Panama Panama



General
Type of entity Non Resident
Type of law Civil
Shelf company availability Yes
Our time to establish a new company 2 days
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation) US$300
Corporate Taxation Nil
Double taxation treaty access No
Share Capital or Equivalent
Standard currency US$
Permitted currencies Any
Minimum paid up US$1
Usual authorised US$10,000
Directors
Minimum number Three
Local required No
Publicly accessible records Yes
Location of meetings Anywhere
Shareholders
Minimum number One
Publicly accessible records Optional
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 No
Change in domicile permitted Yes

EEC Introduction
The Republic of Panama has a land mass of approximately 76,900 sq km, is located between Costa Rica and Colombia, forms the narrowest and lowest portion of the isthmus that links North and South America. It is best known for the Panama Canal which joins the Caribbean Sea to the North Pacific Ocean and connects Central America to South America.

EEC Population
The population of Panama is approximately 3.3 million, about 52% of which reside in Panama City, consisting of mainly the Mestizos (70%) and a mix of West Indians, Caucasians and Indians. The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism.

EEC Political Structure
Panama was a Spanish colony until 1821. In 1903, Panama broke an alliance with Colombia and became an independent republic.

EEC There are three Branches of Government:

  • The Executive Branch of the Government is at present composed of a President and two vice-presidents, elected by majority vote, for a five-year term. The Ministers of State are appointed by the President subject to approval by the Legislative Assembly.
  • The Legislative Assembly is composed of legislators elected from the electoral districts for a five-year term.
  • The Judicial Branch of Government consists of Supreme Court of Justice, five Superios Courts and three Courts of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Justice is presided over by nine judges appointed for a ten-year term.

An autonomous Electoral Tribunal supervises voter registration and all citizens over the age of 18 are required to vote.

EEC Infrastructure and Economy
The Colon Free Zone is located on the Caribbean side of the Isthmus of Panama near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. This Free Trade Zone is the second largest in the world after Hong Kong. Operations and transactions taking place in the Free Trade Zone are subject to a special tax treatment whereby imports from other parts of the world and re-exports to other countries are exempted from any import or export taxes imposed by Panama. Income earned from re-exports is taxed at specially reduced rates. Panama has the world’s largest shipping registry and a well-established Banking centre. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion which began in 2007 and is expected to complete in 2014-15 at a cost of US$5.3 billion. The project will more than double the Canal’s present capacity enabling it to accommodate the modern super tankers that are becoming too large to transverse the existing transoceanic crossway. Without the expansion, it was anticipated that the Panama Canal would be forced to turn away approximately 37 per cent of the world's container ships by 2011. Other areas of economic activity are in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transport, tourism and financial services.

EEC Language
Spanish is the official and spoken language. English is also spoken widely in urban areas and is used daily in commerce and international trade.

EEC Currency
United States Dollar.

EEC Exchange Control
None.

EEC Type of Law
Based on Spanish Civil Law with many Common Law influences, particularly regarding Company Law.

EEC Principal Corporate Legislation
Corporation Law No. 32 of the 1927 Commercial Code, Decree Law 5 of 1997 and Executive Decree 296 of 1997.

COMPANY INFORMATION

EEC Type of Company for International Trade and Investment
Generally, corporations are incorporated under the Corporation Statute Law 32 of the 1927 Commercial Code. Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships are used also.

EEC Procedure to Incorporate
By presentation of the proposed corporation's signed Articles of Incorporation before a Notary Public who creates a Public Deed for registration at the Public Registry.

EEC Restrictions on Trading
Cannot undertake the business of banking, trusteeship and trust administration, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, investment funds, collective investment schemes or any other activity that would suggest an association with the banking, finance, fiduciary or insurance businesses.

EEC Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents
Spanish and certified English translations.

EEC Registered Office Required
Yes, must be maintained in Panama at the address of the Registered Agent.

EEC Name Approval Required
Yes.

EEC Shelf Companies Available
Yes.

EEC Time to Incorporate
Two days, subject to name approval.

EEC Name Restrictions
A name that is similar to or identical to an existing company. Names of well known companies incorporated elsewhere or a name that implies government patronage.

EEC Language of Name
Names may be expressed in any language using the Latin alphabet. The Registrar may request a Spanish or English translation.

EEC Names Requiring Consent or a Licence
Bank, building society, savings, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, investment fund, trust or their foreign language equivalents.

EEC Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability
All Panamanian corporations must end with the suffix Corporation, Incorporated, Sociedad Anónima or the abbreviations Corp, Inc or SA. They may not utilise the suffix Limited or Ltd.

EEC Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities
No requirement.

COMPLIANCE

EEC Authorised and Issued Share Capital
The usual authorised share capital is US$ 10,000 divided in to 100 common voting shares of US$ 100 each or 500 common voting shares of no par value; the capital may be expressed in any convertible currency. The minimum issued capital is either one share of no par value or one share of par value.

EEC Classes of Shares Permitted
Non-voting shares, preferred shares and registered shares. Bearer shares can be issued but no-par-value and bearer shares must be fully paid when issued. The registered agent must keep the bearer shares certificate in safe custody and must notify the Registrar that the shares have been issued.

EEC Taxation
No corporation tax is levied on non-Panamanian sourced income.

EEC Double Taxation Agreements
None.

EEC Licence Fees
Annual Franchise Tax of US$300 is payable.

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

EEC Directors
Both corporations and natural persons may act as directors and the minimum number of directors is three. They may be of any nationality and need not be residents of Panama. Panamanian companies are also required to appoint a minimum of three officers (president, secretary and treasurer) who may also be the directors.

EEC Company Secretary
A company secretary must be appointed, who may be a natural person or body corporate. The company secretary may be of any nationality and need not be a resident of Panama.

EEC Shareholders
The minimum number of shareholders is one.

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 Consultancy does not accept any responsibility, legal or otherwise, for any errors or omission.