Low Maintenance Cost Territories are jurisdictions with particularly favorable tax systems where the annual maintenance costs of the company are lower. An effective tax planning strategy often revolves around these jurisdictions, as low taxes and maintenance costs are among the most effective and straightforward cost-cutting tools for any business.
Company maintenance
In general, company maintenance includes any operations that ensure a business is active in its day-to-day endeavours. In addition, many favourable tax jurisdictions require every international company to undergo a company renewal procedure on an annual basis, by submitting a renewal application and paying a certain fee to the state. In terms of tax planning, company maintenance is normally understood as referring to the expenses associated with paying taxes, state fees, stamp duties, charges and any other costs that may arise from operating a company. These include, but are not limited to:
Taxes
Import/export duties
Salaries
License fees
Office rental
Stamp duties
Annual renewal fee
Notary fees
State fees
Maintenance usually does not include any expenses directly related to business transactions, such as the cost of raw materials to be used in production or the purchase of goods for resale.
Depending on the jurisdiction, company maintenance can either be the biggest source of expenses (especially due to taxes and renewal fees) or a barely noticeable cost of conducting a profitable business. This is the main reason why jurisdictions with low maintenance costs are so popular with companies seeking to optimise their taxes.
Steps to maintaining a businessThe first step to effective business continuity is financial planning, including tax planning. A company needs to identify its biggest source of costs and then find a way to gradually reduce those costs. One of the primary goals of effectively maintaining a business is to reduce its tax burden and annual renewal fees. The second step is to choose a jurisdiction with low maintenance costs and an advantageous tax regime. Confidus Solutions is happy to share our expertise on the matter to help you analyze the options and select the best jurisdiction to incorporate.
The third step is to move the actual company or incorporation to the jurisdiction of your choice. The details of this process may vary by jurisdiction and legal business structure, so each company should carefully consider which business structure is most beneficial in its particular case.
In the long term, maintenance costs are mainly related to wages, taxes and equipment. Wages are effectively determined by the cost of labor in each jurisdiction, which in turn is affected by work culture, levels of education and skills, level of competition, and so on. Taxes depend on the legal business structure and the activities undertaken by a company - some will require licenses and patents that need to be renewed periodically with costs. Finally, the supplies needed depend on the business, but typically include rent (providing premises), utility bills (providing heating, electricity, water, etc.), and supplies such as petrol and office supplies.
