🇯🇪 Annual Compliance — Jersey & Guernsey
Ongoing requirements and costs for maintaining your Jersey & Guernsey company in good standing.
Annual Costs
Key Compliance Requirements
Private Limited Company (Ltd)
- Annual cost: £1,200 – £4,000/year (registry fee + registered office)
- Required documents: 7 items
Common Compliance Mistakes
Assuming 0% tax applies to all companies including financial services
Fix: Banks, fund managers, trust companies, and insurers pay 10% corporate tax in both Jersey and Guernsey. Only non-financial-services companies benefit from the 0% standard rate. Confirm your activity classification before assuming 0% treatment.
Treating the Channel Islands as equivalent to BVI for shell company structures
Fix: Jersey and Guernsey have genuine economic substance requirements and proactive regulators. A shell holding company with no local management or activity risks regulatory scrutiny. The Channel Islands are designed for structures with real commercial purpose and local oversight.
Overlooking the cost of JFSC/GFSC licensing for regulated activities
Fix: Licensing as a fund manager, trust company, or financial services provider in the Channel Islands involves a detailed application, ongoing compliance, and annual fees. Budget £10,000–30,000+ for the licensing process and factor in ongoing compliance costs before committing.
This content is educational and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified professional for your specific situation. Data last verified March 2026.