Frequently asked questions

A Marshall Islands IBC (International Business Company) is the common name for a non-resident domestic corporation formed under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act. It is a limited liability company owned and run by non-residents that does business outside the Marshall Islands. It pays no Marshall Islands tax on foreign income, has no audit or annual return requirement, and does not appear on a public register of shareholders or directors.

The Marshall Islands combines fast registration (often within one to two business days once due diligence is cleared), a corporate law modelled on and interpreted in line with Delaware law, US dollar currency, no local tax on foreign income, and a strong reputation in international shipping and finance. Many NYSE and Nasdaq listed shipping companies are incorporated there.

Yes. Owning a Marshall Islands company is legal for most nationalities. What matters is how it is used: you must declare the company and its income where required in your country of residence. We recommend taking local tax advice before you incorporate.

Individuals and companies of any nationality can form one, subject to standard anti-money-laundering checks. Residents of countries under international sanctions, and certain high-risk activities, cannot be accepted.

No. The Marshall Islands was added to the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes in February 2023 and removed in October 2023 after strengthening its economic substance rules. We monitor the list and will update this answer if anything changes.

One. A Marshall Islands IBC needs at least one shareholder and one director, who can be the same person and of any nationality. Directors and shareholders can be individuals or companies. Officers such as a secretary must also be appointed, and one person can hold every role.

No. The whole process is done remotely. You order online, upload identification documents in our client portal, and we deliver the company documents to you through the portal and by courier. If you would like to talk to us, meetings at our Hong Kong or Hamilton (Canada) offices are by appointment.

For each director, shareholder and beneficial owner: a clear passport copy, a proof of residential address dated within the last three months (utility bill or bank statement), and basic information about the intended business and source of funds. Corporate shareholders provide their certificate of incorporation, register of directors and shareholders, and ID for the people behind them. We may ask for certified copies or additional information depending on the case.

No minimum capital needs to be paid up. Our standard structure is 500 shares without par value or up to US$50,000 of authorised capital, which keeps government fees at the lowest level. A larger authorised capital is possible but increases the government fee.

Not in the traditional sense. Since the 2017 reforms, any bearer share must have its holder and beneficial owner recorded with the registered agent, and banks generally refuse bearer share companies. We incorporate companies with registered shares only.

The name must be in Roman characters and end with a suffix showing limited liability, such as Inc., Incorporated, Corp., Corporation, Ltd., Limited, S.A. or N.V. Words like Bank, Insurance, Trust, Fund or Foundation need special approval or are not allowed. You give us three choices when you order and we confirm availability within one business day. If none is available, we help you choose another at no extra cost.

Every Marshall Islands IBC must keep a registered agent and registered office in the Marshall Islands. This role is held by The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc. The first year of registered agent and registered office is included in all our packages.

Once your documents pass due diligence, the company is usually registered within 1 to 3 business days. Digital copies of the certificate and corporate documents follow immediately, and the original company kit is couriered to you, usually within a further 5 to 10 business days depending on destination and on whether an apostille is requested. An express option is available.

Our packages start at US$1,190 all-inclusive for the first year, covering government fees, registered agent, registered office and the corporate documents. The annual renewal is US$890 from the second year. See the pricing page for full details.

No. Our package prices include the Marshall Islands government fees for the standard share structure and the first year of registered agent and office. Optional extras, such as express incorporation, extra apostilled documents or a certificate of good standing, are listed on the pricing page and only charged if you order them.

You pay online by credit or debit card through Stripe when you place your order. If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, contact us and we will send an invoice. Annual renewals can also be paid by card in the client portal.

A non-resident Marshall Islands corporation pays no Marshall Islands corporate income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax, stamp duty or estate tax on income earned outside the Marshall Islands. You may still have tax obligations in the country where you or the company's management are resident, for example under controlled foreign company rules.

No annual return, financial statements or audit are filed with the government. The company must still keep accounting records (they can be kept anywhere in the world) for at least five years.

Three things, all handled by us as part of the annual renewal: pay the annual government fee and registered agent fee by the anniversary of incorporation, file the annual Economic Substance Declaration, and confirm the beneficial ownership attestation. We send reminders well before the due date.

Since 2019, every Marshall Islands non-resident entity files an annual declaration through the Registrar's online portal within 12 months of its anniversary date. Most companies only confirm that they do not carry on a relevant activity, or that they are tax resident elsewhere. Pure holding companies meet a reduced test. A penalty applies for failing to file, so we file it for you as part of the renewal.

If the annual fees are not paid, the company falls out of good standing and penalties accrue. If it stays unpaid, the Registrar can annul the company. Reinstatement is possible but costs more than renewing on time, so we recommend renewing before the due date.

No. The Marshall Islands has no public register of shareholders, directors or beneficial owners. Beneficial ownership records must be kept up to date and can be requested by the registered agent or by authorities through legal channels, but they are not published.

Yes, but every bank and platform sets its own criteria and approval is never guaranteed. Fintech platforms such as Airwallex are usually the fastest route and are where we refer most clients; traditional banks may also accept the company with a clear business profile. See bank accounts.

Common uses include international trading, holding shares and investments, owning ships and yachts, intellectual property, consulting and e-commerce outside the Marshall Islands. It cannot do business with residents of the Marshall Islands, and it cannot carry on banking, insurance or trust business without a licence.

Yes. The Marshall Islands runs one of the largest ship registries in the world and Marshall Islands corporations are widely used to own vessels and yachts. We can form the owning company; flag registration is handled separately with the maritime registry.

Yes. We can take over as your service provider for an existing Marshall Islands company. Contact us with the company name and current agent details and we will explain the steps and the cost.

MarshallRegistry.com is operated by Caprica Registry (Caprica International Limited), a corporate services provider that has helped clients form offshore companies since 2000. We work with the licensed registered agent in the Marshall Islands to register your company.

Yes. Every client receives a login to our secure client portal, where you can see your companies, download documents, check renewal dates and pay renewals online.

No. We provide company formation and maintenance services. The information on this website is general and is not legal or tax advice. We can refer you to independent advisers if needed.