BVI Company Registration: 0% Corporate Tax, Private Ownership
The BVI Business Company is one of the most widely used international company forms. It pays no corporate income tax, no capital gains tax and no withholding tax. Its owners aren't on the public register, and there's no audit. Everything is done remotely: you send the documents, and we handle the rest.
Why the BVI
- 0% corporate income tax. A BVI company pays no income tax on its profits. There's no capital gains tax, and no withholding tax on dividends, interest or royalties. Payroll tax only applies if you employ staff in the BVI.
- Private ownership. Anyone can search the certificate of incorporation and basic company details on the government registry. Shareholder and beneficial-owner details aren't public: the registered agent holds them and discloses them only to the authorities.
- Light administration. No audit, and no public filing of accounts. Once a year the company files an economic substance declaration and a short annual financial return through its registered agent.
- Fast. Filing takes 3-5 working days once your documents clear the compliance check.
What's included for €5,000
- Unlimited name availability checks: we check as many names as you need until one is free.
- Incorporation application and filing with the BVI Registry of Corporate Affairs.
- First-year government fee.
- Registered agent and registered address for one year: every BVI company must have both.
- Corporate secretary service for one year.
- One set of digital corporate documents.
- Reminders before filing deadlines, so the annual return and the economic substance declaration are never late.
| Not included | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certifying your KYC documents | €150 per document | With our CPA. You can also use your own CPA, notary or lawyer. |
| English translation | Translator's fee | Only for documents that aren't already in English. It must be done by a professional translator. |
| Bank account opening | Ask us | Digital banks take 10-15 working days, traditional banks 1-2 months. |
| Second year onwards | Ask us | Government fee, registered agent and secretary renewal. The package covers the first year. |
How registration works
- Consultation. We talk through your plans, you choose the package, and you pay.
- Name, documents and structure. We check the company name, collect the KYC documents for every member, and confirm who the directors, shareholders and beneficial owners will be.
- Compliance check (1-3 working days). The compliance officers review the file. They may ask for extra documents, case by case.
- Incorporation (3-5 working days). The application goes to the Registry of Corporate Affairs, and you receive your digital corporate documents.
- Bank account. A corporate account takes 10-15 working days with a digital bank, 1-2 months with a traditional bank. Ask us about banking support.
Documents you need
You need these for every member of the company, meaning each director, shareholder and beneficial owner:
- A certified copy of the passport
- A certified proof of address
- Proof of tax identification number (TIN)
- Email address and phone number
- Source of funds: a CV or LinkedIn profile is enough
For the company, you also need a business description of 20-30 words: the website, the product or service, and the main countries you operate in.
Is a BVI company right for you?
A good fit for:
- Holding companies and investment vehicles
- International trading or service businesses that don't operate inside the BVI
- Joint ventures between partners from different countries
- Owners who value confidentiality and minimal annual paperwork
Think twice if you:
- Need an EU company with an EU VAT number. An Estonian company is the better fit there.
- Need a traditional bank account quickly. Traditional banks take 1-2 months with offshore companies, so plan around a digital bank first.
- Live in a country that taxes foreign companies owned by its residents. The 0% is BVI tax, and your home country may still tax the profit under controlled-foreign-company or management rules. Check with a tax adviser where you live.
Your contact: Mardo Soo, from Estonia
Mardo Soo
Founder & CEO, Consulting24 · Estonian
Mardo Soo is Estonian and founded Consulting24 (X24Consulting OÜ, Business Register code 16971898, Tallinn). Over eight years he has advised on and helped set up 200+ companies in 15+ countries, many of them fintech and financial-services firms.
He runs your BVI registration himself, from the name check to the bank account. The filing goes through a licensed BVI registered agent, as BVI law requires. Connect on LinkedIn · About us
FAQ - BVI company registration
Does a BVI company pay tax?
The British Virgin Islands charge 0% corporate income tax. There's no capital gains tax and no withholding tax on dividends, interest or royalties. Payroll tax only applies if the company employs staff in the BVI. Your home country may still tax the company's profit or your share of it under its own rules, so check with a tax adviser where you live.
How long does BVI company registration take?
The compliance check takes 1-3 working days once your documents are in. The Registry of Corporate Affairs then incorporates the company, and the corporate documents come back within 3-5 working days. Opening a bank account takes longer: 10-15 working days with a digital bank, 1-2 months with a traditional bank.
Is the ownership of a BVI company public?
No. Anyone can search the certificate of incorporation and basic company details on the government registry. Shareholder and beneficial-owner information isn't on the public register: the registered agent holds it and discloses it only to the authorities.
Does a BVI company need an audit or published accounts?
No audit is required, and nothing is filed publicly. Each year the company files an economic substance declaration and a short annual financial return (a basic balance sheet and income statement) with its registered agent. The standard package includes reminders before each filing deadline.
What documents do I need to register a BVI company?
You need these for every director, shareholder and beneficial owner:
- A certified passport copy
- A certified proof of address issued within the last 3 months
- Proof of tax identification number (TIN)
- Email and phone number
- A CV or LinkedIn profile as source of funds
You also need a business description of 20-30 words. Documents are certified by a CPA, notary or lawyer. Our CPA certification costs €150 per document.
What is not included in the €5,000?
These cost extra:
- Certifying your KYC documents (€150 per document with our CPA, or use your own notary or lawyer)
- Professional English translation of any documents not in English
- Bank account opening
- The government fee, registered agent and secretary renewal from the second year onwards
Register your BVI company
€5,000 standard package: filing, first-year government fee, registered agent, address and secretary. Tell us about your business and we'll get started.
Contact us → 💬 +372 58155779Sources: BVI Financial Services Commission: tax structure · BVI FSC: filing annual returns