Uniwide

Uniwide Wide range of international corporate services. Business setup in 30+ jurisdictions. Offshore company formation. Accounting services.

Assistance in opening bank accounts. We are an international corporate services provider which specialises in the registration of companies in various jurisdictions, including the UAE, United Kingdom, Latvia, other European countries, Seychelles, BVI and other offshore zones, etc. We provide consultation, corporate and accounting services for companies in various jurisdictions, assistance in opening accounts in international banks and international tax planning support.

Hong Kong and English law share common roots, yet they have grown into distinct legal systems that international busines...
18/06/2026

Hong Kong and English law share common roots, yet they have grown into distinct legal systems that international businesses should not treat as interchangeable.

One practical difference concerns international sale of goods contracts. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods has applied in Hong Kong since 1 December 2022, so choosing Hong Kong law brings it in automatically unless the parties expressly exclude it. The UK is not a party, so choosing English law does not.

We help clients weigh these points when forming a company in Hong Kong and selecting the governing law for their contracts.

Read the full piece for a clear comparison of both systems 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/hong-kong-law-and-english-law-key-differences/

A UAE tax number for individuals is not granted on the basis of residence.Many people assume that a residence visa, an E...
18/06/2026

A UAE tax number for individuals is not granted on the basis of residence.

Many people assume that a residence visa, an Emirates ID or owning a local company creates a personal Tax Registration Number. In practice, a personal TRN arises only where someone carries on their own business activity and exceeds the relevant thresholds.

Wages, dividends and income from personal investments fall outside this scope, so most foreign nationals do not require a personal TRN at all.

Read the full piece for the thresholds and the difference between VAT and corporate tax registration 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/how-an-individual-can-obtain-a-tax-number-in-the-uae/

In UAE Free Zones, the 0% corporate tax rate on software and intellectual property income is a genuine opportunity, but ...
18/06/2026

In UAE Free Zones, the 0% corporate tax rate on software and intellectual property income is a genuine opportunity, but it is never automatic.

For a mobile application, the distinction between protectable software and marketing-related elements is decisive. Income qualifies for the 0% rate only where trademarks, brand and logos are purely ancillary to the copyrighted software.

The way income is earned also matters. Store purchases and in-app purchases can qualify, but in-app advertising revenue is generally treated as a fee for advertising services, not for use of the software, and so does not qualify.

We help technology companies assess in advance which income is qualifying and arrange development costs and substance in the UAE.

Read the full article for the conditions and the regime choice 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/taxation-of-software-and-intellectual-property-income-in-uae-free-zones/

It is possible to place a UAE company on hold without liquidating it, but the rules differ sharply across jurisdictions....
18/06/2026

It is possible to place a UAE company on hold without liquidating it, but the rules differ sharply across jurisdictions.

There is no single federal mechanism for suspension. Instead, the trade licence is frozen under each regulator's terms - JAFZA permits one year, DMCC sets a minimum of twelve months, and Dubai mainland will only freeze a licence that has already expired.

One point is often missed: suspension does not pause your tax duties. While the company remains registered, it must still file corporate tax returns within nine months of each period, even with no activity, and controlling persons in jurisdictions with controlled foreign company rules must continue filing notifications.

We set out the requirements by jurisdiction and when liquidation is the better choice in the full piece 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/is-it-possible-to-temporarily-suspend-a-uae-company-without-liquidation/

UAE private clarifications are useful only when the uncertainty is specific and unresolved.A private clarification can g...
12/06/2026

UAE private clarifications are useful only when the uncertainty is specific and unresolved.

A private clarification can give comfort, but only within strict limits. It binds the Federal Tax Authority for the named applicant only, and only while the facts and law remain unchanged.

We also see many delays where requests lack the applicant’s own analysis, ask hypothetical questions, or repeat points already covered in public guidance. Preparation matters as much as the issue itself.

Read the full piece for a clearer view of when a clarification is worth seeking. 📄

https://www.uniwide.com/private-clarifications-in-the-uae-how-to-obtain-and-use-them/

Panama’s 2027 economic substance rules will not affect every company.The change is narrower than many owners may expect....
12/06/2026

Panama’s 2027 economic substance rules will not affect every company.

The change is narrower than many owners may expect. The rules apply only where a Panamanian company is part of a multinational group and earns foreign passive income, such as dividends, interest or royalties.

There is also no revenue threshold, so even a small two-entity structure can fall within scope. Pure holding companies may benefit from a simplified substance regime.

Read the full piece for the practical tests to apply before 2027 📌

https://www.uniwide.com/economic-substance-in-panama/

Remote UAE company formation is possible, but the practical limits depend on the structure and next steps.For UAE free z...
12/06/2026

Remote UAE company formation is possible, but the practical limits depend on the structure and next steps.

For UAE free zone companies, registration can often be handled remotely, while mainland structures may still require attendance for signing, notarisation or filing steps.

The distinction becomes more important at the next stage. A UAE residence visa requires in-person medical checks, biometrics and Emirates ID procedures. Most banks also expect a personal meeting, though some may open accounts remotely where the founder already holds a valid UAE residence visa.

Read the full piece for a clearer view of the process 🇦🇪

https://www.uniwide.com/set-up-a-company-and-open-a-bank-account-in-the-uae-remotely/

Hong Kong royalties and software income tax: source matters more than the contract.Hong Kong 🇭🇰 taxes profits that arise...
08/06/2026

Hong Kong royalties and software income tax: source matters more than the contract.

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 taxes profits that arise in or derive from Hong Kong. For royalties and software licence fees, the key issue is not simply where the agreement is signed, but where the income-producing work and real commercial control take place.

In our Uniwide practice, we see that software income is often misunderstood. Copyright in software is not taxed under a special rule. It is assessed like other intellectual property, based on facts such as where the rights were acquired, where licensing decisions are made, where negotiations happen, and where the software is used.

Three points deserve close attention:

📌 An offshore source is not always enough. Royalties may still be deemed taxable in Hong Kong, especially if the payer deducts them when calculating Hong Kong taxable profits.

📌 If foreign-sourced intellectual property income is later received in Hong Kong, the foreign-sourced income exemption may become relevant.

📌 For acquired software, the exemption can be weak because the rules favour in-house development costs, not the cost of buying rights.

Good documents matter: agreements, board minutes, negotiation records, invoices, bank statements, and proof that the software is not licensed for Hong Kong use.

Hong Kong company reporting, tax and audit – what directors should keep in view.Hong Kong 🇭🇰 is not an offshore zone. Co...
05/06/2026

Hong Kong company reporting, tax and audit – what directors should keep in view.

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 is not an offshore zone. Companies must meet clear corporate, accounting, audit and tax duties.

In our work at Uniwide, we often see that the key risk is not the tax rate itself, but missing the evidence and filings that support the company’s position.

Key points for Hong Kong companies:

📌 Annual Return – form NAR1 must be filed with the Companies Registry within 42 days after each incorporation anniversary.

📌 Company changes – changes to directors, secretary or registered office must usually be reported within 15 days.

📌 Accounting records – records must explain all transactions, show assets and liabilities, and be kept for 7 years.

📌 Audit – financial statements must normally be audited by a Hong Kong auditor. Small companies are not exempt, although dormant companies may be.

📌 Profits tax – Hong Kong uses territorial taxation. Hong Kong-source profits are taxed at 8.25% on the first HKD 2 million and 16.5% above that.

📌 Offshore profits exemption – it is not automatic. The company must claim it and be ready to show where contracts, staff, suppliers, customers and logistics are located.

Since 2023, multinational enterprise groups must also check the special rules for certain foreign passive income, including interest, dividends, disposal gains and intellectual property income.

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