Can be any state/province, city, country, whatever just as long as the tax rate is as close to zero as possible and the authorities aren't shady a-holes that might steal your company. This is to register a company, no to operate there. In fact if I can do it through mail and not having to physically go there for the paperwork then even better. BTW does what gawker did have a name? iirc they use a shell company for each blog, ads get paid to another company in the caymans while the bloggers themselves work/get paid by another company in hungary. Is there a term/name for this setup?
Check out this section: http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/f96-business-tax-advice/ TBH, you really need to speak to an Accountant/Lawyer that specializes in this area. I see so many people asking these questions, but the reality is that most people don't require this kind of set up and unless you are bringing home the bacon, then it is pretty pointless.
Since you just state that this is "for incorporation" I have a feeling you are not even familiar with at least the basics of filing for business. Would you need/be better off with an S-Corp, C-Corp, LLC? It would help to know what you are selling, or how you would be making $$$ and in what areas. I am particularly fond of Nevada LLC, Wyoming and Delaware are also tax havens iirc, but Nevada just one time a year flat fee and no state tax or headaches. Also you can set up in Nevada with different members/managers running your company, but still be reasonably anonymous while being the owner. The other part of your question could be answered by researching things like "Double Irish" and "Dutch Sandwich" but I have a feeling if you are asking these questions that you do not need to even worry about needing to do anything like that in the near future. Do the research first, it will surely help in the long run!
I did a C-corp a long time ago, my partner was american which was necessary since they ask for your SSN and I didn't have one. For foreigners the process is a mess since you need to apply to the IRS for a bunch of serial numbers before you can file the incorporation, and it can take months. Point is since I'm not in america I might as well look for other places that are even more tax friendly. Heard ireland was good but recently they had to scale back a lot of things because big corpos where using it for tax evasion so now its not as good as it used to be. I heard panama is good and I know spanish, but as I said before I rather not use countries where the government can screw you. Heard that one day in the 1980s panama decided to nationalize all banks so all accounts owned by foreigners became the property of the state. Talk about a massive bait&switch
I believe Hong Kong has 0% corporate tax on business outside HK, but you have to visit HK to setup bank account and create the company. I might be wrong though.
What kind of idiot takes advice from a forum instead of going an seeing an accountant... Most of them are free for the first hour or so, they want your business. You will need an accountant anyway so just go see one.
He is asking for ideas nothing wrong with that. If you don't have any advice don't insult the guy, you are not really adding anything to the discussion.
Incidentally, foreigners can own US C-corps just fine without filing any additional paperwork. You'll need a local agent though.
