Authorised Company

An Authorised Company is a type of company incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 and classified by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) as a non-resident for tax purposes. It is used primarily for conducting business activities outside of Mauritius and is not eligible for tax treaty benefits.

Unlike a Global Business Company (GBC), an Authorised Company is not considered a tax resident in Mauritius and is not subject to local income tax, provided it does not derive income from Mauritius.

Key Features

Incorporated under the Companies Act 2001
Classified as non-resident for tax purposes
Cannot access the Mauritius DTAA network
Must conduct business primarily with non-residents
Cannot deal with Mauritian residents (except for licensed intermediaries)
Required to be administered by a licensed Management Company

Permitted Activities

Authorised Companies are typically used for:

International trading and distribution
Investment holding
Marketing and logistics coordination
Consultancy and advisory services
Holding of intellectual property (non-Mauritian income)
Other non-financial global business activities

Financial services, insurance, and regulated activities are not permitted under this licence type.

Taxation

As a non-resident entity, an Authorised Company is not subject to income tax in Mauritius, provided it does not derive income from within the jurisdiction. It is also not required to file a tax return but must file a financial summary annually with the FSC through its Management Company. There are no capital gains tax, no withholding tax on outbound payments, and no stamp duties applicable.

Substance Requirements

Although not subject to the same substance requirements as GBCs, Authorised Companies must still demonstrate that:

Their business is conducted outside Mauritius
They are administered by a licensed Management Company
They maintain appropriate records and submit an annual financial summary

Incorporation & Administration

An Authorised Company must be incorporated through a licensed Management Company and classified accordingly with the FSC. The setup process typically includes name reservation, KYC checks, submission of statutory documents, and classification approval by the FSC. Incorporation is generally completed within 10 to 15 working days upon submission of complete documentation.

Authorised Company - Key Features
Share Capital
Minimum Share Capital	USD 1
Permitted Currency	Any currency except MUR
Shareholders
Minimum required	One
Non-citizen shareholding	Yes, non-citizen can hold 100% shares
Corporate Shareholder	Allowed
Publicly accessible records	No
Location of meetings	Mauritius (proxy possible)
Directors
Minimum required	One
Resident directors	Not required
Corporate Director	Allowed
Publicly accessible records	No
Location of meetings	Anywhere
Company Secretary
Local or qualified	Not required
Registered Agent
Registered Agent	Required. Should be a management company
Accounts
Audited Accounts	No. Financial Summary to be filed with FSC
Tax
Tax return	No. Return of Income to be filed with MRA
Corporate Tax	No. Not tax resident in Mauritius
Access to Double Taxation Treaties	No
Capital Gains tax	No
Bank Accounts
Principal Bank Account in Mauritius	No
First Application Regulatory Costs
Processing Fee (FSC)	USD 150
First Annual Fee	USD 350
Company Incorporation Fees	USD 100
Annual Government Costs
Annual Fee (FSC)	USD 350
Annual Company Registration Fee	USD 100