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Gibraltar
NEWS
FACT FILE
Location European Union (self-governing British Overseas Territory; joined EU with UK in 1973); located at entrance to Mediterranean; not an island.
Time Zone Greenwich Mean Time +1.
Population 30,000.
Capital Gibraltar.
Airport Gibraltar.
Language English; Spanish also widely spoken.
Currency Pound sterling; Gibraltar pounds are issued at par.
Dialing Code +350.
Centre's Expertise Funds, including experienced investor funds, trusts, insurance and reinsurance, captives, protected cell companies, wealth management.
Political System Parliamentary democracy.
Legal System English law as varied by local statute.
Personal Income Tax Choice between allowance based (17-40%) and gross income based (up to £25,000: 20%; £25,001-£100,000: 29%; over £100,000: 35%); special tax residence schemes for high net worth individuals and high executives possessing specialist skills.
Corporate Income Tax 22% (20% for small companies); low flat rate of 10% for all companies incorporated after 1st July 2009 i.e. all new companies; 10% low flat rate for all companies (whether incorporated before or after 1st July 2009) as from 1st January 2011.
Exchange Restrictions None.
Tax Treaties USA, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Denmark, Austria, France, Portugal, Finland, Greenland and Faroe Islands.
Permitted Currencies All major currencies.
Minimum Authorised Capital No specific minimum.
Minimum Share Issues One.
Shelf Companies Yes.
Incorporation Time Scale Three days; same day if urgent.
Incorporation Fees £50 (£100 for urgent incorporation).
Annual Fees Annual return: £45; filing of accounts: £10; filing of particulars of directors or secretaries: £10.
Minimum Number Private company: one but a minimum of two is advisable; public company: seven.
Residency Requirements None.
Corporate Directors Yes.
Meetings/Frequency Any location; once a year.
Disclosure Yes.
Bearer Shares Share warrants to bearer are permitted but these are required to be immobilised.
Minimum Number One.
Public Share Registry Companies house.
Meetings Frequency Once a year; any location.
Annual Return Yes.
Audit Requirements Yes; certain derogations for small and medium-sized companies.
Registered Office Yes.
Domicile Issues
Company Naming Restrictions Yes.
ARTICLES
New International Initiatives – Levelling the Playing Field?
  Marcus Killick discusses the widened supervisory remit of the Financial Stability Board and its likely impacts on world finance (05/05/2010)
Gibraltar: Unshaken by the Storm
  Adrian Pilcher reports on a jurisdiction whose economy continues to defy the international fluctuations that have de-stabilised so many financial centres recently. (09/02/2010)
Beyond G20
  Marcus Killick, CE of Gibraltar Financial Services examines how the OECD is dealing with tax havens and ‘harmful tax practices’ (08/07/2009)
The Gibraltar Experienced Investor Fund regime
  James Lasry considers the Gibraltar Experienced Investor Fund Regime and highlights its use as a versatile way of setting up a fund within the EU. (01/06/2009)
Gibraltar funds
  With the introduction of the Experienced Investor Funds Legislation, Joey Garcia argues that Gibraltar has now positioned itself well as an alternative fund jurisdiction. (21/01/2008)
Standards? Make mine a double!
  With regulation in most offshore centres now at least matching that of their "onshore" counterparts, Marcus Killick argues it’s time for the Financial Stability Forum to treat them equally (08/01/2008)
Gibraltar: A viable alternative
  James Lasry reports on the phasing out of Gibraltar’s tax-exempt company regime and the benefits that can now be obtained through the European Parent Subsidiary Directive. (01/01/2008)
  read all
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