Methodology

Every jurisdiction profile on StateBay is built from multiple independent sources. We do not rely on a single database or third-party aggregator. Instead, each data point is gathered from primary sources and cross-referenced for accuracy.

Where primary and secondary sources conflict, we default to the official government source and flag the discrepancy for manual review.

Each jurisdiction is categorised along three primary dimensions that help users quickly assess its regulatory environment.

Classification labels reflect the jurisdiction's overall regulatory stance and are not value judgements. An “offshore” classification indicates zero or very low corporate tax with minimal substance requirements. “Midshore” jurisdictions offer competitive rates with growing treaty networks. “Onshore” jurisdictions have standard tax rates and full regulatory frameworks.

Each jurisdiction profile includes 50+ data points covering the full lifecycle of incorporating and maintaining a company. These are organised into the following categories:

Data points include minimum shareholder/director counts, foreign ownership rules, resident director requirements, physical presence needs, registry access, nominee availability, share capital thresholds, AML officer requirements, audit obligations, and banking access conditions.

StateBay tracks licensing frameworks across three regulated industries. Each license type is documented with a consistent set of data points to enable direct comparison.

For each license type, we capture whether activity is permitted, whether a formal framework exists, local director and AML requirements, share capital in USD, compliance and audit obligations, applicable taxes, regulators, fees, and permitted/restricted activities.

Tax information is presented as the standard headline rate applicable to companies and individuals. We display the following rates for each jurisdiction:

• Corporate Tax RateStandard rate applied to company profits
• Personal Income TaxTop marginal rate for individual income
• VAT / Sales TaxStandard value-added or sales tax rate
• Capital Gains TaxRate applied to gains from asset disposals
• Withholding TaxRate on dividends/interest paid to non-residents

Where jurisdictions offer tiered, progressive, or conditional rates, we display the standard or top-line rate and note the complexity in the jurisdiction's description. Users are encouraged to consult a local tax advisor for scenario-specific calculations.

Additional financial indicators include banking access level (Excellent to Very Low), financial privacy rating, currency control status, and availability of tax treaty networks.

We track both Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI / Golden Visa) programmes. Each programme entry includes:

Programme statuses are tracked as Active, Limited, Suspended, Closed, or Planned. Investment amounts are normalised to USD for consistent comparison. Where a jurisdiction offers multiple programmes, each is listed separately.

For users considering relocation, each jurisdiction includes quality-of-life metrics sourced from established international indices:

We also track digital nomad visa availability, visa duration, minimum income requirements, and retirement visa options for each jurisdiction.

The Compare tool lets users place up to five jurisdictions side by side. It operates in two modes:

Data in the comparison table is presented as-is with no weighting or ranking applied. Values are shown in their original units (percentages for tax rates, USD for currencies, weeks for timelines) so users can draw their own conclusions.

The Find My Destination wizard guides users through a series of questions and returns a shortlist of matching jurisdictions. It uses a filter-and-sort approach rather than a weighted scoring model.

How it works

1. Hard filters are applied sequentially. Each filter eliminates jurisdictions that do not meet the user's stated requirements (e.g. budget cap, region, visa type, tax preference).
2. Surviving jurisdictions are then sorted by the most relevant metric for the selected profile.
3. Results are presented as a ranked list with key data points highlighted.

Sorting criteria by profile

The wizard does not apply weighted scoring or machine learning. Every filter is transparent and binary: a jurisdiction either meets the requirement or it does not.

The Heat Map provides a 3D globe visualisation with colour-coded overlays based on selected metrics. Jurisdictions are shaded on a gradient from green (favourable) to red (less favourable) for the chosen data point.

Available metrics include corporate tax rate, personal income tax, banking access, financial privacy, and more. The colour scale is linear and normalised across all jurisdictions with available data for the selected metric.

If you spot an error or outdated data point, please get in touch. We review all submissions and aim to verify corrections within one week.

StateBay is an informational platform. The data presented on this site does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Tax laws, licensing regulations, and investment programme terms change frequently and may vary based on individual circumstances.

Always consult with qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals before making decisions about company formation, licensing, investment migration, or relocation. StateBay makes no guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided.