The Netherlands Antilles is a group of five islands which is situated in the Windward and the Leeward chains of the Caribbean. Curacao is less than 50 miles off the north of Venezuela. Curacao, the largest island, is also home to the majority of the island’s population of 200000. Willemstad is the capital of Curacao and the main financial and government centre of this group of islands.

The islands are part of The Kingdom of the Netherlands and have full autonomy with a parliamentary democracy in Netherlands.

THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES E-ZONE Company

Internationally oriented companies which locate their activities in Netherlands are offered tax incentives by the economic zone legislations.

Since 2001 international services have become the second cornerstone of the economic zone. The economic zones provide opportunities to many businesses. Following are a few examples: call centre, e-commerce, and e-gaming. By introducing the Ordinance on Electronic Agreements the Netherlands Antilles have adjusted their civil laws to suit the demand of the new economy.

Tax Incentives
• Up to January 1, 2026 the e-zone companies are to be taxed at a rate of up to 2%. However a standard rate of 34.5% is charged on the profits derived from the activities related to the local Netherlands Antilles markets.
• To the export and import of goods and services which are rendered to the non-residents of the Netherlands Antilles no sales tax, excise duty or import and export duty is levied.
• Freedom from land and occupancy taxes.
• Facility of special wage tax for expatriate workers.

Requirements

• The capital of the company should be divided into shares.
• Only in the relevant economic zone shall the activities in the Netherlands Antilles take place. Large economic zones are situated next to the harbor and the airport of Curacao.
• The turnover which the trading generates with services to the Netherlands Antilles should not exceed 25% of the total turnover per category of product.
• There should be some contribution of these activities to the development of the Netherlands Antilles either by creating employment or by generating foreign currency.

SHAREHOLDERS

The minimum number of shareholder required is one and shares can be issued both of bearer type and the registered type. It is a must for the bearer shares to be fully paid up. However the registered shares can only be partly paid. The directors of the Board are required to keep a register of the details of the shareholders and this register will be available with the public for scrutiny as long as the shares are partly paid. In case the shares are fully paid then the register can be treated as confidential and so it will no longer be available to the public for its inspection.

DIRECTORS

A minimum of one board member is required and that member may be corporate bodies or individuals. The company must either appoint a locally resident managing director or a locally resident registered representative. To advice and monitor the managing directors there can be the appointment of a board of supervisory directors. The names and the details of the directors are non-confidential and so available for public inspection. This means that anonymity can be maintained only if a third party of professional directors is involved.

ANNUAL REPORTING

accompanied by properly drawn up financial statements every company must file an annual tax return. The auditing of the financial statement is not a legal requirement.

TIMESCALE

The minimum paid in capital has to be incorporated in the Netherlands Antilles in order for the incorporation to proceed. After this, incorporation will be done in about 7 to 10 days. Restrictions on name and activity – the names must end with the initials N.V. they must be in Roman script but not necessarily in Dutch language. The names of the companies must be very individualistic so as to prevent confusion with the names of existing companies. Further, if the company uses a name of a particular activity then the name would get accepted only if the company actually intends to involve in that activity.

RESTRICTIONS ON NAME AND ACTIVITY

Names must end with the initials “N.V.”. Names need not be in the Dutch language but must be in Roman script. Names should be sufficiently individual so as to prevent confusion with existing companies and names which indicate an activity are only acceptable if the implied activities are to be performed by the company.

LOCAL REQUIREMENTS

the company must maintain a registered official address in Netherlands Antilles and must register itself with the Chamber of Commerce. The company must also hire a local resident agent who would look after the affairs of the Netherlands Antilles or elect a locally resident managing director.

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