Company formation help centre: answers by topic

A yearly filing that confirms a company’s basic details with the registry.

A certificate that makes a public document valid in other countries that joined the Hague Apostille Convention.

The company’s internal rules, such as how directors are appointed and shares are issued.

An independent check of a company’s financial statements by a licensed accountant.

The individual who ultimately owns or controls a company, directly or through other entities.

A foreign company’s registered presence in another country. It is not a separate company.

A US corporation taxed at company level, and the usual choice for venture investors.

A registry document confirming the company exists and is up to date with filings.

The registry document that proves the company was formed, with its number and date.

The officer who keeps statutory records and filings up to date. Required in some places, such as Hong Kong.

The UK filing that confirms company details to Companies House at least every 12 months.

Common Reporting Standard: automatic exchange of financial account information between tax authorities.

A person appointed to manage the company, with legal duties to it.

Rules requiring real activity in a jurisdiction for companies that earn certain types of income there.

US Employer Identification Number, needed for US tax and banking.

Electronic money institution: a regulated provider of payment and e-money accounts.

Cayman company type for business carried on mainly outside Cayman.

US law under which foreign financial institutions report accounts held by US persons to the IRS.

Financial Action Task Force: the global anti-money-laundering standard setter, which lists higher-risk jurisdictions.

A US information return filed by certain foreign-owned US companies, including single-member LLCs.

A legal entity without shareholders that holds assets for a purpose or for beneficiaries.

International Business Company, used in Seychelles, Belize and others.

A document from the registered agent that lists a company’s directors and shareholders.

Know your customer: identity, address and source-of-funds checks.

<p>Person who owns the legal interest in an asset and is said to have rights in rem enforceable against the whole world. May hold the legal interest on behalf of another i.e. the beneficial, equitable owner.</p>

Limited liability company. In the US, a flexible entity whose tax treatment depends on its owners.

Limited liability partnership: partners share the profits with limited personal liability.

A founding document that records the company’s name, shares and first members.

A professional who acts as director or holds shares for the owner, disclosed to the registry and authorities as required.

Certification by a notary that a signature or a copy of a document is genuine.

A recent utility bill or bank statement showing your name and home address.

The UK register of people with significant control over a company, kept by Companies House.

Licensed provider that must be appointed in offshore jurisdictions.

The official address where the company receives legal and registry mail.

Locally resident director required by some jurisdictions, such as Singapore.

The value of the shares a company issues to its shareholders.

A company formed earlier with no activity, ready to transfer to a new owner.

Hong Kong register of people with significant control, kept by the company and shown to law enforcement on demand.

Where the money used to fund the company or a transaction comes from.

How a person built their overall wealth, such as salary, a business sale or an inheritance.

Removal of a company from the register, on request or for missed filings.

Trust or company service provider. In Hong Kong, providing company services requires a TCSP licence from the Companies Registry.

A system that taxes only profits sourced in the country, as in Hong Kong.