Is Seychelles still tax-efficient in 2025/26?

Seychelles may still offer tax efficiency in certain international structures, particularly where the company is used for cross-border holding, international contracting, or non-domestic business activities. However, Seychelles should no longer be viewed as a simple low-compliance offshore option. The regulatory position now needs to be assessed together with economic substance requirements, accounting and record-keeping obligations, beneficial ownership reporting, and international compliance standards.

The key issue is that Seychelles has moved into a more compliance-based framework. Businesses must consider whether their corporate structure aligns with their actual activities and whether sufficient substance exists to support the intended use of the entity. This means the jurisdiction can remain efficient, but only when the corporate structure reflects the company’s real business activities.

For example, a foreign-owned company that holds shares in overseas subsidiaries or enters into contracts with non-Seychelles clients may still use Seychelles as part of an international structure if the arrangement is properly documented and aligned with applicable regulatory requirements. A company earning taxable income in other jurisdictions cannot rely on Seychelles incorporation alone to eliminate tax obligations in those countries.

Overall, Seychelles may still offer structural efficiency, but this depends on proper structuring and ongoing compliance rather than assumptions of automatic tax advantages.