Setting Up an Offshore Company While Being a French Tax Resident

[ImABotnet]

Hello everyone,

I’m new to the forum and looking for advice on setting up an offshore company. To introduce myself briefly, I’m a French entrepreneur managing several online stores.

My goal is to open an offshore company along with a bank account to optimize taxation. However, since I’m still young, I don’t plan to leave France for now. I understand that as long as I remain a French tax resident, my income will still be subject to French taxation, even if my company is registered abroad.

I’ve heard about the possibility of using a "nominee director" to run the company. Is this a viable solution in my situation? What are the best options for someone in my position?

Additionally, my stores operate with Stripe, which might influence the choice of country or business structure.

Also, do you know of any reliable websites or services that handle the entire company and bank account setup process for me, without requiring me to travel to the country in question?

Thanks in advance for your advice and recommendations!

 

[drphantom]

It is very difficult for you to optimize taxes with an offshore company while living in France. There are already many threads on this topic.

You should speak with a tax advisor near you and get local assistance. As long as you are not willing to relocate, you have very few chances of avoiding taxation.

 

[ImABotnet]

It is very difficult for you to optimize taxes with an offshore company while living in France. There are already many threads on this topic.

You should speak with a tax advisor near you and get local assistance. As long as you are not willing to relocate, you have very few chances of avoiding taxation.

I don't understand why opening a company under a nominee's name, along with a linked bank account, wouldn't allow me to avoid taxation, considering that nothing would directly tie me to my online business anymore.

 

[drphantom]

You are still the company owner, and therefore, you are the one who will be taxed.

The tax authorities will look for substance, meaning a real office with electricity, heating, internet, and everything a proper office needs in the country where your company is registered, along with employees. You won’t achieve this by appointing nominees, they are simply ignored!

You can find alternative solutions in mentor group gold, where there are extensive discussions on this topic and potential solutions. Otherwise, the answer is simple: your plan won’t work.

 

[daniels27]

I don't understand why opening a company under a nominee's name, along with a linked bank account, wouldn't allow me to avoid taxation, considering that nothing would directly tie me to my online business anymore.

Because you still own the company. You will simply be taxed on the dividends.

And then, the French will claim that you are the effective manager of the company as well. If you then tell them that there is a guy from Absurdistan managing it in the Antarctica, they won't believe it and tax you. You would need to have an office somewhere with employees and pay tax there. Then, the French would only tax you on the dividends you receive.

But really. If you don't want to leave France, stat there and pay taxes there. It is much better. Trust me.

 

[ImABotnet]

Do you think the alternative solutions available in the Gold Group are viable and align with what I'm looking for?

 

[daniels27]

Do you think the alternative solutions available in the Gold Group are viable and align with what I'm looking for?

Yes, there are solutions. But what you are looking for is a mental coach that convinces you to leave France by highspeed train or ultrasonic airplane tonight. That one is not available in Mentor Group Gold.

 

[ImABotnet]

Oui, il existe des solutions. Mais ce que vous cherchez, c'est un coach mental qui vous convaincra de quitter la France en train à grande vitesse ou en avion ultrasonique ce soir. Celui-là n'est pas disponible dans Mentor Group Gold.

Yeah, but I’m between 20 and 25, and my girlfriend is still studying, so it’s complicated... When your whole life is built in one country, leaving isn’t that easy ...

 

[Sols]

Pointless. Don't waste your time.

Focus on growing your business legally. You won't like what happens if the French tax authority somehow figures out that you've been committing tax fraud.

When the time is right, you can move abroad. As an EU citizen, Malta and Cyprus offer some quick, easy, and interesting options.

Yeah, but I’m between 20 and 25, and my girlfriend is still studying, so it’s complicated... When your whole life is built in one country, leaving isn’t that easy ...

Sacrifices and compromises are part of relationships. You are making a compromise and sacrificing some money by staying in France to be with your girlfriend right now.

 

[daniels27]

Yeah, but I’m between 20 and 25, and my girlfriend is still studying, so it’s complicated... When your whole life is built in one country, leaving isn’t that easy ...

Do you think it will get easier later on? Probably not. You will be back in 2 year and complain that her job is in France. And then in 5 years, you complain abou the kids in France.

If you are happy there, you can also pay some taxes there. You get free education and somebody needs to pay your girlfriend's univeristy too.