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Andorra offshore banking
Banking in Andorra
Banks and other financial institutions in Andorra are regulated by the
Andorran National Financial Institute (INAF) under the Law Regulating
the Financial System 1993.
Until recently, Andorran banks (there are eight of them) were, at least
in theory, owned entirely by Andorran interests, although in practice
some French and Spanish banks have minority shareholdings, often in
connection with the marketing of asset management or investment products.
The Andorran Government is preparing to admit four foreign 51%-controlled
banks, under stringent conditions, which will have Andorran chief
executives. In addition, a number of separate asset-management firms
have recently been licensed, some of which are subsidiaries of
international fund management companies. These moves do not by any means
imply that Andorra intends to develop a substantial foreign-owned
financial services sector.
Andorran banks are all members of the Agrupacio de Bancs Andorrans,
which operated a system of self-regulation until the regulatory law was
passed in 1993. The banks have very conservative policies, and high
solvency ratios: depositors' funds are guaranteed under a 1997 law, but
no Andorran bank has ever defaulted on its depositors.
The over-riding characteristic of Andorran banks that attracts foreign
depositors and investors, apart from the absence of taxes, is secrecy.
Numbered accounts, made available only to top-quality clients, are said
to be known only to 'the customer, the banker and God'. General accounts,
also secret under the law, are highly protected as well.
In June, 2004, however, Andorra was obliged to accept the EU's Savings
Tax Directive, and as from July, 2005, is imposing a withholding tax of
15% on returns on savings paid to citizens of Member States of the EU,
of which 75% is remitted onwards to the States concerned.
In response to international concern over money-laundering, Andorra
introduced the 'Law of Protection of Banking Secrecy and of Prevention
of Laundering of Money or of Assets Deriving from Crime' in 1995. This
law requires financial institutions to report any suspicious money
movements to the INAF; and the INAF is then entitled to pass on such
information to foreign countries if an Andorran judge orders it. However,
this will only be done if there is prima facie evidence of a crime (which
in Andorra definitely does not include tax avoidance or evasion), and
even then is only permitted to countries which have banking secrecy laws,
thus excluding, for instance, the UK and the US. In most circumstances,
the effect of the law is to strengthen secrecy, not weaken it.
In August, 2001, a Department for the Prevention of Money Laundering (Unitat
de Prevenció de Blanqueig - UPB) was established. The UPB, which is
equivalent to a Financial Intelligence Unit under Egmont Group rules, is
authorized to carry out unannounced inspections and hands information to
the public prosecutor's office or to the government.
The governing council of the UPB consists of two financial officials who
are appointed by the Minister of Finance, a judge nominated by the
Consell Superior de Justícia, and two police officers who are appointed
by the Minister of the Interior.
Holding Companies in Andorra
The rules for Andorran majority participation and the absence of tax
treaties with other countries mean that Andorra is not a suitable place
in which to base international trading operations. That said, the
absence of taxation, the high levels of secrecy (for companies as well
as banks), and the liberal business environment in Andorra make it a
good place in which to collect the proceeds of legitimate international
business activity; and this is especially true if the ultimate
beneficiary is living in Andorra.
A typical structure is triangular: trading, licensing or investment
operations in high-tax countries are carried out from a jurisdiction
which has reasonable double taxation treaties, but low withholding taxes
on ongoing payments (eg Malta), and the proceeds are remitted to an
Andorran company, which pays no tax at all. There are numerous
permutations, and there are in fact many tens of thousands of Andorran
companies formed for this type of purpose.
There is talk within Andorra of weakening the local ownership rules,
which effectively limit Andorra's international business to small-scale
operations which can tolerate a degree of legal uncertainty; but it is
not thought likely that the powerful and very rich interests that
dominate Andorran commercial life will be willing to accept much
diminution (as they would see it) of their prerogatives. Draft
legislation was published in March, 2004, which would allow 100% foreign
ownership in certain sectors, including audio-visual production and
marketing, technological and scientific research, production of
medicines, E-commerce, and broadcasting.
Andorra Offshore Tax And Law
The term 'offshore' is not used in Andorran legislation or in describing
company forms. Indeed there is no 'offshore' sector as such, since there
is no significant direct taxation of Andorran entities in any event. See
Direct Corporate Taxation for details of the few taxes that impinge on
business; see Personal Taxation for details of taxes impinging on
individuals.
In June, 2004, Andorra was obliged to accept the EU's Savings Tax
Directive, and as from July, 2005, is imposing a withholding tax of 15%
on returns on savings paid to citizens of Member States of the EU, of
which 75% is remitted onwards to the States concerned.
Forms of Offshore Operation
The corporate forms available for external operations in Andorra are the
same as those available for internal operations.
Fees Payable by Companies
The annual fee (tax) payable to the Government by a Societat Limitadad
is 463 euros; and by a Societat Anonima is 1,000 euros.
Taxation of Foreign Employees of Offshore Operations
This section refers to the taxation of foreign employees in Andorra. See
Domestic Personal Taxes for the general principles of individual
taxation in Andorra, which also apply to the resident employees of
foreign entities. There are in fact no personal taxes as such in Andorra
and there is no distinction between the employees of resident or
non-resident operations, because all employers have to be Andorran and
resident.
Exchange Controls in Andorra
There are no exchange controls in Andorra; indeed there is no national
currency. Most of the important world currencies are accepted freely.
Offshore Activities in Andorra
Since there is no offshore sector as such in Andorra, and all trading or
business activity has to be carried on by entities which are
majority-owned by Andorran nationals or long-stay residents. Other than
the rules concerning ownership, there is very little legislation to
restrain business activity, which takes place in a liberal environment.
However, the Penal Code and the Law of Protection of Banking Secrecy and
of Prevention of Laundering of Money and Assets Deriving from Crime 1995
contain severe penalties for criminal activity; and the Government is
very watchful in this respect. (Tax avoidance and evasion do not count
as crimes.)
Employment and Residence
All foreigners wanting to work in Andorra need work permits. These are
obtained by employers, whether Andorran individuals or companies, on
behalf of employees. Self-employment is not allowed until after 10
years' residence.or trade in Andorra.
A new immigration law finally passed in 2002 was highly contentious, but
legalised the situation of about 7,000 'pink slip' long-term immigrant
workers, as well as setting new rules for the issuance of work permit
quotas which give preference first to citizens from Andorra's
neighboring countries, then to citizens from the countries of the
European Union, then to citizens of countries with which the
principality has signed international agreements, and finally immigrants
from third party states. Under the law, the government sets annual
quotas for new issues of renewable work permits.
There are separate types of non-renewable work permit for temporary and
seasonal workers, to which the quotas don't apply. The holder of such a
work permit must leave the country within one month of expiry of the
permit.
Renewable work permits are issued first for 6 months, extensible for a
further year; then a temporary residence card is issued valid for a
renewable 2 years; then, a 5-year ordinary residence card is issued; and
finally a 10-year privileged residence card is issued. Fees are modest.
Tourist visas are issued freely, but for longer-term stay it is
necessary to have either a work permit (which will ensure issue of a
residence permit) or a Passive Residence Permit (PRP). Permanent
residence means a stay of more than 183 days in the year.
The Law on Passive Residence Permits 1996 allows 200 new residence
permits per year. Passive residents do not work or carry out
professional activity in the principality. New entrants must:
•show minimum annual income of 24,000 euros for the head of the family
and 6,000 for each dependent family member;
•prove good conduct in their previous domicile;
•produce health insurance and a pension plan;
•own or rent a house or apartment in the principality;
•pay a non-interest-bearing deposit of 24,000 euros plus 6,000 euros for
each dependant to the Government, which is refundable on departure.
List of Bank in Andorra:
• Denominació social: Andorra Banc Agrícol Reig, SA
• Domicili social: C/ Manel Cerqueda Escaler, 6 - Escaldes
• Tipologia: Entitat Bancària
• Número de registre: EB 01/95
• Link a la pàgina web de cada entitat: www.andbank.com
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• Denominació
social: Crèdit
Andorrà, SA
• Domicili social: Av.
Meritxell, 80 - Andorra la Vella
• Tipologia: Entitat
Bancària
• Número de
registre: EB
02/95
• Link a la pàgina
web de cada entitat: www.creditandorra.ad
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• Denominació
social: Mora
Banc, SAU
• Domicili
social: Plaça
Co-prínceps, 2 - Escaldes-Engordany
• T ipologia: Entitat
Bancària
• Número
de registre: EB
05/95
• Link
a la pàgina web: www.morabanc.ad/
• Denominació
social: Mora
Banc Grup, SA
• Domicili
social: Av.
Meritxell, 32 – Andorra la Vella
• Tipologia: Entitat
Bancària
• Número
de registre: EB
06/95
• Link a
la pàgina web: www.morabanc.ad
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• Denominació
social: Banca
Privada d'Andorra, SA
• Domicili
social: Av.
Carlemany, 119 - Escaldes-Engordany
• Tipologia: Entitat
Bancària entitat
en procés de resolució per part de l'AREB
• Número
de registre: EB
04/95
• Link
a la pàgina web: www.bpa.ad
o Denominació social: Andorra Banc Agrícol Reig
o Data de creació: 30/12/1930
o Domicili social: C/Manel Cerqueda Escaler, 6 - Escaldes
o Forma jurídica: Societat Anònima
o Número de registre: EB 01/95
o Objecte social: La societat té per objecte l'exercici de l'activitat
bancària segons està definida per la normativa del sistema financer andorrà.
o Activa/No activa: activa
o Link a la pàgina web de cada entitat: www.andbanc.com
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• Denominació
social: Vall
Banc, SAU
• Domicili
social: Av.
Carlemany, 119 - Escaldes-Engordany• Tipologia: Entitat
Bancària
• Número de registre: EB
09/15
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