TO Petro International World-Wide Financial Services Offshore Company Formation It may surprise you to learn that the number one reason for people moving money offshore is not because of tax benefits but asset protection. Today's predaceous and litigious society unfortunately makes successful people vulnerable to lawsuits of every kind.

Jurisdiction	Switzerland
Switzerland IBC	Only US$499

Switzerland The Bullet Proof Tax Haven Switzerland is a federal republic and is officially known as the Swiss Confederation. The total area is 41,295 sq km. On the north, Germany borders the country, to the west by France, on the south by Italy and on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein. Lake Constance and the Rhine form part of the northern border, with the Rhône, which rises in the central Swiss Alps, also forming part of the eastern boundary. The Jura Mountains form the west border, and Lake Geneva and the Italian Alps the south. The capital is located at Berne.

Switzerland Natural Beauty

Population: The total estimated population is 7,250,000, with two thirds of the inhabitants living in the lowland parts of the country. The heaviest population concentrations are in the large industrial centers of Zürich, Basel and Geneva.

Political Structure: The two dominant principles of the Swiss Constitution of 1874 are federalism and democracy. The Constitution provides that the Cantons shall exercise all powers of government not delegated to the Federal Government.
The three major sectors of the Swiss National Government are the Federal Council, the Federal Assembly and the Federal Tribunal. The executive body is the seven-man collegiate Federal Council, which is elected for a four-year term by the national legislature.

Infrastructure And Economy: Switzerland has a prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP approximately 10% higher than other Western European countries.
The Swiss have a highly developed communication system that offers state of the art telephone, fax, telex, telegram and courier services. Swissair, as the national air carrier, offers direct services to many cities world-wide, and domestic air travel is excellent, offering frequent services to most cities.

Language: Switzerland is one of the most multi-lingual countries in Europe. German, French, Italian and Romansh, a Rhaeto-Romance offshoot of Latin, are the official languages in Switzerland.

Currency: Swiss Franc. Exchange Control: None. Type Of Law: Civil Law. Principal Corporate Legislation: Schweizerisches Obligationenrecht (Swiss Code of Obligations). Bundesgesetz über Schuldbetreibung und Konkurs (Swiss Federal law on Debt Collection and Bankruptcy). Bundesgesetz über die direkte Bundessteuer (Federal Law on Direct Taxation). Bundesgesetz über die Banken und Sparkassen (Swiss Federal Act on Banks and Savings Associations). Bundesgesetz über die Anlagefonds (Federal Act on open ended Investment Companies). Bundesgesetz über die Internationale Privatrecht (Federal Act on Private International Law).

Company Information

Type Of Company For International Trade And Investment: Aktiengesellschaft (AG) - Stock Company Gesellschaft mit beshränkter Haftung (GmbH) - Limited Liability Company Procedure To Incorporate Submission to the Commercial Register of the following documentation: Public Deed of Incorporation executed before a Notary Public. Articles of Incorporation. Confirmation by a Bank that the share capital is held in an account. Consent to act forms signed by the proposed directors. Declaration of the applicants. Application to the Commercial Register covering the above documentation, and including the notarized signature of the person appointed to represent the company.

Restrictions Of Trading: Unless suitably licensed a company incorporated in Switzerland cannot undertake the business of banking, insurance, assurance, re-insurance, fund management, collective investment schemes or any other activity that would suggest an association with the banking or finance industries.

Powers Of Company: A company incorporated in Switzerland has the same powers as a natural person.

Language Of Legislation And Corporate Documents: Swiss official language, but foreign language translations can be obtained.

Registered Office Required: Yes, must be maintained in the Canton of incorporation.

Shelf Companies Available: Owing to the costs associated with incorporation and the paid up share capital requirements, shelf companies are not available.

Time Of Incorporate: Subject to the proposed name being approved by the Commercial Register, and the criteria for incorporation being strictly adhered to, a company can be established in ten working days.

Name Restriction: A name that is identical or similar to an existing name. A major name that is known to exist elsewhere. A name that may imply government patronage. A name that in the opinion of the Registrar may be considered undesirable.

Language Of Name: The name of a body corporate or trust entity may use any language using the Latin alphabet, but the Public Registry may require a translation in to an official Swiss language.

Names Requiring Consent Or License: Bank, building society, savings, insurance, assurance, re-insurance, fund management, investment fund, Switzerland, state, country, municipality, principality, Red Cross and their foreign language equivalents.

Suffixes To Denote Limited Liabilities:

• Aktiengesellschaft - AG.
• Gesellschaft mit beshränkter Haftung - GmbH.

Share Capital, Taxation, License Fees & Compliance

Authorized And Issued Share Capital:

• AG: This type of limited liability company has a minimum authorized share capital of SFr 100,000, of which all of it has, in practice, to be issued and fully paid up. When the share capital exceeds SFr 250,000 a capital duty of 1% is payable on the amount over SFr 250,000.
• GmbH: The minimum authorized capital is SFr 20,000 but the company does not have shares; instead, the owners’ equity participation is registered in the Commercial Register. SFr 10,000 must be paid up on incorporation.

Classes Of Shares Permitted
AG: Registered shares, bearer shares and preference shares.

• GmbH: Equity participations only.
• Bearer Shares Permitted:
• AG: Yes.
• GmbH: No.

Taxation: The Cantons have preserved many of the rights they held as sovereign political bodies. Nevertheless, the constitution delegates considerable authority to the Federal Government, including the power to conclude treaties and alliances, to levy taxes and to regulate foreign trade. However, each Canton has its own taxation. There are many Cantons with favorable taxation levels and some Cantons with higher unemployment rates or small populations (mountain regions) have particularly low levels of taxation.

Double Taxation Agreement: Double tax agreements exist with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.

License Fees: Nil.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Companies are required to keep financial records. Although there is no requirement to file Financial Statements at the Registry, they must be presented to the Shareholders and filed with the Tax Authorities.

Structure Of Management

• Directors / Managers: Minimum of one who must be a Swiss citizen and resident in Switzerland. If more than one is appointed the majority must be Swiss citizens and resident in Switzerland. Corporate directors are not permitted.
• Company Secretary: There is no requirement under Swiss Law for a company secretary to be appointed.
• Shareholders:
  AG: On incorporation the minimum number of shareholders is three.
  GmbH: On incorporation the minimum number of founders is two.

Confused? The average person is frequently confused by the complexity of international tax planning and discouraged by the substantial costs involved in an offshore company formation or registering of a bank or trust in a tax haven. The registration costs and ongoing yearly administration expenses frequently exceed what the average person could save in taxes. Petro International has a new program to answer those concerns. We provide the simple, secure, private and low cost answer for the person who is just starting out or the veteran who now understands that simplicity is the essence of genius. Our survey has shown that this solution answers all of the needs for 100% of the persons seeking to go offshore.

We trust that we have clarified the intriguing world of Switzerland International Business Company Formation. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have, relating to this opportunity and provide you with additional details regarding any of our devoted services.

If you would like to obtain further details of the legislation surrounding the formation of an International Business Company (IBC) In Switzerland or wish to discuss any matter in complete confidence, please click here to contact:
Mr. John Cooper
Petro International Offshore Services

Please click here to explain us the full particulars of your situation and what you wish to accomplish. We will review your situation very carefully and offer to you a custom fitted solution. 95% of the time the solution will be simple to understand and 100% of the time it will be the least expensive alternative.

Please feel free to contact Petro International if you believe the formation of a Switzerland IBC at the present time may be appropriate in your particular situation. Any communication with us is considered PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL.

Other Jurisdictions?

Petro International is in a position to assist new and established clients in opening personal and corporate offshore bank or trust accounts, denominated in almost every currency, in over 125 of offshore jurisdictions world-wide, including:
New Zealand, Australia, Chile, The Dominican Republic, Ireland, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay, Prague, Bodrum, The Spanish-Moroccan Tax Havens, The Madeira Tax Haven of Portugal, The Jamaican Free Trade Zones, The Dominican Republic Free Trade Zones, Campione D'Italia, Andorra, Poland, The Eastern Turkish Border and Tbilisi, Mozambique, Guatemala, The Virgin Islands, The Philippine Islands, and Anguilla are just some of the countries and places featured.