SeychellesCompany formation, tax and banking

Why people choose Seychelles

• Among the cheapest and fastest companies to set up, in 2 to 5 days
• No tax on income from abroad and no capital gains tax
• Foundations offer an alternative to trusts for passing wealth on
• Owners and accounts aren't public, but owners go on a private register
• Yearly government fees among the lowest of any credible registry

Where Seychelles fits

• IBCs
• Foundations
• Holding vehicles

Where Seychelles fits in a structure

Typical role · Low-cost company inside a bigger structure

A Seychelles IBC usually sits underneath a more respected holding company, holding assets or IP for the wider group, rather than at the top. It pays no tax on income from abroad, and its accounts and owners aren't made public. It relies on a bank account elsewhere, because local banks are limited and some banks are wary of Seychelles companies.

What it depends onSome banks and business partners are wary of Seychelles companies, so plan the bank first, keep the accounting records in the Seychelles as the rules now require, and remember where the owners live still decides their tax.

A simplified picture to explain the idea, not a recommendation. General information, not tax or legal advice.

Opening a bank account

Local banks are limited to Absa Seychelles, MCB Seychelles and Nouvobanq, and opening accounts abroad for Seychelles companies is harder than for BVI or Mauritius ones. Most clients bank in Mauritius, the UAE or Switzerland, or through payment firms.

How tax works here

IBCs pay no tax on income from abroad; income earned in the Seychelles is taxed at local rates. No capital gains tax, no tax kept back on payouts to people abroad and no inheritance tax. Yearly government fees are among the lowest of any credible registry.

Real presence, and who can see the owners

Substance rules apply to certain activities; companies that only own shares get lighter requirements. The real owners must be filed with the registered agent and reported to a private register. Accounting records must be kept in the Seychelles — a rule that's been tightened in recent years.

When to choose it

Choose the Seychelles for a cheap holding or IP company inside a bigger structure, or for a foundation used to pass wealth on where low cost matters more than reputation.

You get a written comparison, not a sales pitch.

Every Seychelles recommendation comes as a written comparison with the alternatives — whether the setup will stand up to scrutiny, how easy banking will be, which tax treaties apply, who can see the owners, what it costs to run each year and the risk to your reputation — so you can see the trade-offs before you commit.