%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 2,500 - 6,000

Treaties

75+

Non-resident domestic corporations widely used for shipping and holding

Corp. tax

0% for non-resident domestic entities on foreign-source income

VAT / GST

None

Setup

1-2 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 3,500

Treaties

0+

Treaty-connected gateway into Africa and India with a low effective rate

Corp. tax

15% headline, reduced to an effective ~3% on qualifying foreign income via an 80% partial exemption

VAT / GST

15%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 2,500 - 6,000

Treaties

45+

Established European holding hub with a strong participation exemption

Corp. tax

25.8%

VAT / GST

21%

Setup

1-2 weeks

First-year cost

USD 2,500 - 6,000

Treaties

100+

Asset-protection focused offshore company and LLC jurisdiction

Corp. tax

0% on foreign-source income for qualifying entities

VAT / GST

VAT of 10% to 17% on domestic activity

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 3,500

Treaties

0+

Fast, low-friction incorporation with a stable common-law framework

Corp. tax

28%

VAT / GST

GST of 15%

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 500 - 2,500

Treaties

40+

Moderate flat corporate tax with 100% foreign ownership in most sectors

Corp. tax

15% flat

VAT / GST

5%

Setup

2-4 weeks

First-year cost

USD 4,000 - 9,000

Treaties

35+

Territorial-tax hub with a well-known corporation and a USD economy

Corp. tax

25% on Panama-source income; 0% on foreign-source income

VAT / GST

ITBMS of 7%

Setup

3-7 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

17+

EU base with fast online setup and incentive regimes such as Madeira

Corp. tax

21%

VAT / GST

23%

Setup

1-2 weeks (same-day via Empresa na Hora)

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,500

Treaties

80+

Low flat corporate tax with a 100% ownership free zone and financial centre

Corp. tax

10% flat on the foreign-owned share of profits

VAT / GST

None currently (a GCC-framework VAT is planned)

Setup

2-5 weeks

First-year cost

USD 5,000 - 12,000

Treaties

80+

UAE offshore company for holding and structuring, backed by a UAE registry

Corp. tax

0% at the RAK ICC level; note UAE corporate tax may apply if the company has a UAE taxable nexus

VAT / GST

Not applicable to a pure offshore holding company (UAE VAT is 5% where registrable activity exists)

Setup

2-5 days

First-year cost

USD 2,000 - 4,500

Treaties

0+

Largest GCC market with 100% foreign ownership and headquarters incentives

Corp. tax

20% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share

VAT / GST

15%

Setup

2-6 weeks

First-year cost

USD 5,000 - 12,000

Treaties

55+

Fast, low-cost offshore company with a territorial tax treatment

Corp. tax

0% on foreign-source income for an IBC

VAT / GST

15% (on domestic activity)

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 1,000 - 3,000

Treaties

28+

Reputable Asian hub with a broad treaty network and territorial-style tax

Corp. tax

17%

VAT / GST

9% GST

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

90+

Gateway to sub-Saharan Africa with a broad treaty network

Corp. tax

27%

VAT / GST

15%

Setup

1-3 weeks

First-year cost

USD 1,000 - 3,500

Treaties

80+

Large EU market with a broad treaty network and a holding-company regime

Corp. tax

25% general rate

VAT / GST

21%

Setup

2-4 weeks

First-year cost

USD 2,000 - 5,500

Treaties

95+

Stable, credible base with competitive cantonal tax and a strong holding regime

Corp. tax

Approx. 12% - 21% combined federal and cantonal

VAT / GST

8.1%

Setup

2-4 weeks

First-year cost

USD 6,000 - 15,000

Treaties

100+

Zero personal tax, 100% ownership, and a fast-growing treaty network

Corp. tax

9% above AED 375,000

VAT / GST

5%

Setup

3-10 days

First-year cost

USD 3,000 - 8,000

Treaties

140+

Fast, low-cost incorporation with a vast treaty network and global credibility

Corp. tax

25% main rate

VAT / GST

20%

Setup

24-48 hours

First-year cost

USD 500 - 2,500

Treaties

130+

Default choice for US startups with mature corporate law and investor familiarity

Corp. tax

21% federal

VAT / GST

None federally (state and local sales taxes apply where nexus exists)

Setup

1-5 days

First-year cost

USD 500 - 2,500

Treaties

66+

Low-cost US LLC state with no state income tax and strong privacy

Corp. tax

No Wyoming state corporate income tax; C-Corps pay 21% federal

VAT / GST

None federally (state and local sales taxes apply where nexus exists)

Setup

1-5 days

First-year cost

USD 300 - 1,500

Treaties

66+

Pacific offshore centre with zero direct tax and international company statutes

Corp. tax

0%

VAT / GST

15% VAT on domestic activity

Setup

1-3 days

First-year cost

USD 1,500 - 4,000

Treaties

0+