Guide · setting up a company

Isle of Man vs Guernsey vs Jersey: setting up a company

Costs, registration time, destination taxes and yearly duties side by side, from the same official data as the setup cost calculator.

The Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey are three Crown Dependencies with their own company registers, tax authorities and company laws. For a founder from abroad they have something in common: in each of them a licensed local provider takes part in setting up and running the company. The registry fees are low and published; the larger part of the cost is the provider’s fees, which firms quote on request.

This guide places the official facts for the three islands side by side, with the date each source was read, and does not rank them. Which island fits depends on where you live, where the company will be run from, where its customers are and what it will earn. The country you live in can tax the dividends paid to you and, through its rules on foreign companies owned by its residents, sometimes the profits of the company as well.

At a glance

Isle of ManGuernseyJersey
Company typeCompany under the Companies Act 2006 (Isle of Man)Company limited by shares under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008Private company limited by shares (par value) under the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991
Official fees at setupGBP 100GBP 100GBP 205
Official fees every yearGBP 380GBP 525GBP 339
Company formation by a firmPrice on requestPrice on requestPrice on request
Accounting and annual accountsPrice on requestPrice on requestPrice on request
Registration time1 to 2 daysAbout 1 day1 to 5 days
Minimum share capitalThe memorandum sets the number of shares each subscriber takes and the amount paid per share; the Registry states no minimumNot publishedFor par value shares there is no minimum authorised or issued share capital requirement
Corporate tax0% standard rate; 10% on banking and large retail income, 20% on Isle of Man land and property income0% standard rate; 10% and 20% for listed activities0% standard rate; 10% for certain financial services companies; 20% for utilities and Jersey property and trading income
Tax on dividends to a non-resident individual0% withholdingNo Guernsey tax on distributions to non-resident membersNone for a non-resident individual on distributions from profits charged at 0%
VAT20%; registration above GBP 90,000 of taxable supplies in 12 monthsGuernsey Customs: VAT is a UK tax; a GST was voted in October 2026, with no start date yetGST 5%; registration at GBP 300,000 turnover in 12 months

Firms' figures are starting prices published by firms on Accountanty (the lower to the upper quartile with at least 8 firms; "from" with 5 to 7; on request below 5). Tax lines are summaries: the full rules and sources are further down.

Cost to set up and run the company

The calculator's estimate for each company type with its default services: company formation, accounting and the services the law requires.

Isle of Man

Official fees only, at setup GBP 100 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 119
Official fees only, every year GBP 380 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 454
Open the calculator for Isle of Man

Guernsey

Official fees only, at setup GBP 100 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 119
Official fees only, every year GBP 525 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 627
Open the calculator for Guernsey

Jersey

Official fees only, at setup GBP 205 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 245
Official fees only, every year GBP 339 + firms' fees (on request) about EUR 405
Open the calculator for Jersey

Taxes on the destination side

Your country of residence may tax the dividends you receive, and it may also tax the company's profits under its rules on foreign companies controlled by its residents. A company managed from your country may be treated as resident there. This is general information, not tax advice.

Isle of Man

Corporate tax

  • For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 tax years the standard rate of income tax on company income is 0%, with 10% on banking business income and on retail trade income above GBP 500,000, and 20% on income from land and property in the Isle of Man. gov.im
  • Resident and non-resident companies are taxed at the same rates. gov.im
  • Groups with annual revenue of EUR 750 million or more pay a minimum effective rate of 15% through the Domestic Top-up Tax, for fiscal years starting on or after 1 January 2025. gov.im

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • Isle of Man companies apply a 0% withholding rate to dividends paid to individuals and to companies. gov.im

VAT

  • VAT standard rate 20%, reduced rate 5%. gov.im
  • The Isle of Man is treated as part of the UK for VAT purposes, with its own VAT administration. gov.im
  • Registration is required when taxable supplies in the preceding 12 months exceed GBP 90,000, or when supplies in the next 30 days alone are expected to exceed GBP 90,000. gov.im

Example: profit of GBP 83,770, all paid out

Standard rate (0%)
Corporate taxGBP 0 (0%)
Tax withheld on the dividendGBP 0
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryGBP 83,770

Guernsey

Corporate tax

  • The standard rate of income tax on company income is 0%. gov.gg
  • An intermediate rate of 10% applies to income from banking, domestic insurance, fiduciary business, custody services and other listed financial and compliance activities. gov.gg
  • A higher rate of 20% applies to income from Guernsey land and buildings, large retail business in Guernsey (taxable profit above GBP 500,000), CICRA-regulated trading and the supply of gas or hydrocarbon oil. gov.gg

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • Distributions to a non-resident beneficial member do not create a Guernsey tax charge; the company must hold evidence that the member is not Guernsey resident before paying without deduction of tax. gov.gg

VAT

  • Guernsey Customs states that VAT is a UK tax, and that it cannot refund VAT or process VAT reclaims. gov.gg
  • On 2 October 2026 the States voted to implement a goods and services tax; it cannot be brought into operation until the agreed income tax, social security and benefit mitigations are in force. statesvoting-records.gov.gg
  • The June 2026 tax reform package proposed GST at 3% from 2028; no official start date after the vote was found. gov.gg

Example: profit of GBP 83,770, all paid out

Standard rate (0%)
Corporate taxGBP 0 (0%)
Tax withheld on the dividendGBP 0
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryGBP 83,770

Jersey

Corporate tax

  • The standard rate of company tax in Jersey is 0%. Certain financial services companies pay 10%; utility companies and income derived from trading in Jersey (such as property rental, property development and quarrying) are taxed at 20%. gov.je
  • Retail companies in Jersey with retail turnover of GBP 2m and above pay between 0% and 20%: 0% on profits under GBP 500,000, rising to 20% on profits above GBP 750,000. gov.je
  • Jersey entities in multinational groups with consolidated annual revenue of EUR 750 million or more pay Multinational Corporate Income Tax (MCIT) for a minimum effective rate of 15%, for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025. gov.je

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • Non-resident individuals are exempt from Jersey tax on company distributions from profits or gains charged at 0%. gov.je

VAT

  • Jersey charges Goods and Services Tax (GST) at a standard rate of 5%. gov.je
  • Registration is required when a business has or expects turnover of GBP 300,000 or more in a 12-month period; registration below that is voluntary. gov.je

Example: profit of GBP 83,770, all paid out

Standard rate (0%)
Corporate taxGBP 0 (0%)
Tax withheld on the dividendGBP 0
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryGBP 83,770

Destination taxes only, before tax treaties and before any tax in your country of residence. Assumption: one shareholder, an individual not resident in the destination, holding 100% of the company; EUR 100,000 converted at the ECB rate. Try your own figure in the calculator.

Registration: steps and time

Isle of Man

1 to 2 days. Standard incorporation within 48 hours of receipt of the documents; a 2 hour service and a while-you-wait service cost more.

  1. Obtain approval of the proposed company name from the Companies Registry gov.im
  2. For a 2006 Act company, appoint a registered agent: only the first registered agent named in the memorandum may file the application gov.im
  3. Complete the incorporation documents within the 3 month name approval period gov.im
  4. Send the documents to the Companies Registry with the fee; standard incorporation follows within 48 hours gov.im
  5. Legal owners give beneficial ownership details to the nominated officer within 21 days of incorporation gov.im
  6. For a 2006 Act company, appoint a director within one month of incorporation gov.im
  7. Register for VAT when taxable supplies in the preceding 12 months exceed GBP 90,000 gov.im

Guernsey

About 1 day. Standard incorporation within 24 hours; a rapid service (2 hours) and a special service (15 minutes, certain restrictions apply) cost more.

  1. Optionally reserve the company name with the Guernsey Registry (GBP 25 per name, held for 3 months) guernseyregistry.com
  2. Engage a corporate service provider holding a full fiduciary licence from the GFSC: only such a provider can apply to the Registrar to incorporate guernseyregistry.com
  3. Register the directors, the resident agent and the beneficial owners with the Guernsey Registry before they are appointed guernseyregistry.com
  4. The provider files the application on the Registrar's form with the incorporation fee; standard incorporation takes 24 hours guernseyregistry.com
  5. File beneficial ownership information on incorporation; report later changes within 14 days guernseyregistry.com
  6. The Registrar issues a certificate of incorporation with the registered name, number and date guernseyregistry.com
  7. The Revenue Service sets up the company's tax reference from the information given to the Registry gov.gg

Jersey

1 to 5 days. Approval takes between 2 hours and 5 days depending on the risk factors, the service level paid for and whether a name was reserved.

  1. A founder who is not a Jersey resident applies through a JFSC regulated service provider licensed to provide formation services jerseyfsc.org
  2. Optionally check and reserve the company name through the Registry online facility (GBP 10) jerseyfsc.org
  3. Prepare the memorandum, subscribers page and articles (or adopt the standard table), and a structure chart where the beneficial owner is not the subscriber jerseyfsc.org
  4. Complete the submission in myRegistry with beneficial owner, controller, director, secretary and member details jerseyfsc.org
  5. Submit and pay the fee for the chosen service level in myRegistry jerseyfsc.org
  6. The application includes consent to issue shares under the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 (COBO consent) jerseyfsc.org
  7. Registrar approval, in 2 hours to 5 days depending on risk factors and the service level jerseyfsc.org
  8. Apply for a business licence to run the business and employ staff, unless an exemption applies gov.je
  9. Register for GST when turnover reaches or is expected to reach GBP 300,000 in a 12-month period gov.je

Every year after registration

Isle of Man

  • Annual return due within 1 month of its made-up date (AR form for 1931 Act, IMAR form for 2006 Act companies) gov.im
  • Company tax return filed online and tax paid within 12 months and one day after the end of the accounting period gov.im
  • A private 1931 Act company does not deliver audited accounts to the Registry unless it is a subsidiary of a Manx public company gov.im

Guernsey

  • Annual validation filed between 1 January and the last day of February, with the company's details as at 31 December; late or missing filing is liable to a civil penalty guernseyregistry.com
  • Accounts are audited unless the members pass an audit waiver resolution in the previous financial year and file it within 30 days guernseyregistry.com
  • Corporate tax return filed online; the 2025 return is due by 30 November 2026 gov.gg
  • Tax resident companies carrying on specified activities must show economic substance in Guernsey (direction and management, people, premises, core income generating activities) gov.gg

Jersey

  • Annual confirmation statement filed between 1 January and the last day of February, with the annual confirmation fee jerseyfsc.org
  • Company tax return filed online for each year of assessment by midnight on 30 November of the following year gov.je
  • A private company does not file accounts with the Registrar and is not required to have them audited unless its articles require an auditor jerseyfsc.org
  • Directors prepare accounts; for a private company it is sufficient that accounts are available to shareholders jerseyfsc.org
  • Tax resident companies with income from a relevant sector (such as holding company, IP, finance and leasing, headquartering) must show adequate economic substance in Jersey gov.je

Documents and requirements

Isle of Man

  • 1931 Act: Form 1 with the first directors, secretary and the registered office address in the Isle of Man gov.im
  • 1931 Act: memorandum and articles of association; the 1988 model specimens are optional gov.im
  • 2006 Act: memorandum naming the first registered agent and the shares each subscriber agrees to take gov.im
  • 1931 Act: at least two directors who are individuals and at least one company secretary; corporate directors are not permitted gov.im
  • 1931 Act: the registered office must be in the Isle of Man at all times gov.im
  • 2006 Act: a registered agent holding a Class 4 licence from the Financial Services Authority gov.im
  • 2006 Act: one director, which can be a corporate body, and at least one member stated on the memorandum gov.im
  • A nominated officer for beneficial ownership: an Isle of Man resident individual or a licence holder gov.im
  • Disqualified directors and undischarged bankrupts cannot take part in forming or managing a company without leave of the court gov.im

Guernsey

Jersey

  • Memorandum and Articles of Association signed by the subscriber(s); no copy is uploaded if the standard table of Articles is adopted jerseyfsc.org
  • Subscribers page, uploaded with the memorandum and again after the articles jerseyfsc.org
  • Structure chart if the beneficial owner is not the same as the subscriber(s), if the company is part of a group or the activity is sensitive jerseyfsc.org
  • Authorisation from the occupier of the premises used as the registered office jerseyfsc.org
  • Applications come from a Jersey-resident beneficial owner (100% Jersey-resident ownership) or a JFSC regulated provider licensed for formation services jerseyfsc.org
  • A private company has at least one director and one secretary; a sole director cannot also be the secretary jerseyfsc.org
  • A private company typically has no more than thirty members and may have a single member jerseyfsc.org
  • A registered office in Jersey at all times jerseyfsc.org
  • A nominated person with a link to Jersey: a Jersey-resident director or secretary, a Jersey lawyer or accountant, or a Jersey registered trust company business jerseyfsc.org
  • Share and director registers kept at the registered office (or for shares, an address in Jersey notified to the Registrar) jerseyfsc.org
  • Changes to beneficial owner and controller details submitted within 21 days jerseyfsc.org

What to weigh between the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey

Formation. The standard registry fee is GBP 100 in the Isle of Man (within 48 hours) and in Guernsey (within 24 hours), and GBP 205 in Jersey for the 5 business day service; faster services cost more. In Guernsey only a corporate service provider with a full fiduciary licence can apply to incorporate. In Jersey a founder who is not resident applies through a provider licensed by the JFSC. An Isle of Man company under the 2006 Act is filed by its registered agent, who holds a licence from the Financial Services Authority. The Isle of Man also offers the traditional company under the Companies Act 1931, with at least two individual directors and a company secretary; its figures are in the calculator.

People. A 2006 Act company in the Isle of Man needs one director, which can be a corporate body, and a licensed registered agent. A Guernsey company needs at least one director and a resident agent, which is a Guernsey resident director or a corporate service provider. A Jersey private company needs at least one director and a secretary, and a sole director cannot also be the secretary.

Firms’ prices. Very few firms on Accountanty publish prices for these islands: two in the Isle of Man and in Jersey for formation, none in Guernsey. The figures above therefore show official fees only, and the firms’ fees come from a quote.

Taxes inside the company. All three islands apply a standard company rate of 0%, with higher rates of 10% and 20% for listed activities such as banking or income from local land and property. None of the three withholds tax in the example on a dividend paid to a non-resident individual. The Isle of Man charges VAT at 20% as part of the UK VAT area; Jersey charges GST at 5%, with registration required from GBP 300,000 of turnover; Guernsey voted for a GST in October 2026, with no start date published yet.

Every year. The yearly registry fee is GBP 380 for the Isle of Man annual return, GBP 525 for the Guernsey annual validation of a company run by a provider, and GBP 339 for the Jersey annual confirmation of a company run by a trust company business. A Jersey private company files no accounts with the Registrar and needs no audit unless its articles require one; a Guernsey company is audited unless its members pass a waiver. In Guernsey and Jersey, tax resident companies in certain activities must show economic substance on the island.

Next steps

Isle of Man

Get quotes from firms in the Isle of Man

Guernsey

Get quotes from firms in Guernsey

Jersey

Get quotes from firms in Jersey

Isle of Man vs Guernsey vs Jersey: questions and answers

Do I need a local provider to set up a company on these islands?

In practice, yes. In Guernsey only a corporate service provider with a full fiduciary licence can apply to incorporate. In Jersey a founder who is not resident applies through a provider licensed by the JFSC. An Isle of Man 2006 Act company is filed by its licensed registered agent.

How long does registration take in each island?

The standard services take up to 48 hours in the Isle of Man, 24 hours in Guernsey and 5 business days in Jersey. Each registry offers faster services for a higher fee, down to 2 hours. The work before filing, such as due diligence by the provider, adds its own time.

Is company income taxed at 0% in all three islands?

The standard rate is 0% in each of them, with 10% and 20% rates for listed activities such as banking, local land and property or large retail. In the Isle of Man and Jersey, large multinational groups pay a 15% minimum rate. Your own country of residence may still tax your dividends and, in some cases, the company's profits.

Why are there no firm prices for these islands?

Only two firms on Accountanty publish a formation price in the Isle of Man and in Jersey, and none in Guernsey, too few for a range. The guide shows the registry fees, which are paid in any case. A quote request to firms on the island you prefer gives the full cost.

Which island is better for my company?

This guide does not rank the islands. The answer depends on where you live, where the company is managed, its activity and its customers. Compare the facts above, try your figures in the calculator for each island, and ask firms on each for a quote and an assessment of your case.

Sources and notes

  1. gov.im read 2026-10-13
  2. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  3. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  4. gov.im read 2026-10-13
  5. gov.im read 2026-10-13
  6. gov.im read 2026-10-13
  7. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  8. gov.im read 2026-10-13
  9. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  10. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  11. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  12. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  13. gov.im read 2026-10-23
  14. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  15. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  16. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  17. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  18. gov.gg read 2026-10-23
  19. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  20. guernseyregistry.com read 2026-10-23
  21. gov.gg read 2026-10-23
  22. statesvoting-records.gov.gg read 2026-10-23
  23. gov.gg read 2026-10-23
  24. jerseyfsc.org read 2026-10-23
  25. jerseyfsc.org read 2026-10-23
  26. jerseyfsc.org read 2026-10-23
  27. gov.je read 2026-10-23
  28. gov.je read 2026-10-23
  29. jerseyfsc.org read 2026-10-23
  30. gov.je read 2026-10-23
  31. gov.je read 2026-10-23
  32. gov.je read 2026-10-23
  33. gov.je read 2026-10-23

Official figures checked up to 2026-10-23. General information, not legal or tax advice: check the official sources and confirm costs with a firm before you act.