Why Choose an Offshore Panama Corporation?

Offshore company formation in Panama is not about skulking in the shadows or engaging in dubious financial escapades—it’s a strategic move for savvy investors and business owners aiming to capitalize on one of the world’s most favorable business environments. Panama, with its strategic location bridging two continents, offers a legal framework that’s as welcoming to foreign investment.

Why Panama?

The allure of Panama isn’t just its postcard-worthy beaches; it’s the country’s ironclad privacy laws, advantageous tax regime, and the ease of doing business that draw elite individuals and corporations seeking to optimize their operations and protect their busniess and wealth. By setting up shop in Panama, you’re not evaded taxes—you’re playing chess, moving your pawns to a jurisdiction that gives you the upper hand against the overreach of your home country’s litigious practices.

Panama Company Law

Panama companies, also known as Panamanian Corporations are created under the General Corporation Law, Law 32 of February 26, 1927. Law 32 has been used as a model for many other jurisdictions and offers a flexible corporate structure, provides investor privacy and ensures the legal framework to conduct legitimate business activities in the international arena.

Panama’s Business Structures

Panama’s corporate structure landscape is diverse, accommodating a variety of business and personal objectives. The most popular corporate structure, the Sociedad Anónima (S.A.), is celebrated for its flexibility, confidentiality, and tax-efficient framework, ideal for international business activities and asset holding. The Limited Liability Company (LLC) and the Foundation of Private Interest are other notable structures, each offering unique benefits such as limited liability for its members and asset protection, respectively. Trusts in Panama also serve as a sophisticated means for asset management and protection, favored for their flexibility and strong privacy​​.

The two most popular strucutres are the:

• Sociedad Anónima (S.A.)
• Panama Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

Panama Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

Panama Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) offer a streamlined and less complex alternative to traditional corporations, governed by Law 4, enacted on January 9, 2009. This legislation outlines the specific requirements and operational guidelines for LLCs within Panama. Designed for flexibility, these entities are permitted to engage in a wide range of activities, both civil and commercial, not just within the borders of Panama but globally.

The structure of a Panamanian LLC is tailored to provide a simpler framework for business owners, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs and investors who seek the benefits of a corporation without the associated administrative burdens. The law allows these companies to operate with greater ease across various sectors, facilitating international trade, investments, and other business ventures without being confined to the geographical limits of Panama.

Sociedad Anónima (S.A.)

Incorporating a Sociedad Anónima in Panama is governed by a process that is designed to be straightforward, requiring the fulfillment of key criteria such as maintaining a minimum of three directors and ensuring the presence of at least one shareholder upon incorporation. The process emphasizes the importance of designating a resident agent, typically a Panamanian lawyer, and adhering to regulatory requirements including registration with the Public Registry and the Directorate General of Revenues for a Tax Identification Number. The incorporation framework encourages transparency and compliance, with the need for companies to maintain accurate records and submit tax declarations​​.

Panama’s legislation does not impose a minimum social capital requirement for S.A.s, although a recommended minimum of USD$10,000 is often advised. This approach allows for considerable flexibility in setting up the corporate structure, aligning with the needs and strategies of the business. Furthermore, the ability to conduct commercial activities both within and outside of Panama, coupled with the country’s territorial tax system, positions the Sociedad Anónima as a strategic vehicle for international business operations, asset protection, and estate plannin

Benefits of Incorporating in Panama

1. Second Most Popular Jurisdiction in the World

Panama’s status as the second most popular jurisdiction in the world for corporate and foundation registrations, following closely behind Hong Kong, is not just a testament to its business-friendly environment but also highlights its strategic importance in global finance and trade. This impressive standing is reflected in the over 400,000 corporations and foundations that have chosen Panama as their registered domicile. This choice is driven by a combination of factors that make Panama an attractive option for businesses and individuals seeking advantageous incorporation options.

2. Strategic Location

Panama’s geographical position, bridging North and South America and controlling the vital Panama Canal, positions it as a global logistics and shipping hub. This strategic location enhances its appeal to international businesses looking to leverage Panama’s role in global trade routes for import-export operations and international commerce.

3. Favorable Legal Framework

Panama offers a legal framework designed to support and protect international investors and businesses. Its laws provide confidentiality and privacy for corporation owners and beneficiaries, which is a significant draw for those seeking to maintain the privacy of their financial affairs. Moreover, the Panamanian government has tailored its legislation to facilitate easy and efficient incorporation, offering a level of flexibility and ease that is highly valued by international businesses.

4. Tax Advantages

One of the key attractions of Panama as a jurisdiction is its territorial tax system, whereby income generated outside of Panama is not subject to Panamanian taxes making non-resident offshore companies tax-free. This policy is particularly beneficial for multinational corporations and foundations that operate globally, as it allows them to minimize their overall tax liability.

5. Asset Protection and Estate Planning

Panama is renowned for its robust asset protection structures, such as private interest foundations and trusts, which are designed to safeguard assets from potential legal threats and uncertainties. These structures are an integral part of estate planning for many wealthy individuals, providing a secure way to manage and distribute assets according to their wishes.

6. Political and Economic Stability

Despite its relatively small size, Panama has demonstrated remarkable economic and political stability over the years since the ousting of Manuel Noriega 1990, compared to other Latin American countries. This stability, coupled with the use of the US dollar as its official currency, reduces financial risk and makes Panama an attractive destination for foreign investment.

7. Global Business Hub

The combination of Panama’s strategic location, favorable tax regime, and sophisticated financial services sector has established it as a global business hub. The country hosts a multitude of international banks, law firms, and service providers specialized in meeting the needs of global corporations and foundations.

Panama Company Corporate Detail Advantages

• No Reporting Requirements or Taxes: Panama does not impose any reporting requirements or taxes for non-resident Panamanian corporations.
• No Piercing the Corporate Veil: Panama does not allow “piercing the corporate veil”, so your corporate books are maintained 100% private and confidential by law.
• Anonymous Ownership: Panama corporations share certificates can be issued in Nominative or Bearer form (Bearer Shares are an anonymous form of ownership), with or without par value.
  • Neither the directors nor the officers of Panama corporations need to be shareholders.
• No Capital Requirements: Panama corporations do not require Paid-In Capital, nor is there a time limit in which authorized capital must be fully paid.
• Nominee Directors: We offer our clients the optional service of using our “Nominee Directors” for their corporation(s).
  • For purposes of confidentiality, most of our clients prefer that we provide nominee directors/officers for their corporations, since unlike IBC’s set up under Belize, Nevis or other British Commonwealth tax haven corporate laws, these three directors have to be in the public registry. When we appoint nominee directors for the entities that we establish for our clients, we always provide our clients with pre-signed, undated letters of resignation from the directors so that our client can replace those directors at any time, without in any way being dependant on our law firm.
• Directors or Shareholders Meetings: Annual general meetings of either shareholders or directors of the corporation are not mandated or required.
  • However, if meetings are held, they can take place anywhere in the world by proxy – via telephone, email or other electronic means. Any resolutions passed are valid regardless of whether they are signed on different dates or in different jurisdictions.
• Corporate Books: The Registered Agent is not required to keep any records for the corporation, however, every corporation should maintain a minute book and stock register, which can be held anywhere in the world.
• Subscribers: Panama corporations must have two subscribers present at the public registry in order to be incorporated.
  • The subscribers are the individuals from our law firm that appear at the Public Registry with the articles of incorporation to incorporate the corporation. By law, the subscribers have a right to own one (1) share of the corporation. As soon as the corporation is established, the subscribers sign a document where by they resign their rights to one (1) share of the corporation. This document is provided to our client along with the other corporate documentation.
• Annual Corporate Franchise Tax: Non-resident Panama corporations should pay an annual corporate franchise tax of US$300 to remain in good standing.
  • The public registry now requires the initial US $250 franchise fee for the first year to be paid at the time of incorporation. Starting in 2006 the late fee for non-payment is set at US $100. This annual franchise tax fee is part of the annual renewal cost of the corporation which also includes the registered agent fees.
• No Business License Requirement: Non-resident Panama Corporations do not require a commercial business license to operate business internationally.
• Re-Domiciliation: Corporations from other jurisdictions may be “re-domiciled” to Panama, and vice-versa.
  • Many people who have corporations in jurisdictions such as the Bahamas and other British territories, are currently re-domiciling their corporations to more private and secure jurisdictions such as Panama.
• Corporate Seal: A corporate seal is optional. We usually recommend our clients order a seal locally because of their low cost relative to their high courier shipment cost from Panama.
• Legal Address: When registering a new Panama corporation, it must have a legal physical address that is included in the articles of incorporation.
  • Our law firm provides a legal physical address as Registered Agent.

If you’re considering a Panama offshore company as part of your business strategy you can leverage Panama’s unique position in the global economy to your advantage.