According to the recently published Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2023, the UK is projected to experience a net outflow of 3,200 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in the coming year. In contrast, Australia is projected to attract the highest net inflow of HNWIs in 2023, with an estimated 5,200 individuals seeking to establish residence there.

Singapore has established the Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering transparency and combating illicit financial activities. This article will delve into the critical aspects of the RORC, its significance, and how it reinforces corporate governance in Singapore.

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in Singapore has implemented the Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) to enhance the transparency of ownership and control of corporate entities. This initiative is part of ACRA's ongoing efforts to uphold Singapore's reputation as a trusted financial hub.

To align with global initiatives against tax evasion and ensure fair taxation, Hong Kong has revised its Foreign Source Income Exemption (FSIE) regime for passive income. The amendments were made in accordance with the European Union's Guidance on FSIE regimes, following Hong Kong's inclusion in the EU's watchlist of jurisdictions with potentially harmful tax practices in 2021.

Cyprus has successfully undergone a positive assessment and will officially become a part of the Schengen information system. This development signifies that Cyprus will now have the capability to exchange valuable information with other Schengen member states.

Filing annual returns can be risky for a small company just starting a business. Also, you will have to deal with other issues, such as compliance with the law. To simplify the process of filing annual returns, you need to know the essential requirements.

Paid-up capital refers to the amount paid on shares issued by a company. These may be ordinary, preference shares or shares of some other class.

Startups are growing and changing the Singapore ecosystem for the better with their innovative ideas and new technologies. Like small and young companies, startups may need funding and guidance to start their business. If you are a startup founder looking for investors for your business and want to know how to attract them, this article is for you.

The exclusion of shareholders from the company as quickly as possible may be necessary if there are disputes between majority and minority shareholders, between directors and shareholders, etc. Such disputes with shareholders may affect business operations, such as the inability to obtain enough votes to make decisions at shareholders' meetings due to conflicting points of view.

A resolution of the board of directors is a formal document that records the decisions or intentions of the board of directors' members on behalf of the corporation. Board resolutions record decisions such as changing ownership, voting for new board members, or selling company shares.

The European Commission is increasing pressure on EU countries to change residency programs. Portuguese Prime Minister said the country would likely abandon its citizenship-by-investment scheme, commonly known as the "golden visa".

The Hong Kong government has published significant changes to its tax laws over four decades in its Official Gazette. These amendments introduced a tax on the profits of multinational enterprises from foreign sources, which is currently not taxed.

The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus held a press conference dedicated to launching the Action Plan to attract companies to conduct activities and expand in Cyprus. The above Action plan is a significant improvement in promoting Cyprus as an international business centre.

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a document created by a person who appoints another person to act on his behalf. The creator of the POA is called the donor, and the person appointed to act on behalf of the donor is called the donee. There are several types of POA, each with different functions. Powers of Attorney are used in a wide variety of transactions.

One of the requirements for registering a company in Singapore is that it has a registered address. Typically, legal entities rent a real space to use as their office. However, recently some companies have decided to use virtual offices, where a business address is rented and used as their own.

After registering the company, the owner receives a standard document, including a company seal and rubber stamp. This article will review the differences between seals and stamps and learn the nuances of their use.

Expats are people who do not live where they were born and not in the country whose citizenship they have - this is a separate class of people who follow a prestigious job and a comfortable life. And among many countries, they choose those that they like.

Some companies conducting a particular type of activity need to fill out notices of economic substance and submit reports. The Economic Substance Report/Notice must be submitted through the UAE Ministry of Finance Portal by the due date.

A beneficial owner is a person (group of persons) who is the actual controlling owner of a legal entity. In this article, we will consider essential points regarding registers of beneficiaries and the regulation on this issue.

Cyprus is considered the "Pearl of the Mediterranean". There are quite a few reasons for moving to Cyprus. If you want to improve the quality of your life or get away from the hectic modern life, you should consider moving to the island.

COVID-19 and related quarantines and restrictions have damaged the image of Hong Kong, considered the international centre of Asia, provoked the departure of expats and spurred the ambitions of rival cities to replace Hong Kong and take its place as the preeminent financial centre of the region.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has indicted 11 individuals for their role in creating and promoting Forsage, an alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency pyramid scheme and Ponzi scheme that raised over $300m from private investors worldwide.

To make things easier for taxpayers, the Cabinet of Ministers of Cyprus has extended the filing tax returns deadline for a month. Recently, Finance Minister Konstantinos Petrides announced this decision.

The Singapore authorities are not ready to completely give up market control. A free economy should not harm the legislative, judicial and executive systems of government. With the advent of new powers of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, doing business in the jurisdiction will become more complicated.

The new MAS platform will strengthen the regulator's ability to exchange information in the field of AML/CTF, preserve the existing achievements, enhance protection against illegal activities such as money laundering or terrorist financing, and ensure economic stability.

This article will cover the main points regarding obtaining tourist and business visas, residence permits, work permits and other aspects of immigration to Singapore.

Nowadays, to enter the regional or global market, there are a vast number of attractive jurisdictions. Nevertheless, according to analysts, in the last decade, the attention of our compatriots has been increasingly attracted by a small country in Southeast Asia - Singapore.

It should be noted that bookkeeping in new Singapore companies is not just keeping records and receipts. As an entrepreneur, you will need a vast amount of new knowledge in managing and reconciling these records. When taking the first independent steps in the accounting business of a Singaporean company, your actions must be verified and well thought out to avoid future financial complications.

HM Treasury has approved the final Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidance 2022 for the accounting sector.

The new law states that an ABSD of 35% must now be paid in advance in such a case. However, a tax refund is possible if the sale of residential property is to a trustee who holds the assets of one or more identifiable beneficiaries in the trust. Testamentary trusts are also exempt from tax.

The European Commission (EC) has launched public consultations on a new draft directive on intermediaries that facilitate tax evasion and "aggressive tax planning".

The combination of an exponential increase in potential blockchain applications has become a real reason for the emergence of a new format of the digital economy. It is an entirely new product that has launched a mechanism for additional control by regulatory authorities.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is consulting on a proposal to expand the existing Investment Manager Exception (IME Exception) to include crypto assets. The IME exemption defines the types of investment transactions that UK collective investment agreement managers may undertake on behalf of non-UK resident investors.

The European Commission has published proposals to tighten its rules on emergency freezing, return and confiscation of assets, including confiscating the wealth of unknown origin without a conviction.

Amendments to the Intellectual Property Bill, which came into force in May 2022, were passed in Parliament. The bill amends the existing Patent Law, Trademark Law, Registered Designs Law, Geographical Indications Law of 2014, and Plant Variety Protection Law to improve business friendliness, operational efficiency, and clarity of law and procedure.

The authorities are imposing an additional 35 per cent buyer's stamp duty on houses settled into trust with no identifiable beneficial owner. The recently enacted tax is intended to close a loophole used by individuals who purchase multiple properties under a trust where it is not clear who the beneficial owner is and therefore avoid additional taxes.

The transformation of the sector inevitably requires appropriate funding, and ship financing has become critical for the shipbuilding sector and shipping companies worldwide. The financing aspect of shipping includes the corporate financial management of shipping companies to refinance existing debts and the financing of new shipbuilding.

Cyprus has seen rapid growth in the number of startups. This increase is due to tax incentives and favourable conditions for intellectual property and innovative companies offered by Cyprus, making it a pleasant country for the development of startups.

In a new action plan adopted in October 2021, the Cypriot government announced a course to attract foreign investment, businesses and expats. In addition, the authorities' representatives announced several innovations, which concerned mainly immigration law.

The Cyprus Assessment and Collection Law, as amended in 2002, introduced a regime with a provisional income tax system. Corporate tax in Cyprus is levied at a rate of 12.5% and can be paid through the JCC Smart platform. Based on the current period's results, companies that do not expect taxable profits do not submit a tax calculation.

Family offices are essentially private wealth management advisory firms that serve high-net-worth (HNW) investors. They are different from traditional wealth management advisories in that they offer a total outsourced solution to managing the financial and investment side of affluent individuals or families.

Technology is transforming Singapore’s payments landscape and has reduced the obstacles to entry to running a payments business. This, as well as the prolific adoption of the use of smartphones and tablets, has made it easier than ever for companies to obtain clients digitally.

An Electronic Money Institution (popularly known as an EMI for short) is a fully licensed financial institution which engages in electronic payment services. The full license for a Hong Kong electronic money institution currently has no restrictions to either trading period or sector of activities.

The provision of Payment Services in Cyprus is regulated by The Payment Services and Access to Payment Systems Laws of 2018 and 2019, which transposed into national law regarding the provisions of the Payment Services Directive in the Cyprus market. With the license, an EMI in Cyprus may offer its services freely within the entire EU market.

The Electronic Money Directive is the UKs answer to controlling and standardising Electronic Money Regulations and electronic money institutions. The regulations have now created a separate authorisation for issuers of electronic money in the UK that are not full credit institutions, unions, or publicly funded banks.

Category F immigration permit offers permanent staying in Cyprus without need to obtain any visas, residence permit renewals or re-entry permits. Category F immigration permit can be granted to a person who can secure an annual income of an adequate amount from abroad (not earned in Cyprus).

The Ministry of Manpower requires foreign highly skilled professionals, Managers, Executives, specialists or entrepreneurs who wish to work in Singapore need an Employment Pass to commence employment. The Entrepreneur Pass is a type of employment pass for foreign entrepreneurs who would like to start and run a company in Singapore.

GST is a tax on the supply of goods and services made in Singapore by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of any business carried on by him and on the importation of goods into Singapore.

This year’s budget did not emphasise on significant tax changes. The government wants to restructure the Singapore economy to achieve quality growth. Businesses that make investments in productivity to save manpower or achieve innovative breakthroughs will be actively supported by the government.

ECI means Estimated Chargeable Income. It is an estimate of a Singapore company’s chargeable income for the given Year of Assessment (YA). The amount of ECI declared is based on the amount before the deduction of any exempt amounts under the partial tax exemption or tax exemption schemes for new start-up Singapore companies.

Cyprus Company Law provides for a member led voluntary winding up of a company. In order for this to occur the company must be solvent. The voluntary winding up of a Cyprus company is formalised in Article 261 – 292 of the Cyprus Companies Law.

Cyprus is a favourable jurisdiction for creating international trusts which are governed by the 1992 International Trusts Law which regulates the establishment and administration of International Trusts. The International Trust Law compliments the Trustee Law which is based on the English Trustee Act 1925.

Since 1 November 2007, companies in Singapore are required to file financial statements with ACRA, and filing financial statements in XBRL. With effect from 3 March 2014, the revised XBRL filing requirements under the BizFinx system apply.

UCITS is a pan-European Fund product which when established in one EU country can be sold cross boarder within the EU under a harmonised legislative framework without any requirement for additional authorisation. UCITS is the result of the evolution of mutual fund legislation to ensure better investor protection.

No withholding tax applies on interest and royalties when paid from a Russian Company to a Cypriot company. This was ratified on the Protocol and signed by Russia and Cyprus during 2012 and implemented in 2013.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has recently released information to all Cyprus Investment Firms, Management Companies and Administrative Service Providers regarding fraudulent tax evasion, and also a proposal on the prevention of use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing.

When income is paid to a non-resident of a country, it is typical of the country to collect tax from the non-resident; the payee is required to withhold tax before paying the net amount to the non-resident. It is a tax subsidised by a non-resident on income derived or deemed to be derived from Singapore.

The following companies shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Auditors and Statutory Audits of Annual and Consolidated Accounts Law2009 submit their financial statements to an Auditor for auditing: every company required by this Law to prepare consolidated financial statements; every public limited-liability company; every private limited-liability company not being a small-sized company.

The types of companies that may be formed and regulated under the new Companies Ordinance in Hong Kong are public and private companies limited by shares; companies limited by guarantee without a share capital, public and private unlimited companies with a share capital.

The Income Tax Act does not give a definition for royalties. However, royalties can be defined as a payment for the right to use a patent, copyright and other intellectual property. E.g. payment for every book sold or an artist album sold on VCD.

Whether a payment is considered “interest” depends on the substance of the transaction. The intrinsic nature of said interest is compensation for not being able to use or the delayed payment of money by another. The interest must be charged against a primary sum of money which must be owed to the person entitled to the interest.

The shareholders’ continuity test holds that the same shareholders must hold at least 50% of the company’s total shares as at both the relevant dates. If the test was not fulfilled, the losses would be dismissed permanently unless a waiver to fulfil the test is obtained from IRAS.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has recently released information to all Cyprus Investment Firms, Management Companies and Administrative Service Providers regarding fraudulent tax evasion, and also a proposal on the prevention of use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Royalty is the consideration for the use of, or the right to use any copyright of literacy (Software), or any artistic or scientific work. It consists of patent, trade mark, design or model, secret formula, information or process which is usually a secret and not commonly available in the public domain. Information (know-how which is not registered) concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

Under Section 12(7) (d), rent or other payments under any agreement or arrangement for the use of any movable property shall be deemed derived from Singapore.

During 2013 the Cyprus Banking sector faced its most challenging period to date. As a result of a sequence of events, see below information, several Cypriot banks were left with significant imbalances.

Some call it symbol, others name it as mark or logo but in reality, it is the way the public at large can identify and recognise a particular product and or service and has been considered by many people as the most valuable asset and as indicators of source.

Payment for the management or assistance in the management of any trade, business or profession that are: borne by a person resident or with permanent establishment in Singapore; which are deductible against any income accruing in or derived from Singapore, have no statutory definition of management or assistance in the management of any trade, business or profession.

Any person who withholds tax from interest, royalties, management fees, Directors’ remuneration or other payments paid to a non-resident person must complete and submit the IR37 form to the Comptroller together with the relevant amount of tax withheld.

Following the recent commotion created by the Swiss National Bank’s decision to discontinue the minimum exchange rate of 1.20 Swiss francs per euro with immediate effect, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is endeavouring to instigate an assessment of how far Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) have been affected.

Singapore is gaining more attraction as a trust jurisdiction internationally. A range of factors have contributed to achieving a reputable offshore trust status, including but not limited to the several reasons.

A Cyprus company might decide to wind up as a result of various reasons and such procedures may be a challenging and lengthy task. The difficulties faced and time to complete is dependent upon many factors, including how well the company has been managed and administered throughout its existence, the method chosen for closing down and who performs such a processes.

A Singapore company might decide to wind up as a result of various reasons and such procedures may be a challenging and lengthy task. The difficulties faced and time to complete is dependent upon many factors, including how well the company has been managed and administered throughout its existence, the method chosen for closing down and who performs such a processes.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department more than 80 nations agreed to the law and have concluded agreements with the U.S. Government. Cyprus and Singapore are amongst the countries which have recently signed these agreements.

There are various conditions a company must fulfil in order to be struck-off legitimately. One of the conditions is that the company must have filed all the tax returns until the date of the strike off. The Directors and Shareholders must ensure that any outstanding income, tax returns, accounts and tax computation have been submitted up to the date of cessation.

Pursuant to Part III of Chapter 113 of Cyprus legislation, Mortgage Registration with the Cyprus Registrar emerges as compulsory by law. Certain formalities need to be followed regarding the filing of such registration as well as any amendment, concession and any other alteration which takes place following the formation of a Company in the Republic of Cyprus.

In light of recent global events, Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has declared that no measures restricting the Russian Web such as censorship or government-driven heavy regulations are to be undertaken. According to Mr Putin, the Government should take steps to provide Internet security for the purpose of state sovereignty.

Despite having one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, as a jurisdiction, Singapore still offers many incentives for investors including tax holidays and concessions, accelerated depreciation schemes, and favourable loan conditions to attract foreign investments.

The amendments of the Assessment and Collection of Taxes Law 78/2014, made on the 20th of June, 2014 with regards to the Law 4/1978, is a clear demonstration of the Cyprus Government’s commitment to the reforms proposed by the Troika.

Singapore’s national regulator of business entities, Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) have introduced a number of legal changes and new legislation regarding how companies are required to file their annual returns, which will impact Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) in Singapore.

Singapore has a government who recognises the potentials of what SMEs can do for the economy and likes to support them accordingly. Since June 2014, Singapore has been chairing the ASEAN SME Working Group. Singapore hopes to lead fellow ASEAN members into the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community for SMEs in 2015.

A Shareholders’ Agreement (SHA) is a confidential legal document distinct from all other statutory documents of a corporation, applicable in cases where there are more than two shareholders and it is essentially an agreement between all the Company Shareholders that covers how the business is going to operate.

The Accounting and Corporate Regulation Authority (ACRA) of the Republic of Singapore defines the Charge as “a form of security interest usually taken by a lender or creditor (“chargee”) to secure the repayment of a loan”.

A Foundation is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation which is usually created by an individual or a business and whose funds are managed by its own Trustees or Directors, either as a non-profit corporation or as a charitable trust. One common type of a Foundation is a Family Foundation.

On 17th June 2015 the European Commission has presented the Corporate Tax Reform Action Plan which signifies the second and more comprehensive step towards remodelling corporate taxation in the European Union.

ACRA announced that they will be making legislative changes to the Singapore Companies Act which will be taking effect in two phases; the first phase is effective from the first of July, with the second phase to be implemented in the first Quarter of 2016.

Income, earned by a Cyprus tax resident individual, arising from the rental of immovable property which is situated in Cyprus is taxable both under the Cyprus Income Tax and the Special Contribution Tax legislation.

The Singapore Tax Authority (IRAS) have special rules relating to the taxation of investment companies. An investment company is one that owns investments such as properties, shares, bonds and therefore derives income such as rental, dividend and interest.

On July 1st 2015, the President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis, has officially declared that the Cyprus taxation system needs rapid changes to increase the level of the country’s competitiveness. In order to achieve this goal, a number of amendments should be made to the tax law.

With the increasing diversity of business ventures, Trademarks which have been traditionally comprised of words and/or logos that relate to visual representations, have given way to a plethora of other marks that are distinguishable by senses other than sight.

As per the ACRA requirements for companies in Singapore, an Annual General Meeting (AGM) must be held once every calendar year. However, under Section 175, an application is available to apply for an extension.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act well known as FATCA is becoming increasingly important and has as its main initiative the monitoring of the financial accounts of the persons who live outside the United States or whether US citizens, currently residing in the US or not, have earnings they do not report to the Inland Revenue Department.

After a recent review, changes have been made to the Singapore Companies Act 2014, which came into force on July 1st, 2015. These changes are to ensure that Singapore’s corporate regulatory framework will continue to meet changing business practices, to reduce the compliance and regulatory burden for companies.

On the 7th of May, 2015 a new legislation was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus, that of Insolvency Consultants Law of 2015 (64(I)/2015 (the “Law”). This new legislation outlines the criteria for qualification, regulation and monitoring of persons that have the role of insolvency consultant.

On the 4th of August, 2015 Cyprus and Iran signed a Double Tax Treaty agreement during an official visit of the Iranian Finance Minister in Cyprus is hoped to strengthen and develop the economic relations and allow for the expansion of investment and business opportunities between Iran and Cyprus.

Intellectual Property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets of an organisation. Choosing the right location for the management of Intellectual Property is an imperative strategic business decision.

Section 2(1) of the SITA defines a PE to mean a fixed place where a business is wholly or partly carried out including a place of management, a branch, an office, a factory, a warehouse, a workshop, a farm or plantation, a mine, oil well, quarry or other place of extraction of natural resources, a building or work site or a construction, installation or assembly project.

The key for a successful Financial Organisation and/or Administrative Service Provider is to have a completed and accurate profile for each new and existing client they have a business relationship with.

This 2 part series is part of a guide detailing Annual Requirements for UK registered companies. It will cover the rules governing filing of annual returns and accounts of UK registered companies, by company type.

This 2 part series is part of a guide detailing Annual Requirements for UK registered companies. It will cover the rules governing filing of annual returns and accounts of UK registered companies, by company type.