Company formationCaribbeanNevis LLCs and business corporations
A Nevis limited liability company is formed under the Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance and can be wholly foreign-owned, with no local office or staff. The federation taxes on a territorial basis: a Nevis company that is not tax resident and has no permanent establishment in St Kitts and Nevis pays no local tax on income earned abroad.
Updated
Nevis is best known for asset protection. Its LLC law limits a creditor to a charging order over distributions, judgments from other countries have to be re-litigated in Nevis, and a creditor must post a bond before suing. Members are not shown on a public register.
The tax-free status depends on keeping the company outside local tax residence and permanent establishment. St Kitts and Nevis chose to meet international pressure by amending its Income Tax Act rather than passing a stand-alone substance law, so the main ongoing obligation is the annual filing and keeping management outside the federation.
Nevis privacy does not reach banks or tax authorities. Banks will ask for the beneficial owner, the company is reported under CRS and FATCA, and the owner's home country taxes the profits under its own rules. US persons in particular remain taxable on worldwide income and carry extra reporting.
Redomiciled coordinates formation through a licensed Nevis registered agent and plans the bank account the company will need, which in practice is opened outside Nevis.
Who it suits
Asset-holding and protection structures
Investment portfolios, IP or shares in operating companies held under strong creditor protection.
International holding layers
A neutral top company above operating companies elsewhere.
Owners whose home country does not tax foreign companies' profits
Check controlled-company rules first.
Requirements
- Required
Nevis registered agent and office
Formation is filed only through a licensed agent.
- Required
At least one manager or member
Individual or corporate, any nationality.
- Required
Beneficial ownership records
Held by the registered agent and available to authorities.
- Required
Annual renewal and filing
Including the annual income tax filing where required.
- Depends on your case
Management outside the federation
To stay outside local tax residence.
Questions
Does a Nevis LLC pay tax?
Not in Nevis on foreign-source income, as long as it has no local tax residence or permanent establishment. The owner's country of residence may still tax its profits.
Do I need St Kitts and Nevis citizenship to own a Nevis company?
No. Company formation and citizenship by investment are separate.
Can a Nevis LLC open a bank account?
Yes, usually with banks outside Nevis. Expect the bank to ask for the beneficial owner, source of funds and the purpose of the company.
Are the members of a Nevis LLC public?
No. Members are not shown on a public register. The beneficial ownership records are held by the registered agent and are available to authorities, and banks will ask for the beneficial owner.
More in St Kitts and Nevis
- Everything about St Kitts and NevisView
- Citizenship by investmentSt Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investmentCitizenship by investment in St Kitts and Nevis is a discretionary grant of citizenship to applicants who pass due diligence and an interview and then make a qualifying investment. In 2026 the main routes are a USD 250,000 Sustainable Island State Contribution, the Public Benefit Option and approved real estate from USD 325,000.View
Company formation elsewhere
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Cayman Islands - Cyprus company formation for EU-focused businessesA Cyprus limited company is an EU-resident company used by founders who need dependable European banking and payment access for activities that banks review closely. As of 2026 it pays 15% corporate tax on profits, and dividends paid to non-resident shareholders generally carry no Cyprus withholding tax.View
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United Kingdom - Georgia company formation: entrepreneur, LLC or Virtual ZoneGeorgia offers founders a choice between registering as an individual entrepreneur, often with 1% small business status, and forming a limited liability company taxed only when it distributes profits. As of October 2026, distributed profits are taxed at 15% and IT companies with Virtual Zone status are exempt on exported IT services.View
Georgia - Bulgarian EOOD company formationA Bulgarian EOOD is a single-member limited liability company registered in the Commercial Register of the Registry Agency, which foreign individuals and companies can own outright. As of October 2026 the minimum capital is €1 and profits are taxed at a flat 10%.View
Bulgaria
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Sources
- St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit: Citizenship options, retrieved 2026-10-25
- CIU: Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), retrieved 2026-10-25
- CIU: Developer's real estate investment, retrieved 2026-10-25
- CIU: Eligibility criteria, retrieved 2026-10-25
- CIU: Application process and fees, retrieved 2026-10-25
- CIU: Chairman's update to partners, December 2025, retrieved 2026-10-25
- SKNIS: Prime Minister announces residency and biometric requirements (23 June 2025), retrieved 2026-10-25
- OECS: Implementation of the CBI Memorandum of Agreement (USD 200,000 minimum from 1 July 2024), retrieved 2026-10-25
- ECCIRA: Agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, retrieved 2026-10-25
- Saint Christopher and Nevis: ECCIRA Agreement Act, No. 24 of 2025, retrieved 2026-10-25
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 revising the visa suspension mechanism, retrieved 2026-10-25
- Government of Antigua and Barbuda: response to the European Commission letter of 25 June 2026, retrieved 2026-10-25
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, visa-exempt third countries (Annex II), retrieved 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List, retrieved 2026-10-25
- Federal Register: Proclamation 10998 restricting entry (16 December 2025), retrieved 2026-10-25
- Expanship: economic substance in St Kitts and Nevis, retrieved 2026-10-27
- Expanship: St Kitts and Nevis tax position, retrieved 2026-10-27
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