Hi, I'm hoping to tap into the phenomenal amount of knowledge on this forum

I recently decided to resign from my staff position with a Oil and Gas Contractor. I have decided that from now on I want to work as a consultant/contractor and no longer a staff member. There is no benefit in being a staff member these days, so I'd rather take the higher dayrate and have some time off every now and then

Anyway, what I would like to know, what would be a good place to set up my formal (one person for now but maybe a few more in the future) business. The main drivers are liability limitation and taxes reduction. I don't mind paying taxes but I do mind paying taxes that don't give me anything back (like Australia for example, I can get a contractor job there but I pay 45% tax as a NON Tax resident, more than someone living in WA). I wouldn't even be residing in WA/Oz, this is when you are residing overseas, so no use of local government facilities.

Who can give me some advice or point me in the direction of a good advisor on this type of thing. The income can be generated worldwide and although we are currently living in Malaysia, we may also decide to move to New Zealand (who tax on worldwide income) for example. So the set-up should be such that it takes double tax into account as well. Now Malaysia is currently quite relaxed, i.e. you only get tax on money you make locally. But for NZ for example, I would need to make sure that I don't get overtaxed (again, I don't mind paying for stuff that I can actually use and when you are living in a place it is fair that you pay taxes for use of the "general facilities").

Thanks in advance. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

I did the same nearly 4 years ago, Eugene.

I use a contractor specialist company who handles pretty much everything from company setup to accounts and invoicing.

I'm more than happy to pass details across, but I'm not sure if this would suit your overseas, non-UK status.

There's loads about, though. And it's not difficult at all to do.

Your company would, I imagine, need to be set up in your 'home' country rather than wherever you're working at the time.

More than happy to help in any way I can. I think you're doing the right thing.  Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Hi Bellini, if you could please PM me the details, I can have a talk with them to see if they can help me. I don't mind to put the company somewhere like the Caribbean or Channel Islands or wherever. Just as long as it is done properly and I can minimize my taxes.

Also my current country of residence may not be the place we are going to stay in for years anyway. One of the plans is to go to New Zealand for a few years and hang out there. So country of residence is also subject to change and I'd rather have the company registered in a decent place with low taxes  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Have you thought about Luxemburg? It was very attractive in my days of legal tax avoidance.

I do have an account there already so that would make sense but whether it is smart for a small business (1 to max 10 people) to be based there, I have no idea Do you know anyone who can maybe assist me with that ? MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Hi
I was in a vaguely similar situation - crew on superyachts - all the moving around made residency/tax questions very difficult. Its quite typical in this industry to set up a company in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man and get wages paid into that; they are well set up in terms of banking/legal facilities, are stable politically and respectable. One of my friends decided to use Cyprus as it was cheap, that ended badly.

Sadly I don't know much about it myself and couldn't recommend anyone personally. Perhaps a good international law firm would be a good place to start and I know my old bank -HSBC Offshore - had a department for dealing with such things.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhause...-business/