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In the case of a single member company, the Memorandum of Association should also indicate the main trading activity of the company. Directors and Company Secretary: Every public company must have at least two directors whereas every private company must have at least one director. Every company must have a Company Secretary. No company may have as company secretary its sole director unless the company is a private exempt company or as sole director of the company a body corporate, the sole director of which is company secretary to the company.
It shall be the duty of the directors of a company to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the company secretary is an individual who appears to them to have the requisite knowledge and experience to discharge the functions of company secretary. The law does not require that the company secretary be resident in Malta. Every company must hold an Annual General Meeting.
Every general meeting other than this annual general meeting is called an extraordinary general meeting. Company returns and annual accounts: All companies must prepare an annual return in the prescribed format to be made up, upon each anniversary of its registration. The return must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within 42 days after the date to which it is made up. Companies are also required to file a copy of the annual accounts.
These must generally be accompanied by a copy of the auditors' report thereon, and the directors' report. The annual accounts must be filed within 10 months from the end of the financial year, with a grace period of 42 days. The format of the accounts to be submitted depends on the size of the company. Small companies may draw up abridged balance sheets and abridged layouts of profit and loss accounts. Private companies which on their balance sheet date do not exceed the limits of two of the three following criteria: Additional information can be viewed on the Authority's Guide to Company Registration.
Alternatively you can register directly with the MFSA online. First you need to register for an account and install a digital certificate using your local electronic identification e-ID. We strongly suggest you use a local practitioner to guide you and register your business online. It is recommended that you seek an accountant, lawyer or consultant to help you compile this documentation. Documentary evidence including expert's report in the case of non-cash consideration that the paid up share capital has been made available to the company in formation. The Bank advice slip should show the name of the company in formation.
In the case of foreign corporate directors or corporate shareholders, a certificate of good standing issued by the foreign company registry is to be submitted. Also included here is a provision for continuing the business in the event one of the owners becomes so disabled that he or she is unable to help manage the business. Sale of Partnership Interest — This is one of the most important provisions in the agreement. It is a restriction on the participant's right to sell their interest to third parties.
It is a restriction on the participant's right to sell their interest to third parties. The PDK Emerging Leader program is open to PDK members in good standing who are innovators, thought leaders, problem solvers, and change agents age 40 or younger who are working to improve K education. All companies must prepare an annual return in the prescribed format to be made up, upon each anniversary of its registration. Deeds for real estate, and titles for cars and boats are examples of titles. There's no right or wrong choice that fits everyone. For example, Gina has decided to start up her own advertising firm on a part-time basis.
The partners chose each other because of their personal qualities, therefore, permitting one to sell his or her share to a third party would defeat the intent of both partners. On the other hand, it is unfair to force a partner to continue in a business. The agreement should provide for a method by which the dissatisfied partner can dispose of his or her interest in the business without forcing the other partner to take in a stranger.
One method is a right for the business or other partner to buy the interest before it is offered to outsiders. The provision must cover the method of determining the price and the terms of payment for the dissatisfied owner's interest.
Death of Partner — In the event that one of the partners dies or becomes permanently disabled, this provides for a mandatory buy-out of the dead partner's interest in the business. Failure to provide for these contingencies could lead to tremendous difficulties for the business. In the absence of such an agreement, the death of a partner automatically dissolves partnership.
Limited Partnerships In a limited partnership, the law provides for a special kind of arrangement whereby certain partners have limited personal liability. The limited partnership is more regulated than the more common general partnership, but it allows investors who will not be actively involved in the partnership's operations to become partners without being exposed to unlimited liabilities of the business' debts if it should go out of business.
A limited partner risks only his or her investment but in exchange for this must allow one or more general partners to exercise control over the business. In fact, if the limited partner becomes involved in the operations of the partnership, he or she may lose his or her protected status as a limited partner. The general partners in a limited partnership are fully liable for the debts of the partnership. There are state laws requiring certain formalities in a limited partnership that are not required in other partnerships. To qualify for their special status, limited partnerships must usually file a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the secretary of state or other state and county offices.
Establishing a limited partnership also requires a written partnership agreement. Corporation This type of business structure is considered the most formalized and complex form of business organization. It is costlier, more difficult and requires more paperwork. A corporation is a separate legal entity which is organized in accordance with state and federal statutes. Ownership is divided into shares of stock.
The business activities are dictated by a charter stating the powers and limitations of the particular business. Corporations which do business in more than one state must comply with the Federal laws regarding interstate commerce and with the state laws, which may vary considerably. Now, let's look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of a corporation. Advantages Liability is limited to the amount owners have paid for their share of stock. Generally, stockholders in a corporation are not personally liable for claims against the corporation and are, therefore, only liable for their personal investment.
Life of the business is unaffected by death or transfer of shares by and of its owners. The business will continue as a corporation indefinitely.
Creditors, suppliers, and customers often prefer to deal with an incorporated business because of this continuity. Easier to raise capital in larger amounts and from many investors. Centralized control is secured when owners delegate authority to hired managers. Draws upon financial and managerial strength expertise of all of the owners.
Disadvantages More expensive to form. There are many forms to file, such as articles of incorporation charters, permits. The legal fees to file these forms can be substantial. Power limited by charter and various laws. Once established, the charter dictates all decisions, activities, etc. Because of the various forms involved with a corporation and continuous filing schedules with the government, both state and federal, ongoing record keeping is a must.
Minority stockholders are sometimes exploited. Taxes on profits of the business and taxes on dividends are paid to the owners. The last item listed under Disadvantages, Double taxation, can be avoided by filing as an "S" Corporation. An S corporation is like any other corporation in terms of corporate law requirements, limited liability of shareholders, and all other corporate aspects, except tax treatment.
An S corporation is a regular corporation which has essentially elected to be treated somewhat like a partnership for federal income tax purposes. S corporations do not pay tax at the corporate level. Instead, taxable income, losses, deductions, and credits are passed through to the corporation's stockholders. Tax law changes enacted by the Tax Reform Act of have caused many businesses currently taxed under corporate tax rules known as "C" corporations to reexamine their tax options.
These figures are subject to change. Consult your tax advisor for the current rates. Obviously, paying taxes as an S corporation may be more desirable under the new law. In certain instances, an S corporation may be subject to tax on "built-in gains.
Profits of the corporation are scheduled to be disbursed to the shareholders on the last day of the corporation's tax year, whether or not the profits are actually distributed. Consequently, if an S corporation's profits are distributed as dividends, the distribution itself is usually not taxable, so there is not double taxation of distributed profits. In addition to the income tax advantages, an S corporation status can eliminate accumulated earnings tax problems because all earnings, whether distributed or not, are taxed to the stockholders each year. In addition, S corporation stockholders can apply their deductible personal losses against their pro rata share of the company's taxable income.
They can also deduct their pro rata share of an S corporation's net operating loss from their personal gross income. In order to qualify as an S corporation, your business must meet the following requirements: The corporation must be created under the laws of the U. The corporation must have 35 or fewer stockholders. A husband and wife will be considered a single stockholder. All stockholders must be individuals, decedents' estates, bankruptcy estates, or certain types of trusts.
The corporation must have only one class of stock issued and outstanding. Differences only in voting rights do not mean shares of stock are of different classes. An S corporation election should not be made without the advice and assistance of a tax professional, since it is a very complex and technical area of the tax law.
Electing S corporation status for a corporation is usually most favorable in these situations: Where it is expected that the corporation will experience losses for the initial year or years of doing business and where the shareholders will have income from other sources the business losses can shelter from tax. International Society of Ethnobiology. California State University Northridge. Retrieved 21 September Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised 11th ed.
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