Offshore: Cook Islands

Cook Islands Offshore Company: Jurisdiction Overview

The Cook Islands is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, located in the South Pacific between American Samoa and French Polynesia.
It uses the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), follows a stable political system, and its legal framework is based on English Common Law.

Tourism, offshore services and black pearl exports are key parts of the economy. The Cook Islands has built a strong reputation for asset protection and privacy in international structuring.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

• Legal system: English Common Law–based

• Main offshore laws:

  • International Companies Act 1981–1982

  • Limited Liability Company Act 2008

  • International Trusts Act 1984

• The jurisdiction is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) and follows international AML standards while still offering strong privacy protections.

Cook Islands International Company (IC / IBC)

The standard offshore vehicle is the Cook Islands International Company (IC), similar to an International Business Company (IBC) in other jurisdictions.

Key points:

• Separate legal entity with full powers similar to a natural person

• Can be used for holding assets, investments, trading, e-commerce, consulting, professional services, etc.

• No restriction on doing business outside the Cook Islands (licensing needed only for banking/insurance and local activities)

Tax & Confidentiality

• No local tax on foreign-sourced profits of IC/IBC structures

• No wealth tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax on international structures

• Strong asset protection laws limiting foreign court orders and creditor claims

• Beneficial ownership details are not publicly disclosed

The Cook Islands is widely regarded as one of the strongest asset protection jurisdictions in the world.

Basic Corporate Features

• Entity type: International Business Company (IBC)

• Minimum government fees: approx. USD 310 per year (excluding any tax)

• Corporate tax: None on foreign income

• Share capital:

  • Usually expressed in USD (authorised capital often low, e.g. USD 100)

  • Any currency allowed

  • Bearer shares allowed under specific rules

• Directors & shareholders:

  • At least 1 director and 1 member (can be individuals or companies)

  • No local resident director required

  • Meetings can be held anywhere in the world

• Company secretary:

  • Required, but does not need to be locally qualified

• Accounts & filings:

  • No requirement to prepare audited accounts

  • No obligation to file accounts publicly

  • No public access to financial statements

  • Annual return is required but kept non-public

Special Features of Cook Islands Companies

• Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

• Official language: English (Chinese commonly used in business)

• No general exchange controls (only limited rules on NZD; other currencies are free)

• Company names must be in English and not identical or too similar to existing companies

• Certain words (bank, insurance, asset management, etc.) need consent or a licence

• Names must end with “Limited”, “Corporation”, “Incorporated”, “Societe Anonyme”, “Sociedad Anonima” or their abbreviations

Typical Uses of a Cook Islands IC

• Asset protection and estate planning

• Holding of international investments and portfolios

• International trading and consulting

• E-commerce and online businesses

• Professional or personal service companies

• Confidential wealth-holding structures

Important Note

Information is based on current Cook Islands laws and guidelines and may change if regulations are updated. When we provide offshore services, we will brief you on the latest requirements applicable to your structure.

If you wish to proceed or learn how a Cook Islands structure can fit into your tax and asset protection planning, please refer to our Services section or contact us for tailored advice.