Incorporate in Panama. The original Latin American territorial-tax hub.
A Panama S.A. runs on a pure territorial tax regime, a dollarised economy that avoids FX drag, and a private-interest foundation overlay no other Caribbean or Latin jurisdiction can match. Formation takes about ten business days. No residency needed, no public register of beneficial shareholders, no Panamanian directors required.
Used by family offices, professional service firms, and Latin American holding structures that need dollar stability plus genuine territorial tax treatment.
Why form a Panama company?
Panama did not stumble into becoming a corporate hub. The 1927 Corporation Law was copied from Delaware and has been refined for nearly a century. What Panama offers today is a serious territorial tax regime, a fully dollarised economy, and a layered foundation overlay that no Caribbean IBC can replicate.
Pure territorial tax
A Panama S.A. pays zero Panamanian corporate tax on any income sourced outside Panama. Interest, dividends, capital gains, and service fees earned abroad are fully exempt. This is statutory, not a discretionary ruling, and has been stable since 1927.
USD economy, USD banking
Panama uses the US Dollar as legal tender. No FX conversion, no local-currency risk, no exchange controls. Corporate banking runs in USD natively, which simplifies cross-border payments and cuts reporting friction for US-linked clients.
Private shareholder register
Shareholders are not recorded in any public filing. The Public Registry holds only the directors and registered agent. Beneficial ownership is kept privately with the resident agent under the 2020 UBO register law, disclosable only on lawful authority request.
Private Interest Foundation overlay
Panama's 1995 Private Interest Foundation (PIF) law lets you layer an estate-planning vehicle above the S.A. PIFs have no shareholders, own assets for the benefit of named persons, and pair naturally with an operating S.A. underneath.
Off the EU blacklist, bank-friendly
Panama was removed from the EU's Annex I list in October 2024 after completing an international peer review. It now sits as a cooperative jurisdiction with active CRS and FATCA exchange, which keeps major correspondent banks comfortable.
Depth of banking infrastructure
Panama City is the largest banking centre in Central America with more than sixty licensed banks. Corporate accounts for a Panama S.A. are available across multiple tiers, from global names to boutique private banks.
What is included in your Panama S.A. formation
The headline price of US$2,495 covers the entire formation cycle, not just the government filing. No surprise invoices. No advisory line items that should have been free.
Panama S.A. vs other offshore jurisdictions
Panama is often compared to Caribbean IBCs, but it sits in a different category — Latin, dollarised, and foundation-friendly. Here is the honest comparison.
| Feature | Panama S.A. | Nevis LLC | BVI BC | Cayman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base formation cost | US$2,495 | US$2,495 | US$2,195 | US$4,275 |
| Setup time | ~10-14 days | ~10 days | ~7-14 days | ~10-14 days |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Annual renewal | US$1,195 | US$1,395 | US$1,295 | US$2,500+ |
| Currency | USD (legal tender) | XCD / USD | USD | KYD / USD |
| Foundation overlay | Yes, PIF | No | No | Limited |
| EU list status | Cooperative (2024) | Cooperative | Cooperative | Cooperative |
| Public shareholder register | No | No | No | No |
| Bank account accessibility | Good | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
The bottom line: if you want the strongest asset-protection statute, Nevis. If you need a dollarised Latin American base with a foundation overlay and real bank depth, Panama is the pick.
How to incorporate in Panama, step by step
Ten to fourteen business days is the realistic door-to-door timeline. Here is how the process actually runs.
Name reservation and paperwork
We reserve your name of choice and submit the paperwork for the directors and shareholders.
Notarisation and registry filing
Articles of incorporation drafted, notarised before a Panama notary, and filed with the Panama Public Registry. Certificate of incorporation issued within 5 to 8 business days.
Certificate and document pack
Certificate of Incorporation issued and digital document pack delivered. You now have a working Panama S.A. ready to operate or open a corporate bank account.
Optional Panama S.A. add-ons
The base formation is enough for most clients. These are the extras our clients add most often.
Private Interest Foundation
Layer a Panama PIF above the S.A. for estate planning and long-term asset protection. The PIF holds the shares; you retain control as protector.
Nominee shareholder
Shares held by a licensed nominee under a declaration of trust. Full beneficial control retained, zero public disclosure.
Bank account introduction
Warm introduction to a Panama or international bank we regularly place S.A.s with. Multi-currency USD accounts available.
Friendly Nations Visa support
If you want residence alongside the company, we coordinate the Friendly Nations Visa filing with a Panamanian immigration lawyer.
Annual compliance pack
Registered agent renewal, government annual tasa, UBO register update, and accounting records filing. Covers year two and onward.
Apostille and certified pack
Apostilled and certified true copies of the formation documents for use with banks, brokers, and counterparties that require legalised originals.
Panama S.A.: frequently asked questions
If you are researching whether to incorporate in Panama, these are the questions we hear most often on strategy calls.
How long does it take to incorporate in Panama?
About ten to fourteen business days from the moment paperwork is cleared to the moment the certificate is issued. The Public Registry processes filings in five to eight business days. Name reservation, notarisation, and document preparation take care of the rest of the timeline.
Do I need to visit Panama to form the company?
No. Everything is handled remotely. Documents are couriered for wet-ink signatures where required, notarised by our Panama counsel, and the certificate is delivered digitally as part of your document pack.
Does a Panama S.A. have to pay tax?
In Panama, only on Panamanian-source income. A Panama S.A. that earns no income inside Panama pays zero corporate tax. Your home-country tax residence will decide whether the S.A. is look-through, CFC, or opaque for its own tax purposes. Plan with a qualified tax adviser.
Can I open a bank account for a Panama S.A.?
Yes. Panama City has more than sixty licensed banks, and most accept corporate accounts for a Panama S.A. with a clean KYC package. Our formation bundle includes one bank introduction. Expect full due diligence including source of funds, business plan, and in some cases an in-person or video interview.
What is the difference between an S.A. and an SRL?
An S.A. (Sociedad Anonima) is a share-based corporation and the default offshore vehicle in Panama. An SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada) is member-based and smaller in scale. For holding, trading, and offshore purposes, the S.A. is what most clients want. We can form either.
What are the annual renewal costs for a Panama S.A.?
Plan on US$1,195 per year from year two onward. That covers registered agent, registered office, the Panamanian tasa unica government fee, UBO register maintenance, and accounting records filing. Nominee services and additional bank accounts come on top.
Does Panama comply with CRS and FATCA?
Yes. Panama signed the Common Reporting Standard multilateral agreement and has a FATCA IGA with the United States. Reportable account information flows to the respective tax authorities. Privacy in Panama is about staying off public registers, not about hiding from tax authorities.
What is a Panama Private Interest Foundation?
A PIF is an estate-planning vehicle under Panama Law 25 of 1995. It has no shareholders and no members; it exists to hold assets for the benefit of named persons under a founder's charter. PIFs pair naturally with a Panama S.A. underneath, and together they form the classic Panama holding structure.
Was Panama removed from the EU blacklist?
Yes. In October 2024 Panama was removed from Annex I of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions after completing its commitments under international peer review. Panama now sits as a cooperative jurisdiction, which has restored full banking and counterparty access for Panama-registered entities.
Can I hold real estate or foreign assets in a Panama S.A.?
Yes. Panama S.A.s are commonly used to hold foreign real estate, investment portfolios, intellectual property, and digital assets. For real estate specifically, a Panama S.A. is often the parent of a local SPV in the country where the property sits.
Is forming a Panama company legal?
Fully legal. A Panama S.A. is a compliant offshore entity as long as you report ownership correctly in your country of tax residence (FBAR and Form 5471 for US persons, controlled-foreign-company reporting in most other jurisdictions) and pay tax where you are due. We handle the formation. Your tax adviser handles the reporting.
Can I redomicile a Panama S.A. to another jurisdiction?
Yes. Panama allows continuation of an S.A. into another compatible jurisdiction (and vice versa) without dissolving and re-incorporating. The corporate identity, contracts, and bank accounts continue under the new flag. We handle the paperwork on both sides.
Ready to form your Panama S.A.?
Ten business days, fixed US$2,495, everything included. Or book a strategy call first and we will pressure-test the structure against your actual situation before you commit.
Sources and references
- Panama Public Registry, Official Companies Registry
- Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá, Banking Regulator
- Law 32 of 1927 (Panama Corporation Law), as amended.
- Law 25 of 1995 (Private Interest Foundations Law).
- Law 129 of 2020 (Beneficial Ownership Register).
- European Council, EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (Panama removed October 2024).
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (Panama), Fiscal Policy and Tax Administration