Services · Trusts & private foundations
Seychelles trust
Open pricing. The final quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
A Seychelles trust is an arrangement in which the settlor transfers assets to a trustee, who manages them for the beneficiaries. In 2021 Seychelles adopted a new Trusts Act that replaced the International Trusts Act of 1994 and brought the rules together in one modern statute. A Seychelles trust is chosen as a relatively simple and inexpensive tool for asset protection and estate planning when the heavy infrastructure of major trust centres is not needed.
How a trust works
| Party or document | Role |
|---|---|
| Settlor | transfers assets into the trust and sets its purposes |
| Trustee | owns and manages the assets; at least one trustee is a company licensed in Seychelles |
| Protector | optional, oversees the trustee's key decisions |
| Beneficiaries | receive income or property under the trust's terms |
| Trust deed | a private document with management and distribution rules |
| Letter of wishes | non-binding guidance from the settlor that the trustee considers |
Registration, fees and obligations
- The Financial Services Authority registration fee for a trust is $100, with no annual government fee.
- The trustee holds details of the settlor, trustee, protector and beneficiaries and files them in a closed state database; they are not publicly disclosed.
- Since 2021 a trust must keep accounting records and hold them in Seychelles.
- The trustee checks the settlor and the source of assets as strictly as a bank.
We will calculate online the cost of setting up the structure and running it for a year.
Trust or foundation
| Question | Trust | Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal form | an arrangement, not a legal entity | a legal entity |
| Who owns the assets | the trustee | the foundation itself |
| Who manages | a licensed trustee | the foundation council |
| Government fees | $100 once | $200 on registration and $200 a year |
| More familiar to | common law countries, British and American banks | civil law countries |
More on the foundation on the Seychelles private foundation page.
How to set up a trust: steps
- Task review: which assets, who the beneficiaries are, the distribution rules and what happens on the settlor's death.
- Choice of a licensed trustee and due diligence on the settlor and source of assets.
- Drafting the trust deed and letter of wishes.
- Trust registration and transfer of assets: company shares, accounts, property.
- Annual administration: accounts, changes, liaison with the trustee.
What goes into a trust and how terms change
- Most often the shares of a holding company are transferred into the trust: the trustee then owns the company, while accounts and assets stay on its balance sheet.
- Accounts and securities are re-registered to the trustee through the bank and broker, and property under the rules of the country where it is located, taking local transfer taxes into account.
- The trust's terms are changed under the procedure in the trust deed: usually with the protector's consent, and the settlor may reserve some powers.
Taxes and reporting
The tax consequences of a trust are determined above all by the country where the settlor and beneficiaries live. In many countries a trust effectively controlled by the settlor must be reported to the tax authority as a controlled structure, and distributions to beneficiaries are taxed. We check the structure before the trust is created.
Who a Seychelles trust suits
It suits families with assets in several countries who need a clear and inexpensive tool for inheritance and asset protection. If the assets are large, the trust must be accepted by top-tier banks or strong case law is needed, we will honestly suggest trust centres with more developed infrastructure.
What we do
Murblz specialists assess whether Seychelles fits your task, choose a licensed trustee, draft the trust deed and letter of wishes, support registration and the transfer of assets, and administer the trust afterwards: changes, accounts, liaison with the trustee. The cost depends on the assets and structure; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What we do
- Trust establishment and maintenance
FAQ
Who is a Seychelles trust for?
How confidential is it?
Who can be the trustee?
What government fees does a Seychelles trust have?
Can the trust's jurisdiction be changed later?
How does a Seychelles trust differ from a foundation?
How much does setting up a trust with your help cost?
Need a Seychelles trust to protect your assets?
We work out which assets and heirs to include in a Seychelles trust, find a trustee and prepare the trust deed. The catalogue covers trusts and foundations worldwide.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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