Start my Isle of Man company
Isle of Man company formation

A 0% company in the British Isles, without flying to Douglas

The Isle of Man taxes most company profit at 0%, keeps its owner register off the public record, and sits on neither EU tax list. Ours is £1,890 a year with the government fee inside it, run from anywhere.

Formed through a registered agent licensed on the island. No visit.
Start my Isle of Man company Which rate applies to you
  • £1,890 a year, all in
  • No jump at renewal
  • Nothing charged until you sign
0%Standard Isle of Man rate on company profit
PrivateOwner register open to authorities and banks, not the public
1Director, who can live anywhere or even be a company
£100The island's registration fee, inside your price
01Two company laws

1931 or 2006: which Isle of Man company you get

The island runs two company laws side by side. We form the 2006 Act company, because it was written for owners who don't live there.

1931 Act company2006 Act companyWhat we form
DirectorsAt least two, all peopleOne, and it can be a company
Company secretaryRequired, and must be qualifiedNot needed
Licensed registered agentNot part of this lawRequired, and files your formation for you
AuditRequired unless the company qualifies for an exemptionNo audit requirement
ShareholdersAt least oneAt least one, a person or a company
Owners where they liveAnywhereAnywhere
TaxSame ratesSame rates
Registry and yearly fees£100, then £380 a year£100, then £380 a year

Same tax, same fees. The 2006 company simply needs fewer people, and its licensed agent does the filing a non-resident can't do alone.

020, 10 or 20

Isle of Man company tax: which rate is yours

The island has three company rates, and most founders only ever meet the first one. Pick what your company will earn from.

No capital gains tax and no withholding tax on dividends. The 0% applies in the Isle of Man; the country where you live may still tax what the company pays you.

03The UK link

Isle of Man VAT: the one tax to watch

The island shares one VAT area with the United Kingdom. A company selling there can cross the line without noticing. Slide to your sales.

£40,000

Selling only to customers outside the UK and the island, or simply holding assets? Then this line usually never comes into play.

04Who can see what

Who can see the owner of an Isle of Man company

The island keeps a register of who really owns each company. It is not a public list, and here is exactly who can open it.

Anyone
  • Company name and number
  • Registered office and registered agent
  • Whether it is in good standing
Authorities and regulated firms
  • Police and regulators on the island
  • Banks and other regulated firms, only to check a customer
  • Foreign authorities, through the island's financial intelligence unit
Not the public
  • The owner register itself
  • Your home address and date of birth
  • How much of the company you own

The register covers anyone with 25% or more. In May 2026 the island asked for views on letting people with a "legitimate interest" in fighting financial crime see it too. Nothing has changed yet, and we will tell you if it does.

05Crypto

An Isle of Man company for crypto: the "for others" test

The island's crypto rules turn on one phrase: activity for or on behalf of another person. See how the Isle of Man compares with other places.

For itself

No licence, no registration

  • Getting paid in cryptoThe regulator says so in plain words.
  • Holding coins and tokensThe company's own assets.
  • Trading on its own accountBuying and selling for itself, not for clients.
  • Writing crypto softwareBuilding and licensing it to others.

For other people

Registration with the island's regulator first

  • Exchanging crypto for clientsInto money or into other coins.
  • Transferring or holding it for themWallets and custody.
  • Running an exchangeA trading platform for others.
  • Tokens with investment rightsThese can need a full licence.
06Your first two years

Isle of Man annual return and tax return: your dates

Two filings a year, both tied to the month you form. Pick that month and see your own dates.

    07The whole bill

    Isle of Man company formation cost, every year

    The island's fees on their own lines, at cost. The licensed agent's yearly fee is inside our share, where many quotes leave it out until renewal.

    Year one

    Isle of Man incorporation feeAt cost, standard 48 hour service£100
    HeirsonLicensed registered agent and office, nominated officer, owner register filing, documents, bank account set up with you£1,790
    You pay£1,890

    Every year after

    Annual return feeAt cost, filed on time so the £480 and £630 late fees never apply£380
    HeirsonRegistered agent and office, nominated officer, annual return, owner register statement, reminders£1,510
    You pay£1,890
    Faster registration+£150The island's 2 hour service, £250 instead of £100
    Certificate of good standing£50The island's fee, for banks that ask
    Company tax return and accountsQuoted firstA 0% return is still filed online every year

    Add a nominee to your Isle of Man company if you want one, never to hide an owner from banks or authorities. How nominees work.

    Nominee director and shareholder£840 a year + VATBoth roles together, from a licensed provider

    Isle of Man Companies Registry fees, November 2026. Every price is in pounds sterling, paid in crypto at the rate on your invoice.

    Questions

    Isle of Man company questions, answered

    Weighing it against other 0% places? The tax haven guide compares 50 of them, and the cost study shows three years of fees.

    How much does it cost to set up a company in the Isle of Man?
    With Heirson, £1,890 a year, every year. Year one is the island's £100 incorporation fee plus our £1,790. From year two it's the £380 annual return fee plus our £1,510, with the licensed registered agent included both times.
    Can a non-resident set up a company in the Isle of Man?
    Yes. A 2006 Act company needs one director and one shareholder, who can be the same person and live in any country. A registered agent licensed on the island files the formation and stays on as your agent.
    What is the Isle of Man company tax rate?
    0% for most companies. Banking income and island shops with taxable profits over £500,000 pay 10%, and income from Isle of Man land and property pays 20%. There's no capital gains tax and no withholding tax on dividends. More in our Isle of Man tax guide.
    Does the Isle of Man count as a tax haven?
    It has a 0% standard rate, but it is on neither EU list of uncooperative tax jurisdictions and shares tax information with other countries. That combination sets it apart from most 0% places.
    What is the difference between a 1931 and a 2006 Act company?
    The 1931 company needs two directors and a qualified secretary. The 2006 company needs one director, which can be a company, no secretary, and a licensed registered agent. Tax and government fees are the same.
    How long does Isle of Man company registration take?
    The Registry issues the certificate within 48 hours of the filing. Before that, the licensed agent completes its checks once you sign. A 2 hour service is available for £150 more.
    Who can see who owns an Isle of Man company?
    Not the public. The owner register is open to the island's authorities, to banks and other regulated firms checking a customer, and to foreign authorities through the island's financial intelligence unit.
    Does an Isle of Man company pay VAT?
    Only when it has to register. The island and the UK form one VAT area, and registration is compulsory once taxable sales there pass £90,000 over 12 months. A company selling elsewhere, or only holding assets, usually never reaches it.
    When is the Isle of Man annual return due?
    Every year, within one month after the anniversary of incorporation, for £380. Late, it rises to £480, then £630 after three months. We file it on time as part of your renewal. Every yearly fee, date and penalty: Isle of Man annual fees and filings.
    Can I open a bank account for an Isle of Man company?
    Yes, and it is part of the service. We put together the documents the bank wants and open the account with you. The bank has the final say, and it almost always goes through. Who the island's banks take, and how much of a company's money is protected, are in our Isle of Man company bank account guide.
    What will a search of my Isle of Man company show?
    Its status, office and agent, and the register of directors. Members of a 2006 Act company stay off the file. Details: Isle of Man company search.
    Your move

    A British Isles address for your profits, at 0%.

    One price, £1,890, every year. The island's fees are inside it, and you pay in crypto once you have signed.

    Start my Isle of Man company Every fee, line by line
    Isle of Man company£1,890 a year, all inStart