offshore company formation, registration and incorporation Madeira
 

Offshore Company Formation Madeira

Gereral Information about Madeira

Madeira is a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean at about 32 deg. North 16 deg. West some 580 west of Morocco. The capital and financial centre is Funchal and the population about 265,000. The land area is 797 sq. km.

Madeira was settled by the Portuguese in 1418 and in 1976 was granted limited autonomy. The Madeira Regional Parliament is an elected body and its responsibilities are set out in the Constitution. It cannot overrule decisions of the Central Government or break the political link with Portugal.
 

Madeira Taxation

The Madeira Free Trade Zone was established to promote the development of the islands and a company incorporated in the zone but operating outside Portugal is entitled to tax concessions until 2011. It pays tax at 2% for 2006 and thereafter 3% during the remainder of the life of the concession. In contrast to other offshore centres however Madeira is an integral part of Portugal and companies registered there qualify for the benefits of the Portuguese double taxation agreements.
 

Madeira Financial Services

Madeira companies are formed under the Portuguese Companies Code (Codiga das Sociedades Comerciais). The company generally used for international trading is the Societe por Quotas-Limitada (Lda) or the Sociedade Anonima (S.A). A company operating only in the free zone is only required to have one member. It is also possible to form a pure holding company - Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Socias. A company incorporated in the Madeira Free Trade zone needs a license to operate there and cannot engage in banking, fund management or insurance activities unless licensed for the purpose.
 

Madeira offshore company regulations
Type of entity Limitada SA
Type of law Civil Civil
Corporate taxation Varies Varies
Double taxation treaties available Yes Yes

Share Capital

Usual currency Euro Euro
Permitted currencies Euro Euro
Minimum paid up 5,000 50,000
Usual authorised $5,000 50,000

Directors

Minimum number 1 1 or 3 (must be an odd number
Local resident required No No
Records publicly available Yes Yes
Location of Meetings Anywhere Anywhere

Shareholders / Members

Minimum number Normally 2 Normally 5
Records publicly available Yes Yes
Location of Meetings Madeira (by proxy) Madeira (by proxy)

Company Secretary

Required No No
Local or qualified No No

Accounts

Required Yes Yes
Audit required Larger companies Yes
Filing required Yes Yes
Publicly available Yes Yes

Other

Annual return required No No
Change of domicile permitted Yes No

 

Why not talk to us about forming an offshore company in Madeira? Call +353 1 431 9663 or Click Here to contact us.

   
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