The Samoa International Trusts Act 1987 provides for the registration of international trusts in Samoa and for the exemption of the trustee and the beneficiaries of such trusts from any form of taxation, duty or exchange control.
To qualify as an international trust, a trust must not have any beneficiaries who are residents of Samoa and at least one of the trustees must be a trustee company registered in Samoa, or an international company or foreign company registered under the International Companies Act 1987.
There is no requirement to file the trust deed with the Registrar. All information pertaining to an international trust, including the deed of trust and the identity of parties connected with the trust is confidential and subject to the secrecy provisions of the Act.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
