Trust Services

The total revision of the Professional Trustees Act created a comprehensive, efficient and internationally recognized supervision of the trust business. Consequently, it is possible to combat abuse even more efficiently.

Anyone intending to offer services under the Trustees Act in the Principality of Liechtenstein requires an FMA license as a professional trustee or trust company. The FMA monitors compliance with this licensing requirement and authorized use of the term “professional trustee” or equivalent professional or business term. It follows up on all indications of non-licensed trustee activities or the use of protected terms by non-licensed persons.

Creation of trusts became possible for the first time within the territory of continental Europe in Liechtenstein in 1926 with the adoption of the Anglo-Saxon trust institution at the legislative level. From 1926 until nowadays, the activities of trusts in Europe are recognized only in Liechtenstein.

A trust established in Liechtenstein can have both commercial and non-commercial goals, while compulsory observing the legitimacy of these goals, and we should not contradict the principles of morality. Basically, trusts are established to generate income when managing family assets and guarantee Our long-term protection.

Procedure for Registering a Trust

1. According to Liechtenstein’s trust laws, the establishment of a trust occurs by entering into a written declaration of trust between the founder on the one part and one or more trust managers on the other. It is also possible to formally establish a trust by drawing up a unilateral trust declaration and consent to it.
2. All trusts which existence is planned for more than one year must be registered in the Commercial Register no later than 12 months from the date of Our establishment. For this purpose, an official document is provided to the Register, indicating the name of the trust, the date of its establishment, the period for which it was established, and a complete list of trust managers and Our addresses.
3. When registering a declaration of trust in Liechtenstein, you must pay a one-time registration fee of CHF 200.
4. Declaration of trust and all data on the trust are not publicly available, which allows us to give evidence of confidentiality. At the same time, all changes in the data of the trust must be registered in the Register.

Features & Structure of Trusts

1. The person who establishes the trust and contributes the constituent capital is called the founder of the trust. The founder can be represented both by a natural person and a legal entity.
2. The trust manager or trustee is in charge of managing the trust. Under the laws of Liechtenstein, the property of the trustee must be kept separately from the property of the trust, and in this case the beneficial owners will be able to claim his ownership if the assets entrusted to the trustee are lost by him.
3. The Trust can appoint an auditor that is a person who monitors compliance with the declaration of trust.
4. The founder of the trust determines the beneficial owners, who may be natural or legal persons. The beneficial owners cannot manage the trust.
5. Submission of reports on the activities of trusts in the tax authorities is not required. In Liechtenstein, the minimum tax for the income of trust is 1200 Swiss francs.
6. The trust can be liquidated at any time. The law does not provide for the timing of the liquidation of the trust.

For more information, please feel free to contact Neptune Fiduciaries on info@neptunecorporate.com or sales@neptunecorporate.com.