Services

Offshore Company Registration in Panama

Capital: Panama.
Official languages: Spanish.
Currency: Panamanian Balboa.

 

An offshore company in Panama is registered in the form of a corporation (Panamanian Corporation or "Sociedades Anónimas", SA) and Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL). SA is a joint stock company and SRL is a limited liability company.

Tariffs
Карта Offshore Company Registration in Panama
0% VAT
25% Corporate Tax
0% Dividends
1 USD Capital
5% Offshore Income Tax

Company registration provides the following benefits:

 

  • Income received from the activities of a Panama offshore company outside the country is exempt from taxes.
  • There is no need to file any financial statements or tax returns with the government authorities of the Republic of Panama, provided that the company does not receive income from sources in Panama.
  • The names of shareholders are not entered into the public register of Panama, thus guaranteeing complete anonymity.

The Republic of Panama is a country in Central America on the Isthmus of Panama between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, bordered by Costa Rica in the west and Colombia in the east. The country shows annual economic growth of 6-9%, which is very good for Latin America. The country also received the best credit rating in Central America, beating Honduras, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.

 

One of the key factors that makes Panama an attractive location for setting up offshore companies is its high level of confidentiality. Company owners can use the services of nominee directors and shareholders, which provides an additional level of anonymity and confidentiality.

 

Panama provides offshore companies with a number of tax benefits, including exemption from tax on profits outside Panamanian jurisdiction.

Taxation and Reporting Features

Corporate Income Tax:

  • No corporate tax on foreign-sourced income
  • No capital gains tax on offshore companies
  • Exemption from taxes on dividends received from other Panamanian companies

VAT:

  • No VAT for offshore companies
  • Domestic services may incur local VAT
  • Exemptions applicable for certain financial services

Dividends:

  • No withholding tax on dividends paid to non-residents
  • Dividends paid to residents are subject to local tax

Company registration in Panama is facilitated by the Public Registry of Panama, which handles the incorporation of all legal entities. A unique company name must be approved and registered by this entity.

To register a company, a set of documents including the Articles of Incorporation, notarized copies of passports, and a declaration of directors and shareholders must be submitted. This process is usually handled by a local law firm or a registered agent.


Once registered, the company details are available in the public registry. Companies must also comply with any local tax and regulatory requirements specific to their business activities.

To establish a company, the following are required:

  • A registered office and agent within Panama — necessary for receiving official communications.
  • Articles of Incorporation filed with the Public Registry, specifying company directors and shares.
  • A certificate showing the payment of the registration fee to the government.
  • Annual maintenance fees to keep the company in good standing.

Offshore Company in Panama

  • Limited liability
  • Minimum 1 director / 1 shareholder
  • Efficient tax planning
Offshore Company Panama
€2 250
Annual expenses: ~$3,100

Offshore Company Registration in Panama

Corporate Tax 25% No corporate tax for offshore companies
VAT 0% Not applicable to offshore services
Dividends 0% No withholding tax on dividends
Capital Gains 0% No capital gains tax for offshore entities
Withholding Tax 0% None for offshore companies
Property Tax 0% Not applicable to offshore companies

Additional information

Reporting
Confidentiality
  • Financial reporting: Not mandatory for offshore companies
  • Audit: Not required for offshore entities
  • Annual Return: Not applicable for offshore companies
  • Tax return: No local tax obligations
  • Employer's Return: Applicable if hiring locally
  • Registers: Not publicly accessible
  • Directors' details Kept confidential
  • Shareholders' details Kept confidential
  • Financial reporting Confidential (not published)

Timeline and Stages

  • 01

    Preparation of required documents and choosing a company name

    1-2 days
  • 02

    Conducting a name availability search in Panama's registry

    1 day
  • 03

    Submission of incorporation documents

    1 day
  • 04

    Receiving Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration

    1-4 days
  • 05

    Setting up a corporate bank account

    2-4 weeks

The bottom line

The Republic of Panama offers favorable conditions for starting a business with moderate regulation. However, when choosing a jurisdiction for a company, it is necessary to take into account not only current legislation, but also its possible changes in the future. We recommend consulting with IT-OFFSHORE lawyers to avoid possible legal consequences and ensure compliance with laws.

 

Our company offers comprehensive support for the company at all stages - from registration to full support of its activities. We not only help you legally register a company, but also take on many subsequent tasks.

In particular, our scope of services includes maintaining accounting and tax records, providing nominee directors and shareholders, leasing a legal address, obtaining all necessary licenses and permits for the company. We actually ensure the full operation of the business in accordance with the laws of a particular jurisdiction.

Cost calculation

Add the required options for your company:

Итоговая стоимость ( база €2250 + доп):
€2250

FAQ

Can you register a company remotely?

Yes, in most cases — you can.

Remote company registration is available in the vast majority of popular jurisdictions today. Modern corporate services, electronic document management and professional registered agents make it possible to complete the entire registration process without being physically present in the country.

The process typically works as follows: you provide the required documents electronically, sign them remotely — via a notary, apostille or electronic signature — and a local registered agent handles all communication with government authorities and document submission on your behalf.

This has been made possible by several factors: most countries allow foreign founders and directors, corporate service providers operate remotely across the globe, and the digitisation of government registries has significantly streamlined and accelerated the procedures.

The one step that may still require in-person presence is opening a corporate bank account — however, even here many banks and fintech platforms now offer remote identity verification.

What documents are needed for registration?

Registering a company in most jurisdictions requires a standard set of documents. For individuals — founders and directors — the typical requirements include: a certified copy of a passport, proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement no older than 3 months), and in some cases a bank reference letter or CV.

For corporate shareholders, the required documents include: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, register of directors and shareholders, and confirmation of the ownership structure.

Do I need to keep accounting records and submit reports?

Accounting and reporting requirements vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. In most countries, companies are required to maintain proper bookkeeping, file annual financial statements and submit tax returns.

At the same time, there are a number of jurisdictions where reporting requirements are minimal or effectively non-existent for non-resident companies. These include, for example, the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, Panama, Belize, Seychelles and Vanuatu — in these countries, companies that do not conduct business within the territory of the registration state are generally exempt from mandatory financial reporting and audit requirements.

We provide full company administration services, including preparation and submission of annual reports, liaison with local authorities and ensuring full compliance with all corporate requirements of the jurisdiction.

Is it possible to open a bank account for a company?

Yes, opening a corporate bank account is possible for virtually any jurisdiction, however this process deserves careful attention. Today businesses have two main options: traditional banks and fintech platforms.

Traditional banks offer a full range of financial services, but account opening requirements have become increasingly stringent — KYC procedures, source of funds confirmation, business plans and in some cases in-person presence may be required. Fintech platforms — such as Wise, Airwallex, Revolut Business and others — open accounts significantly faster and remotely, making them a popular solution for international companies at an early stage.

Is it possible to use nominee directors?

Yes, the use of nominee directors and shareholders is a common and legitimate practice in international corporate structuring. A nominee director is formally listed in the company registry but acts exclusively in accordance with the instructions of the beneficial owner, providing an additional layer of privacy.

This service is particularly in demand in jurisdictions where information about directors and shareholders is entered into a public register — for example, in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Malta and a number of other EU countries. In offshore jurisdictions, nominee services are also widely used to simplify corporate governance and protect ownership structures.

We provide nominee director and shareholder services for any jurisdiction we work with.

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