(BERMUDA COMPANY FORMATION)
Bermuda Company
A Bermuda Exempted Company is created under the Companies Act 1981. Bermuda is the world’s insurance and reinsurance capital, and its company law exists to serve that market, which makes it superb for captives and listed structures and largely beside the point for ordinary asset protection. We coordinate direct, licensed Bermuda registered office relationships, formation inside 3 to 7 days, and optional banking or Cook Islands or Nevis Trust pairing, with pricing available on application.
Specialist jurisdiction
Offshore Companies · Bermuda Company
Americas
Bermuda
Latitude
00.0000° N
Longitude
000.0000° W
(BERMUDA COMPANY OVERVIEW)
A Bermuda company structure for insurance, reinsurance and institutional standing
A Bermuda Exempted Company is created under Part I of the Companies Act 1981, with prior consent from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. It is the standard vehicle for the global insurance, reinsurance and captive market.From 1 January 2025 Bermuda applies a 15% corporate income tax under the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023, but only to Bermuda entities that form part of a multinational group with EUR 750 million or more in annual consolidated revenue. Privately held holding companies, family offices, captives and operating businesses below that threshold stay outside the charge.Bermuda is a top-tier, heavily regulated jurisdiction. It is not built around creditor-protection statutes. Where creditor protection is the main objective, compare the Cook Islands Company and Nevis Company.
Governing law
Companies Act 1981, as amended
Entity type
Exempted Company, formed with Bermuda Monetary Authority consent
Minimum directors/shareholders
One director and one shareholder, who may be the same person
Public register
No public register of shareholders; directors are filed
Formation time
3–7 days from KYC clearance
Primary use
Insurance, reinsurance, captives and listed structures
General summary only. Bermuda brought in a 15% corporate income tax from 1 January 2025, but it applies only to Bermuda entities within multinational groups having EUR 750 million or more in annual consolidated revenue.
(WHAT IS INCLUDED)
A complete formation service for Bermuda companies
Take a standalone Exempted Company, a Company with banking, or the complete Total Protection Package
Flat, all-in fees covering every government registration charge and the first-year registered office cost — nothing hidden, no invoices you didn’t expect.
Bermuda Exempted Company
On application
3–7 days
A standalone Bermuda Exempted Company. Bermuda is the world's insurance and reinsurance capital, and its company law exists to serve that market, which makes it superb for captives and listed structures and largely beside the point for ordinary asset protection.
Certificate of Incorporation and constitutional documents
All Bermuda government registration fees
First-year Bermuda registered office and agent
Apostilled corporate documents
Company + Banking
On application
3–7 days + 4–10 weeks banking
A Bermuda Exempted Company bundled with an account at one of our partner institutions — offshore banks, private banks, Swiss banks, and institutional custodians.
Bermuda Exempted Company — registered and operational in full
An offshore bank account at whichever partner institution you prefer
All company documents
All government fees plus first-year agent costs
Trust + Company + Banking
$12,000
first-year fees all included · formation timeline coordinated throughout
The full structure. A Cook Islands or Nevis Trust, a Cook Islands or Nevis Company (LLC or IBC), and a bank account — the strongest asset protection combination on offer, built on our two core jurisdictions.
Cook Islands or Nevis Trust — registered and operational in full
Cook Islands or Nevis Company (LLC or IBC) — registered and operational in full
Every trust and company formation document
All government fees plus first-year trustee and agent costs
An offshore bank account at whichever partner institution you prefer
Each package covers drafted formation documents, apostilled copies, and hands-on coordination with licensed Bermuda registered offices and agents.
(BERMUDA COMPANY GUIDE)
Making sense of the Bermuda Exempted Company structure
How does a Bermuda Exempted Company work?
A Bermuda Exempted Company is owned by its shareholders, who appoint directors to run its affairs.
The company is created under the Companies Act 1981 and registered through a licensed Bermuda registered office or agent. It can hold bank accounts and investments directly, own shares in subsidiaries, and carry on international business.
A Bermuda Exempted Company is created under Part I of the Companies Act 1981, with prior consent from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. It is the standard vehicle for the global insurance, reinsurance and captive market.
- Shareholders: own the company and hold its economic and voting rights.
- Directors: run the company's affairs and banking relationships.
- Registered office: keeps the company's registration and statutory records in Bermuda.
- Constitutional documents: set out the share structure, governance and shareholder rights.
We coordinate the entity formation, the registered office, the due diligence and the banking.
Discuss your structureWho controls a Bermuda company?
A Bermuda company can usually be arranged so that you keep direct control over its banking and investment decisions.
Most Bermuda companies used for holding or investment have the beneficial owner closely involved in governance, so everyday banking, investment and operating calls stay with you.
Where a trust is placed above the company, day-to-day control does not change — what changes is who legally holds the shares a creditor would need to reach.
- Director authority: covers routine banking, investment and operational decisions.
- Shareholder rights: cover dividends, voting, and amendments to the governing documents.
- Trustee ownership: where a trust holds the shares, adds a jurisdictional barrier without altering daily management.
- Governance: the Companies Act 1981 allows board and committee structures where something more formal is wanted.
What can be held in a Bermuda company?
A company becomes operational once accepted assets are properly transferred and recorded as its property.
Common uses include cash and bank deposits, investment portfolios, intellectual property, and shares in operating subsidiaries. We coordinate the bank or custodian introduction, with every institution reviewing the proposed assets, source of funds and supporting documentation.
From 1 January 2025 Bermuda applies a 15% corporate income tax under the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023, but only to Bermuda entities that form part of a multinational group with EUR 750 million or more in annual consolidated revenue. Privately held holding companies, family offices, captives and operating businesses below that threshold stay outside the charge.
- Cash and deposits: held through approved offshore or institutional banking arrangements.
- Investment portfolios: held through approved custodian or brokerage arrangements.
- Subsidiary shares: brought together under a single holding layer.
- Captive insurance and reinsurance vehicles: the jurisdiction’s most common application.
Why pair a Bermuda company with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust?
Bermuda gives you the strengths set out on this page; a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust adds the dedicated creditor-protection statute it lacks.
A Bermuda company on its own has no dedicated charging-order or creditor-bond statute of the sort the Cook Islands and Nevis provide. Putting a Cook Islands Trust above the Bermuda company shifts the shares a creditor would need to reach to an independent, licensed trustee working wholly outside US jurisdiction.
Daily control does not change: you carry on running the Bermuda company's banking and investment activity exactly as before. What changes is what happens under real legal pressure, when the trust deed's anti-duress provisions tell the trustee to refuse any instruction given under compulsion.
- Practical control preserved: day-to-day management carries on exactly as it did before formation.
- Shares relocated: held by an independent trustee rather than by you personally.
- Dedicated statute added: the trust supplies the purpose-built creditor protection Bermuda itself lacks.
- Jurisdictional strengths retained: the Bermuda entity still does the job you formed it for.
We coordinate Bermuda companies with Cook Islands and Nevis Trusts as a single engagement.
See the Cook Islands TrustWhat are the limits of Bermuda company protection?
A Bermuda company is a structuring vehicle, not a purpose-built creditor-protection statute.
Transfers made after a claim has already arisen, while the transferor is insolvent, or for an improper purpose can be challenged — there is no criminal burden of proof or short statutory limitation period of the kind the Cook Islands and Nevis provide.
Bermuda applies economic substance requirements to companies carrying on relevant activities, and BMA consent is required before incorporation.
- No dedicated creditor statute: protection rests on general common law, not on purpose-built legislation.
- No secrecy from authorities: home-country tax and reporting duties carry on in full whatever the structure.
- No guaranteed outcome: the facts, the timing and the applicable law stay decisive in any dispute.
- Strongest when paired: a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust adds the statutory protection Bermuda alone lacks.
When should a Bermuda company be set up?
The strongest planning is done while finances are stable and before any specific dispute or claim exists.
Formation usually finishes within 3 to 7 days once KYC is cleared. From 1 January 2025 a 15% corporate income tax applies only to entities in MNE groups with EUR 750m+ revenue. Most privately held companies are out of scope.
Opening an offshore bank account generally takes a further four to ten weeks, particularly where the structure calls for additional due diligence.
- Plan before pressure: do not wait until a transfer becomes urgent or contested.
- Prepare documentation early: certified passport, proof of address and source-of-funds evidence should be current.
- Confirm the tax position: 15% CIT for large MNE groups only — check how that fits with your own residence.
- Consider a trust pairing: if creditor protection, not just the company itself, is a priority.
What tax and reporting obligations apply?
Offshore does not mean unreported. What is owed depends on the shareholders, the assets and the countries involved.
The Bermuda registered office or agent and any bank run KYC and beneficial-ownership checks as standard. Bermuda applies economic substance requirements to companies carrying on relevant activities, and BMA consent is required before incorporation.
US persons typically file Form 5471 each year for the company, along with an FBAR for offshore accounts. These obligations are non-negotiable, and every structure we form is built for full home-country compliance from day one.
- Form 5471: yearly US reporting for foreign corporations.
- FBAR: applies to offshore bank and financial accounts held by the company.
- Substance and residence: where the company is managed and controlled can decide its tax outcome.
- Professional advice: should be obtained before formation and before any assets are funded.
Who might consider a Bermuda company?
Bermuda is the world's insurance and reinsurance capital, and its company law exists to serve that market, which makes it superb for captives and listed structures and largely beside the point for ordinary asset protection.
Why Bermuda? Because of what it is the world capital of. More captive insurers and reinsurance capacity sit in Bermuda than anywhere else, and the legal, actuarial and regulatory infrastructure has grown up specifically around that market. For a captive, a reinsurance vehicle or a structure heading for a listing, Bermuda is frequently the obvious answer.
It is a poorer fit as a standalone structure where dedicated creditor protection is the main objective — pairing with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust closes that gap directly.
- Best fit: captive insurance and reinsurance vehicles.
- Also suited to: structures heading for a listing or needing top-tier institutional standing.
- And: investment and holding structures where regulatory quality matters most.
- Clients wanting Total Protection: via a Bermuda company paired with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust.
Before we recommend a structure, we set Bermuda honestly against the Cook Islands and Nevis.
Book a consultation(WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE OFFSHORE COMPANIES ONLINE)
Bermuda company formation with a cross-jurisdiction perspective
We coordinate Bermuda companies and Cook Islands or Nevis Trusts as one engagement. This is not a referral service — we run the whole formation ourselves and pass on the keenest pricing available.
Direct Bermuda registered office relationships
Ours are direct, licensed Bermuda registered office and agent relationships — no referral middleman — the same team that builds Cook Islands and Nevis structures in 20+ jurisdictions.
First-hand jurisdictional knowledge
Our specialists know the practical realities of Bermuda structuring, not generic offshore formation scripts.
Fixed-fee formation
All government fees plus first-year agent costs are built into the price — nothing hidden, no invoices you didn't expect.
Honest jurisdiction guidance
We set Bermuda honestly against the Cook Islands and Nevis, so a jurisdiction's strengths are not mistaken for adversarial creditor defence.
Full compliance from day one
Optional legal and tax advisory keeps you in full home-country compliance — every structure is built to be reported correctly, not concealed.
(WHO SHOULD FORM A BERMUDA COMPANY?)
A natural fit for insurance, reinsurance and institutional standing
Bermuda is the world’s insurance and reinsurance capital, and its company law exists to serve that market, which makes it superb for captives and listed structures and largely beside the point for ordinary asset protection. For dedicated creditor protection, pair it with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust.
Insurance, reinsurance and institutional standing
Bermuda is the world's insurance and reinsurance capital, and its company law exists to serve that market, which makes it superb for captives and listed structures and largely beside the point for ordinary asset protection.
Captive insurance and reinsurance vehicles
Structures heading for a listing or needing top-tier institutional standing
Investment and holding structures where regulatory quality matters most
Groups below the EUR 750 million threshold, which stay outside the 15% CIT
Premium pricing, and the 15% threshold
Bermuda has real strengths, but it is not built around dedicated creditor-protection statutes.
A 15% corporate income tax applies to entities in MNE groups above EUR 750m revenue
Bermuda Monetary Authority consent is required to incorporate
Costs sit at the premium end of the offshore market
No dedicated charging-order or creditor-bond statute like the Cook Islands or Nevis
For creditor protection specifically, compare the Cook Islands Company and Nevis Company, or the Cook Islands Trust where the exposure is serious. For insurance, reinsurance and institutional standing, Bermuda is frequently the stronger fit.
(TOTAL PROTECTION PACKAGE)
The Bermuda Total Protection Package
A company on paper achieves nothing — the structure only works once it is funded and running. We handle the bank introduction, matching your entity profile to institutions actively onboarding Bermuda entities. Opening an account usually takes four to ten weeks.
- Bermuda registered agent and incorporation handled from start to finish
- Government, registration and third-party charges set out line by line in the written quote
- Bermuda-compliant constitutional documents and share structure drawn up where needed
- Company registered and ready for banking and asset transfer
(BERMUDA COMPANY EXPERTISE)
Meet our company formation specialists
John Evans
Forbes Business Council Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
More than two decades of experience across offshore banking, asset protection, international companies and trusts.
Melanie Tetuaiteroi
Sales Assistant
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Supports client onboarding, communications, documentation and operational coordination, backed by fiduciary administration experience.
(FORMATION PROCESS)
01
Initial consultation
We talk through your objectives, whether a Bermuda company or a Cook Islands or Nevis structure best suits you, and where you stand for tax at home.
02
Confirm structure and complete KYC
We settle the structure, check that the name is available, and give you a tailored KYC checklist — certified passport, proof of address and source of funds.
03
Draft, sign, and register
We draw up your constitutional documents, file with the Registrar of Companies, and settle all government fees. Formation is done inside 3 to 7 days.
04
Receive documents and open banking
You receive the full corporate document pack, ready to open a bank account. We carry the bank introduction through to a live, funded offshore account.
(BERMUDA COMPANY INSIGHTS)
Bermuda Company Insights
Recent Articles
Explore our latest insights, practical guides and updates on international wealth structuring.
Offshore Asset Protection5 min read
When a Cook Islands Trust Will Not Protect Your Assets
Offshore Companies5 min read
Offshore Company Annual Maintenance Requirements
International Banking & Investment4 min read
Bank vs EMI for an Offshore Company
Asset Protection4 min read
When Is It Too Late for Asset Protection?
Offshore Companies4 min read
Best Offshore Company for Consultants and Agencies
Offshore Foundations4 min read
Offshore Foundation vs Offshore Trust
Asset Protection4 min read
LLC vs Trust for Asset Protection
Offshore Asset Protection5 min read
What Assets Can a Cook Islands Trust Own?
(ABOUT BERMUDA COMPANYS)
What is a Bermuda company?
A Bermuda Exempted Company is created under the Companies Act 1981 with prior consent from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. The BMA consent step is real regulatory scrutiny rather than a formality, which is part of why Bermuda entities carry the standing they do.
Why Bermuda? Because of what it is the world capital of. More captive insurers and reinsurance capacity sit in Bermuda than anywhere else, and the legal, actuarial and regulatory infrastructure has grown up specifically around that market. For a captive, a reinsurance vehicle or a structure heading for a listing, Bermuda is frequently the obvious answer.
On tax, the position since 1 January 2025 is more nuanced than “zero”. A 15% corporate income tax applies to Bermuda entities within multinational groups above the EUR 750 million revenue threshold. The large majority of privately held Bermuda companies fall below it and are unaffected, but the threshold should be checked rather than assumed. Bermuda has no dedicated creditor-protection statute. It does not carry the charging-order and creditor-bond statutes that make Cook Islands and Nevis companies so effective against live claims, so pairing a Bermuda company with a Cook Islands Trust above it is how the two are usually combined.
(BERMUDA COMPANY QUESTIONS)
Common questions about Bermuda companies
(CONTACT US)
Speak to a specialist. Let’s build your structure.
Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a senior member of our team to discuss your objectives and the services we have available.
