✦Private Wealth Structuring
Incorporation Costs
A practical overview of the legal fees, official charges and core documents commonly included when establishing a Panama Private Interest Foundation.
Foundation incorporation costs in practice.
The standard incorporation package usually covers the legal formation of the structure, the first-year resident agent and franchise tax, the main certified documents, Apostille formalities, English translations and courier delivery. It also includes a sample set of Foundation Regulations so the private internal rules can be prepared in proper form.
All fees are quoted in USD and may be updated if official registry, tax or courier charges change.
Incorporation options.
The standard package is usually quoted in one of the following ways, depending on whether the Foundation Council is appointed by the client or whether nominee council services are requested as part of the governance design.
| Client-appointed Foundation Council For clients appointing their own council members and handling the public appointments directly. |
US $1,455 |
| Nominee Foundation Council + private General Power of Attorney Includes nominee council service and a separate private power of attorney commonly used for control and administration. |
US $2,055 |
What is included.
- Notary and registration legal fees.
- Capital registration tax based on an initial foundation capital of US $10,000.
- First-year resident agent fees.
- First annual franchise tax payment of US $350.
- Power of attorney clause in the Foundation Charter, if requested.
- Protector appointment clause in the Foundation Charter, if requested.
- Sample document for preparing the Foundation Regulations.
- Service tax.
Documents included in the package.
- Foundation Charter registered in Panama and certified by Apostille.
- Official English translation of the Foundation Charter.
- Certificate of Good Standing translated into English.
- Official documents certified by Apostille, where applicable.
- DHL courier delivery to your office.
The documents listed here form part of the incorporation package and are reviewed together with the formation costs of the structure.
Foundation Council.
Panama Private Interest Foundations must have a Foundation Council. In practice, clients may appoint their own three-person council, appoint a corporation where appropriate, or request nominee council services through our firm when privacy and coordinated administration are important to the structure.
The choice depends on the intended design of the foundation and the level of visibility or control the client wishes to maintain.
Optional council and administration services.
Nominee Foundation Council: additional fee of US $450 for the appointment of three nominee members.
Private General Power of Attorney: additional fee of US $100 when a separate private power of attorney is required to evidence control and administration of the structure.
These options are often reviewed together when the foundation is being established as part of broader private planning or in coordination with the client’s advisors abroad.
What we need to begin.
Before proceeding, we must receive the incorporation instructions, due diligence information, identity documents and payment confirmation for the foundation structure and the persons involved.
Basic requirements
- Incorporation order form.
- Due diligence form for the beneficial owner and council members, as applicable.
- Passport or ID copies for council members, beneficial owner and any person receiving the General Power of Attorney or Protector appointment, where applicable.
- Address confirmation documents, such as utility bills or bank statements.
- Payment of incorporation costs by bank transfer or card.
Time frame
Once the requirements and funds are received, the foundation documents are usually prepared, certified and sent by courier in approximately 4 to 5 business days.
Review Annual Maintenance Costs | Review Accounting Records Obligations
Related structure
Panama IBC Corporations
In some cases, a Panama corporation may be used alongside a foundation as part of a broader structure.
Review the formation route and the cost.
We can help clarify which formation route fits the intended design of the foundation and what documentation should be prepared from the outset.