Overview

Nevis, a 36-square mile island, is part of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, an independent country in the Caribbean.  St. Kitts and Nevis gained independence from Great Britain in 1984.  Nevis's airport is accessible via other major Caribbean airports, and visitors flying into St. Kitts large and modern airport can reach Nevis by a short ferry trip.  Nevis also happens to be home to the Caribbean's only five-star resort, the Nevis Four Seasons Resort, which is a wonderful place to stay while you visit your trust or company jurisdiction.

Since independence, Nevis has been increasingly involved in international financial services.  Nevis has several excellent pieces of offshore financial services legislation in place addressing asset protection trusts, international business corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs) and offshore banks.  In 1999, Nevis enacted legislation regulating company service providers (formation services, registered agents, etc.).  Nevis is the most popular jurisdiction for offshore LLCs, and is a popular trust jurisdiction as well, due to its highly favorable asset protection laws, including short limitations periods for fraudulent transfer claims, non-recognition of foreign judgments, and a litigation environment that discourages the prosecution of frivolous claims.

Advantages

For the international investor, Nevis's advantages include:

• Good financial supervision and regulation. 
• Government very committed to supporting international financial activities. 
• True independence. 
• Trust and company law based on principles of English Common Law. 
• Fast and inexpensive company and trust formation and registration. 
• Low overall administrative costs.
• No Nevis estate or gift taxes.
• No Nevis capital gains taxes.
• No Nevis income tax for non-resident individuals and companies.

Nevis Planning Opportunities for U.S. Persons

• Nevis Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) - our Basic Offshore Asset Protection and Investment Structure is usually built around a Nevis LLC.
  • Full Text of the Nevis LLC Ordinance (HTML)
  • Full Text of the Nevis LLC Ordinance (Adobe Acrobat)
• Nevis Exempt Business Corporations
  • Full Text of the Nevis Business Corporations Ordinance (Adobe Acrobat)
• Nevis International Exempt Trusts (Asset Protection Trusts)
  • Full Text of the Nevis International Exempt Trust Ordinance  (Adobe Acrobat)
• Private Banking

For more information about offshore planning opportunities in Nevis, contact Chris Riser at (828) 526-3731.