Choosing a structure, meeting the filing obligations that come with it, and understanding what each one costs to maintain.
The entity decision is close to free at the point of incorporation and expensive to revisit later. It determines your filing obligations, how profits are treated, what happens when you bring in a partner, and what it costs to eventually sell or wind down. It is worth spending time on before it is settled.
Once a structure exists, the recurring obligations are reasonably predictable: profit tax, turnover tax where it applies, annual filings, and whatever attaches to your specific activity. The material below covers the choice first and the running obligations second.
Business registration, corporate tax optimization, payroll taxes, importing goods, e-commerce setup, and digital nomad business fr…
Start here 2Breakdown of Sint Maarten entity types — NV, BV, and Foundation — their tax implications, holding strategies, and how to navigate …
Start here 3A complete guide to Sint Maarten profit tax for NV and BV companies — the 34.5% rate, available incentives, the June 30 filing dea…
In Sint Maarten, an NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) is the equivalent of a public limited company with share capital represented by negotiable bearer or registered shares. A BV (Besloten Vennootschap) is a private limited company with registered shares that cannot be freely transferred. BVs are typically used for closely-held family or business structures; NVs are used when share transferability or external investment is anticipated.
A Sint Maarten Foundation (Stichting) is a legal entity without shareholders, used for asset protection, estate planning, and wealth structuring. It is commonly used by high-net-worth individuals to hold assets, protect wealth across generations, and manage distributions to beneficiaries — without the shareholder and dividend structures of an NV or BV.
A Sint Maarten corporate entity is not strictly required to qualify for the Penshonado program. However, many clients structure their holdings through an NV or Foundation to optimize asset protection, estate planning, and income flow. The right corporate structure must be coordinated with your Penshonado eligibility to avoid inadvertently creating local-source income that would disqualify or dilute your status.
Company registration in Sint Maarten typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from initial preparation to final registration with the Chamber of Commerce. The timeline includes notarial deed preparation, government approval, and registration. Having all required documentation organized in advance significantly reduces delays.
Sint Maarten companies must meet annual compliance requirements including: filing annual financial statements with the Chamber of Commerce, maintaining an up-to-date Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register, filing annual profit tax returns with the Sint Maarten Tax Office, and maintaining proper corporate governance records. Non-compliance can result in administrative penalties and reputational risk.
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