Guatemala Corporation

Introduction to Guatemala Incorporation - Guatemala has excellent anonymous corporations, which serve as an excellent anonymous offshore IBC. These corporations are referred to as S.A. or Sociedad Anonima. These types of corporations are also referred to as bearer share corporations in that the person who has possession of the bearer shares has the control of the corporation. Control can also be accomplished through the use of a General Power of Attorney, which we can readily provide.

The bearer shares can be kept anywhere in the world and can be made out in blank, or in the name of a natural person, or a corporation, foundation or trust. There is no requirement to report transfers of the shares. The names of the owners of the Guatemala S.A. Corporation does not appear in any public registry and the government of Guatemala does not know who owns the corporation. We provide nominee directors whose names appear in the public registry. The nominee directors are trusted persons who do not know anything about you or your affairs. Nominee directors cannot cause you any harm or damages. Banks will not add, delete or change any signatories on any bank account without permission in writing of the existing signatories. Banks do not want to be sued for bank fraud. Nominees generally do not even know the account number of any bank account.

Guatemala Exchange of Information – Guatemala has no treaties that provide for any exchange of information for tax matters. Guatemala has no tax treaties of any sort. No EU withholding tax, no double taxation treaties, no tax information sharing agreements, no nothing. Guatemala has no provision for exchange of information in any criminal tax matters as well.

Guatemala Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties – None. This does not mean that Guatemala will not cooperate with another government in a major criminal case. Guatemala would be likely to cooperate in cases involving: murder, kidnapping, child abduction, abuse of children, genocide and terrorism. Guatemala does not support frivolous litigation regarding fraudulent conveyance of funds going into the Guatemala Bank account. Such an action in Guatemala brought by foreigners from another country claiming that funds were moved into Guatemala to place them out of the reach of creditors from another country would have practically no chance of success in Guatemala. There is no cooperation in Guatemala on the collection of judgments from other countries.

Guatemala Extradition – The extradition laws that Guatemala has are vague and hard to get enforced. With a secured immigration status in the country like a citizenship, extradition is not something one should expect from Guatemala. Extradition is a rare occurrence in Guatemala. This paragraph was inserted to give one a look at how Guatemala operates internationally.

Taxes – Guatemala does not tax offshore-derived income. If you receive money offshore to Guatemala there is no income tax on this money due to Guatemala. This is referred to as Tax Haven Status.

Time to Form a Corporation – Typically 2-3 days. We can get an express formation accomplished in one day for an extra fee. One does not have to come to Guatemala to form a corporation. A corporation with a bank account is going to take 14 to 21 days and you do not have to come to Guatemala to open the bank account. You are welcome to come to Guatemala and meet us and visit the bank. We will be happy to host you, arrange airport pickup and assist with hotel accommodations.

Bank Account – We can assist in the opening of a Guatemala bank account for your Guatemala Corporation. This would be with a large bank operating in Guatemala covered by Guatemala’s strong bank secrecy laws. The bank would have online banking including the ability to launch international wire transfers. The bank would issue a secured Visa card to the signatory on the account. It would be in a person’s name. The Visa card would work in ATM machines around the world, online and in person. A security deposit equal to 125% of the credit line would be required to be put into an interest bearing account. The bank account could be checking or savings, you could get a time deposit account and the account can be in Euros, USD or the local currency. Guatemala does not have currency controls so there is no upward limit on funds moved in and out of the account. The minimum balance to open the Guatemala Bank Account is $5,000.

Asset Corporation – This is a special class of corporation in Guatemala that could be thought of as a trust fund in North America. These Asset Corporations do not have any shares of stock. They do have a beneficiary owner and signatory when using a bank account in Guatemala. The law firm can of course be the signatory and beneficiary owner through a trust agreement whereby you control the account through the law firm. You could own the asset corporations by having us shift the assignment rights of it to you or to an anonymous corporation or foundation that you own. These asset corporations can be formed in 1-2 days without a bank account 14-21 days with a bank account. The cost is $2495 without a bank account and $3995 with a Guatemala Bank Account.

Special Trust Services - If you do not wish to be listed on the bank account as the beneficiary owner or signatory we can create a trust agreement between yourself and the law firm where the law firm would be listed on the bank account instead of you. You would direct the law firm as per your wishes. You can still have online access but you would not be able to get a Visa card from the bank in your name. We do have other Visa cards available.

Special Judicial Seal on Your Bank File – If you wish to retain control of the bank account yourself and be listed on the bank forms as signatory and beneficiary there is still something that can be done to insure your privacy remains intact over and above the already in place corporate secrecy and bank secrecy. The bank file and records pertaining to you as the beneficiary owner of the account can be placed under judicial seal. A closed-door hearing is held in Judges Chambers to seal the beneficiary owner aspects of your bank records. This means that the bank employees would not have regular access to information on the account pertaining to who the beneficiary owner is. It also means that there is a court order forbidding the bank from releasing this information. In order for this information to be released one would have to go to this court and request the judge to release the information. Showing good cause for this in Guatemala would be very difficult. The bank employees would still know who the signatory on the account is so they could process checks etc.

Identity Documents Required – One needs a photocopy of a valid passport and driver license. These copies have to be notarized. The notary takes the copy of the passport picture page and the driver license and stamps them as true copies of the original. In place of this a lawyer can certify the copies with their barrister or lawyer stamp. Machine-readable passports only. No international drivers licenses accepted. If one does not have a driver license a suitable substitute can be used which must be a government issued photo ID card. This could be a special license, a national identity card and so forth. If you do not have a passport, get one please.

Prices

Guatemala S.A. Corporation only (no bank account)	$2495
Guatemala Corporation and Guatemala Bank Account	$3995
Guatemala Asset Corporation	$2495
Guatemala Asset Corporation with Bank Account	$3995
Judicial Seal on Bank Records	$1495

Trust Services – 2.5% of all funds deposited into the account the law firm is acting as beneficiary owner and signatory on. There is a $100 minimum if no money is deposited in a given month. Fees are deducted from Bank account each month. Law firm only accepts lawful businesses.

Payment – We accept bank wires and western union. If one is coming in person services can be paid for in cash.