Establish Your Panama Corporation (S.A.) with Full Support
Panama's Sociedad Anónima remains a trusted structure for international business. Receive honest pricing, complete compliance coordination, and ongoing administrative services—entirely online.
Discover Panama Corporation Legal Framework
Established under Law 32 of 1927, the Panama Corporation (Sociedad Anónima or S.A.) offers one of the oldest and most flexible corporate structures in the Americas. This jurisdiction provides strong shareholder confidentiality as ownership details remain private and are not recorded in the Public Registry.
Share Capital
Share capital structure and requirements for Panama Corporation.
Local Presence
Required local presence elements for Panama Corporation compliance.
Compliances to Keep in Mind
Annual filings and ongoing requirements to keep your Panama Corporation compliant and active.
Annual Franchise Tax (Tasa Única)
Pay annual franchise tax to the Panama Public Registry to maintain good standing status.
Resident Agent Maintenance
Maintain a licensed Panama resident agent (attorney) and registered office at all times.
Beneficial Ownership
Maintain beneficial ownership information with resident agent under Law 47 of 2013.
Accounting Records
Maintain accounting records for at least 5 years. No filing required unless local operations.
Corporate Records
Maintain share register with resident agent, board minutes, and shareholder meeting records.
Is a Panama Corporation the Right Choice for You?
Explore Panama's corporate framework to understand how a Sociedad Anónima can serve your business objectives.
Panama Corporation (Sociedad Anónima)
The most common and versatile business entity in Panama, governed by Law 32 of 1927, offering territorial taxation and extensive privacy protections.
Traditional corporate structure with shares registered in the company's stock book. Shareholder liability limited to capital contribution.
Ownership transferred through physical possession. Bearer shares must be fully paid and held by an authorized custodian under current regulations.
Structured specifically for holding foreign investments, real estate, or intellectual property assets.
Advantages
Territorial Tax System
Only Panama-sourced income is taxable; foreign-sourced income is completely exempt from local taxation.
Shareholder Privacy
Shareholder information remains confidential; only directors and officers appear in the Public Registry.
No Nationality Restrictions
Directors, officers, and shareholders may be of any nationality with no residency requirements.
Established Legal Framework
Corporate law dating to 1927 provides long-standing legal certainty and precedent.
Considerations
Three Directors Required
Minimum of three directors (President, Secretary, Treasurer) must be appointed.
Annual Franchise Tax
USD 300 annual franchise tax must be paid to maintain good standing.
Resident Agent Mandatory
A licensed Panamanian lawyer or law firm must serve as resident agent.
Record Retention
Accounting records must be maintained for at least five years and produced upon request.
Incorporate Your Panama Corporation
Panama's territorial tax system and corporate privacy make it ideal for international operations. Begin today.
Straightforward Pricing for Panama Corporation Formation
Our Panama S.A. packages deliver everything required—from Public Registry filing through ongoing compliance.
Basic Package
Premium Package
Enterprise Package
What You Need for a Panama Corporation
Fulfill these prerequisites to establish your Panama Sociedad Anónima (S.A.).
Set your authorized share capital
Standard: USD $10,000 (minimizes annual tax)
Panama has no minimum paid-up capital requirement. Authorized capital of USD $10,000 or less qualifies for the minimum annual franchise tax. Bearer shares require custodian deposit.
- No minimum paid-up capital
- USD $10,000 standard for lower taxes
- Bearer shares permitted (custodian held)
- Any currency denomination accepted
Appoint directors, officers, and shareholders
3 directors + 3 officers + 1 shareholder required
Panama S.A. requires a minimum of three directors and three officers (President, Secretary, Treasurer). One shareholder suffices. The same individuals may serve in multiple capacities.
- Three directors minimum
- President, Secretary, Treasurer required
- One shareholder minimum
- Same person for multiple roles allowed
- No nationality or residency restrictions
Frequently Asked Questions
Essential information about Panama Corporation formation and management with Expanship
No travel is necessary. The entire formation process operates remotely through our platform. We coordinate all procedures with the Panama Public Registry, and your complete corporate documentation arrives at your global address via international express delivery.
Every package includes free Airwallex account setup for international payment processing. Premium Package clients receive dedicated Panama banking assistance and support for international financial institutions, continuing until successful account establishment.
First-year registered agent services are bundled with incorporation. Annual packages then address ongoing requirements including annual franchise tax payment, registered agent renewal, good standing certificates, and assistance with corporate amendments.
Yes, Panamanian law mandates that every corporation maintain a resident agent—a licensed attorney or law firm based in Panama. Your first year of resident agent services is included in all our packages. The resident agent handles official filings and receives government correspondence on behalf of your corporation.
Complete dissolution services are offered. We handle the winding-up process including preparing dissolution resolutions, settling outstanding franchise taxes, filing with the Public Registry, and ensuring proper corporate termination procedures.
Panama commonly uses nominee directors—individuals whose names appear in the Public Registry while actual control remains with beneficial owners through private agreements. This provides privacy while meeting the requirement for three named directors in formation documents.
Panama requires a minimum of three directors—President, Secretary, and Treasurer—all positions named in the articles of incorporation. Directors may be of any nationality with no residency requirement. The same individual may hold all three positions if desired.
Yes, both individuals and corporate entities may hold shares. Shareholder information is not publicly registered—only directors appear in Public Registry records. This provides substantial privacy for beneficial owners through proper structuring.
Panama discontinued bearer shares in 2015 following international pressure. All shares must now be registered, with ownership recorded privately by the registered agent. Existing bearer shares were required to be deposited with authorized custodians or converted to registered form.
Every Panama corporation owes a flat USD $300 annual franchise tax (Tasa Única) to the Public Registry, irrespective of revenue or business activities. The first year's tax is already covered in all our formation packages. This fee keeps your corporation in good standing—late or missed payments trigger penalties and can ultimately lead to dissolution.
No, shareholders and directors may meet anywhere in the world. Meetings can occur by proxy, written consent, or electronic means. There is no requirement to hold meetings in Panama or maintain physical presence there for corporate governance purposes.
Get Expert Panama Corporation Assistance
Have questions about Panama Sociedad Anónima formation, compliance, or our services? Our team of specialists is here to help.
