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Launch Your BVI Holding Company
Fast, Compliant, Ready for Growth
Set up a British Virgin Islands (BVI) holding company with Orbit. We coordinate incorporation through licensed registered agents, provide a compliant registered office, handle governance, annual financial return support, and economicsubstance filings — so you can hold shares, receive dividends, and maintain a clean, lowtax structure with confidence.
Quick facts
| Feature | Value | Why it matters | |
| Best for | Special purpose vehicles (SPVs), simple holding, pre-IPO, joint ventures, family wealth | Fast, low-cost, zero tax | |
| Setup speed | ~24–72 hours | Very fast go-live | |
| Minimum share capital | None (typical: USD 1) | Minimal entry cost | |
| Local director needed | No | Flexible governance | |
| Company secretary | Not mandatory (often provided by RA) | Lower admin | |
| Registered office | Yes (via Registered Agent) | Legal requirement | |
| Corporate income tax | 0% | No local income tax | |
| Capital gains tax on shares | 0% | Efficient exits | |
| Withholding tax on dividends (outbound) | 0% | Clean distributions | |
| 🌍 Economic Substance (ES) | Light for pure equity holding companies | Simple compliance | |
| Audit | Not required for standard holdcos | Saves annual cost | |
| Tax Treaty network | Minimal | Not a treaty play | |
| Banking ease | Moderate (better with good KYC) | Use fintech/banking partners |
Key Considerations
- You must appoint a licensed registered agent and maintain a registered office in the BVI.
- Keep accounting records and submit an annual financial return to your registered agent within 9 months of the financial year end (retained by the agent; not filed publicly).
- Economic Substance rules apply. For pure equity holding companies, requirements are reduced (maintain adequate personnel/premises; outsourcing allowed) but an ES return must still be filed.
- No local director requirement and no corporate income tax, but banking providers will scrutinize source of funds and substance.
- Beneficial ownership details are maintained by the registered agent (not public); statutory registers must be kept up to date.
Cost snapshot (USD)
| Cost item | One-time setup | Annual ongoing | |
| Incorporation (via Registered Agent) | 800 – 1,200 | – | |
| Registered Agent & registered office | – | 400 – 800 | |
| Annual government fee | – | 450 – 1,200 | |
| Economic substance & annual return filing | – | 300 – 600 | |
| Accounting & recordkeeping | – | 500 – 1,000 | |
| Estimated total | 800 – 1,200 | 1,700 – 4,000 / year |
Actual pricing varies by profile, share capital, and scope of service. We’ll quote precisely once we review your use case.
Why BVI works for holding companies
Tax Regime for Holding Companies
- Corporate income tax: 0% (territory does not levy corporate income tax on BVI companies).
- Dividends & capital gains: Generally not taxed in BVI.
- Withholding tax: None on dividends, interest, or royalties paid by a BVI company.
- Economic Substance: ES rules apply to entities carrying on “relevant activities.” Pure equity holding entities have reduced substance obligations but must file ES returns annually.
- Tax treaties: Very limited DTA network; plan distributions assuming no treaty relief from BVI.
What you get with Orbit
Pre-incorporation planning
Structure design (shareholdings, financing flows), tax leakage mapping, and banking feasibility.
Company setup
Name clearance, incorporation through a licensed registered agent, constitutional documents, initial registers.
Registered office & statutory registers
Compliant local address and maintenance of registers and beneficial ownership records via the agent.
Economic substance & Governance
ES classification, annual ES returns, board minutes, and practical substance solutions (outsourcing where appropriate).
Banking support
Guidance and introductions for multicurrency bank/fintech accounts (often outside BVI), with KYC preparation.
Accounting & filings
Recordkeeping framework, annual financial return preparation, and coordination with the agent.
