The islands that are situated in the southern hemisphere in the centre of Pacific Ocean. Population - 180 000, the official languages are Polynesian and English. Political system - independent state, with its own government and constitution. The legislative system is based on the English general law
| Corporative legislation | International Company Act 1987 |
| Form of tax-exempted company | International Company (IC), hereinafter - company |
| Authorized business activities | All and any activities not prohibited by the law Providing of banking, insurance and re-insurance, trust services is subject to special license |
| Prohibited activities | Transactions with the residents of West Samoa, ownership of real estate on the territory of West Samoa |
| Taxation | Company is exempted from all and any taxes and duties |
| Name of the company | The name must not be identical or confusingly similar to the existing ones The name has to include the words Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Societe Anonyme, Sociedad Anonima, Company, Limitada, Societe par actions, Aktiengesellschaft or abbreviations Ltd, Corp., Inc., A/S, AG, N.V., B.V.,GmbH, S.A. Words Assurance, Bank, Building Society, Chamber of Commerce, Chartered, Cooperative, Imperial, Insurance, Municipal, Royal, Trust Company, Trustee Company or other words with similar meaning may not be used in the name of Company |
| Who executes the foundation documents? | Signatories, whose functions are limited to signing of the foundation documents and nomination of the first director |
| Equity capital of the company | Equity capital of the company is established by declaration, no mandatory contribution is required and no minimum/maximum limits are set |
| Recommended equity capital | Declared - 1000 000 USD, released - 1 share without a par-value |
| Shares | Authorized emission of both registered and bearer shares with or without par value |
| Shareholders - Minimum number - Nominal shareholders |
One natural or legal entity Permitted |
| Does the law provide for non-disclosure of the information -about actual owner of the company -about bank operations |
The actual owner of company is not registered in West Samoa Yes |
| Directors - minimum number - nationality and citizenship - status |
One natural or legal entity No requirements All the powers apart from those falling into exclusive competence of shareholders (as determined by memorandum, articles of association and/or the law) |
| On the territory of West Samoa there has to be: - registered office - registered agent |
Required Required |
| Holding of the meeting of -shareholders -directors |
Meetings may be hold in any part of the world, also by means of telephone communication Minutes may be kept at any place |
| Mandatory - keeping of accounting records - annual account - presentation of auditor's conclusio |
No No No |
| Information at disposal to the third party | Name of the registration office and registration agent, memorandum and articles of association |
| Documents kept at the registered office | No requirements |
| Agreements on exemption from double taxation | No |
| Currency contro | No |
| Term of incorporation | 3 weeks |
| Financial year ending on | Look for: Annual support of companies |
| Costs of registration of company | Look for: Costs of registration and service |
| Possibility to purchase a ready-made company | Yes, look for: Ready made companies |