Jersey Jersey



General
Type of entity Resident
Type of law Common
Shelf company availability No
Our time to establish a new company 10-14 days
Corporate Taxation 0% -10%
Double taxation treaty access No
Share Capital or Equivalent
Standard currency GBP
Permitted currencies Any
Minimum paid up £1
Usual authorised £10,000
Directors or Managers
Minimum number 1
Local required No
Publicly accessible records No
Location of meetings Anywhere
Members
Minimum number 1
Publicly accessible records Yes
Location of meetings Anywhere
Company Secretary
Required Yes
Local or qualified No
Accounts
Requirement to prepare Yes
Audit requirements No
Requirement to file accounts No
Publicly accessible accounts No
Other
Requirement to file annual return (by 28th February each year) Yes
Change in domicile permitted Yes


EEC Introduction
The Channel Islands are divided into two Baliwicks; Jersey and Guernsey (which comprises the smaller islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm and Jethou). Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is approximately 160 kilometres south of England, but only 22 kilometres from France.

EEC Population
The population of Jersey is approximately 90,000 and effective immigration controls exist to restrict future growth.

EEC Political Structure
Historically The Channel Islands formed part of the Duchy of Normandy and have been in possession of the Crown of England since 1066 when the Duke of Normandy became King of England. When Normandy was overrun by the King of France in 1204 the Islands remained in the hands of the King of England, who continued to use the title of Duke of Normandy until 1259. Accordingly, the constitutional relationship between the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom is unique. Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom but a self-governing Crown Dependency which gives the Island constitutional rights of self government and judicial independence with political and economical stability. The Islands special relationship with the European Union was ratified by Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Community. Through this Protocol, Jersey complies with the European Union Directives on trade in industrial and agricultural products, but is not obliged to implement Directives or Regulations in other areas such as Taxation, Financial Services and European Monetary Union.

EEC Infrastructure and Economy
Whilst the financial services sector provides Jersey's main source of income, the tourist industry continues to be important.
Air services from Jersey are excellent with services to London being particularly frequent. There are also flights to many European centres, including Paris and Amsterdam.

EEC Language
English is used in all aspects of the financial and commercial activities of the Island. However, French remains the official language of the Royal Court of Jersey.

EEC Currency
The Jersey Pound is on par with the UK Pound. The Island issues its own notes and coinage that are freely interchangeable with the UK Pound.

EEC Exchange Control
None.

EEC Type of Law
Largely based on English Common Law, with many French features.

EEC Principal Corporate Legislation
Companies (Jersey) Law, 1991, as amended, based on the English Companies Act 1948.

COMPANY INFORMATION

EEC Procedure to Incorporate
By submission of the Memorandum and Articles of Association to the Financial Services Commission, together with notification of the Registered Office address, the names, nationalities and addresses of the directors and shareholders, character references relating to the beneficial owners and a full description of the proposed company's trading and/or investment activities.

EEC Powers of Company
A Jersey company has all the powers of a natural person.

EEC Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents
English.

EEC Registered Office Required
Yes. Must be maintained in Jersey.

EEC Time to Incorporate
Takes approximately 10 – 14 days, subject to name approval and compliance with the strict regulations governing the incorporation of Jersey companies.

EEC Shelf Companies
No, due to disclosure requirement of beneficial ownership and trading activities.

EEC Name Restrictions
A name that is similar to or identical to an existing company or registered entity. Names of well-known multi-national companies, without prior written consent. Names that imply illegal activities. Names that imply royal or government patronage, either local or foreign. Use of the word “International” in a name is restricted and is to be used only by companies of stature, trading internationally. In addition the minimum share capital requirement of companies using the word “International” is:

  • First word of name - £1,000,000
  • Second word of name - £250,000
  • Third word of name - £100,000

EEC Language of Name
The name of a Jersey registered company can be in any language using the Latin alphabet as long as the authorities are advised of the meaning of the name on the application form. The application will then be granted, or otherwise, under the current guidelines regarding the use of certain words.

EEC Names Requiring Consent or a Licence
The following names or their derivatives require consent or a licence: Jersey, bank, building society, savings, loans, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, building society, Chamber of Commerce, council, co-operative, trust, trustees, finance, international or their foreign language equivalent.

EEC Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability
A company with limited liability must end its name with Limited or Avec Responsabilité Limitee or the abbreviations Ltd and a.r.l.

EEC Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities
Yes, before incorporation. If beneficial ownership changes the Financial Services Commission has to be informed immediately. If the owner is a trust, details of the settlors, instigators and trustees are required before incorporation. If the owner is a public company, a copy of the latest annual report is required.

COMPLIANCE

EEC Authorised and Issued Share Capital
The usual authorised share capital is £10,000 or its foreign currency equivalent, although issued capital may be nominal e.g. £1. Stamp duty is payable on higher amounts of capital.

EEC Minimum Issued Capital
Equal to the value of the shares issued to the subscribers, normally one share of £1 paid or its foreign currency equivalent. All issued shares must be paid in full in cash.

EEC Classes of Shares Permitted
Registered shares, preference shares, redeemable shares, non-redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights.

EEC Taxation
Companies holding Exempt Status prior to 3rd June 2008 will retain the Exempt Tax status until 31st December 2008, thereafter a 0% rate applies.

All companies incorporated or becoming first resident from 3rd June 2008 Jersey have a corporate income tax of 0% unless it is:

  • Financial Services Entities e.g. bank, trust, financial services company – liable at the 10% Corporate Rate
  • Utility Companies e.g. Electricity, Gas – continue to be taxed at 20%.
  • Rental and Property Development Companies – continue to be taxes at 20%

A company is regarded as resident in Jersey if it is incorporated in Jersey or its business is managed and controlled in Jersey unless:

  • It is managed and controlled outside Jersey in a country of territory where the highest rate at which the company may be charged tax on any part of its income is 20% or higher.
  • It is resident for tax purposes in that country of territory.

EEC Double Taxation Agreements
None

EEC Goods & Services Tax – GST
The States of Jersey introduced a broad based 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST) as from 6th May 2008 – The Goods and Services Tax (Jersey) Law 2007. GST is a sales tax on domestic consumption of imported and local produced goods and services it is not intended to be a tax on business and a special regime applicable to “International Service Entites” or “ISE’s” has been introduced by the law. ISE status removes the entity from the scope of the GST. ISE status can be obtained by a Jersey Trust company through an annual registration and payment to the Comptroller of Income Tax who will maintain a list of ISE’s.

EEC Financial Statements Required
Whilst there is no requirement to file audited financial statements with the authorities, it is important to note that a company is required to keep financial records, which reflect the financial position of a company.

If accounting records are kept at a place outside Jersey they must be sent to the company's registered office in Jersey at not less than 6 month intervals.

EEC Directors
The minimum number of directors required by law is one; they may be natural persons of any nationality and need not be resident in Jersey or bodies corporate providing the corporate entity so acting is required in Jersey to carry on trust company business pursuant to the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998.

EEC Company Secretary
A company secretary is required who can be a natural person or body corporate. Can be of any nationality and need not be resident in Jersey.

EEC Shareholders
The minimum number of shareholders is one. Details of shareholders are available to the general public.

EEC Disclaimer
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the details contained herein are correct and up-to-date, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Europe Emirates Consultancydoes not accept any responsibility, legal or otherwise, for any errors or omission.