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Subject: Incorporation of Companies
in Israel
Author: George Rosenberg
Date: January, 2005
1. Name
There are no limitations save that word
"limited" or an abbreviation thereof must be
included, and the name cannot be misleading or similar to an existing
name.
2. Capitalization
No minimum required.
3. Shareholders
Minimum one shareholder in a private and a public
company. Shareholders may be
corporate or individual. Shares can be either registered or issued to
bearer. All of
the shareholders of a company may be foreign residents.
4. Directors
Minimum one director in a private company. Directors may
be corporate or individuals and all directors may be non resident. Director(s) must file a declaration upon incorporation
(see below).
5. Registered Office
Company must have registered office
in Israel, notification of which must be filed
along with the request for registration. If all shareholders/directors
are non
residents, company must have agent in Israel.
6. Formation
By-Laws, signed by the subscriber(s) (incorporator(s)),
together with
a request for registration of a company, directors' declaration and
prescribed fee
(currently NIS 2,182, approximately US$ 485) must be filed with Registrar of Companies. After
approving the request, Registrar issues Certificate of Registration, upon which Company
is deemed in existence. By-Laws must be filed in Hebrew, and may be filed with an English translation.
In the case of non resident clients
the subscribers may be local lawyers (or their
trust companies), who transfer their shares to the clients after incorporation.
Normally a company may be formed within
48 business-day hours from filing of
documents.
7. Bank Account
Once the company is formed, a bank account
may be opened up with any bank in
Israel by filing copies of Certificate of Registration and By-Laws, ,
and appropriate
directors' resolution together with standard documentation required
by the bank.
Signatories at the bank may be non residents.
In light of the Anti-Money Laundering
legislation,enacted in 2000, the banks in Israel exercise much more caution and due diligence in connection with
opening
bank accounts for foreigners, than has been the practice in the past.
8. Currency Control
As of May 1998, the regime of currency
control in Israel has been virtually abolished.
Extensive reporting obligations apply
to all Israeli residents in respect of transactions
with foreign residents or in foreign currency. The minimal threshold
for the reports is
normally US$ 5 million. Special reporting obligations apply to banking
corporations,
currency exchangers, brokers and portfolio managers.
The Foreign Currency Controller is authorized
to demand such reports, and the
information contained in the reports is confidential.
9. Miscellaneous and Annual requirements
Shareholders must appoint auditor every
year. Company must open file with
Income tax authorities, and must file annual tax return in addition
to filing annual
return with Registrar of Companies. Costs for preparing annual tax returns
normally
range between US$3,000 - US$5,000, and vary in accordance with the volume
of the
company's activity.
Annual fee payable to registrar is
currently the equivalent of approximately
US$210.
10. Cost
Total cost of formation, including payment
of fee to Registrar and legal fees, is
US$2,000 plus V.A.T. which currently is 17%. This includes preparation
and filing
of incorporation documents, notification of registrar after incorporation
regarding
appointment of directors and registered office, and preparation of initial
organizational minutes and banking resolution, if required. The said
amount does
not include any disbursements (save fee to Registrar) such as courier,
translations,
legalization at embassy, etc., if required.
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