Anstalt (Liechtenstein establishment)
establishment
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A Liechtenstein legal form without members, whose rights lie with the holder of the founder's rights; depending on its articles, it resembles either a company or a foundation.
The Anstalt combines elements of a company and a foundation. For due diligence and register purposes, the holder of the founder's rights and any beneficiaries are particularly relevant.
In practice
To identify the beneficial owner of an Anstalt, it is decisive who holds the founder's rights and whether beneficiaries have been designated. Both follow from the articles, by-laws and any regulations, which should be kept up to date in the file. Liechtenstein Anstalten are entered in the register of beneficial owners (VwbP); changes to the founder's rights or governing bodies must be reported on time and usually also lead to updates at the banks.
Distinctions and common mistakes
An Anstalt is not automatically treated like a foundation for tax or CRS purposes; its treatment depends on its articles and activities. A common mistake is to record only the holder of the founder's rights and to overlook beneficiaries designated in the by-laws, who may also have to be identified.
Relevant in: Liechtenstein
Related terms
- Founder's rights (Liechtenstein)
- For a Liechtenstein Anstalt, the entirety of the rights to decide on the Anstalt – transferable and inheritable unless the articles provide otherwise.
- Private asset structure (Liechtenstein)
- Liechtenstein tax status for legal entities that exclusively manage their own assets passively; they pay only the minimum income tax.