News & Insights

Overview

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Governed by the Foundations Act 2012, a foundation becomes a separate legal entity upon registration with the Registrar of Foundations, able to hold assets, enter contracts, and carry out business internationally or domestically.​

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Key Features​​

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• Legal Personality: Once registered, the foundation has its own legal identity separate from its founder and beneficiaries.

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• Charter: The founding document that sets out the foundation’s objectives, governance, and beneficiaries.

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• Secretary: Every foundation must appoint a qualified secretary, typically a licensed Management Company such as Intrasia Management Ltd.

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• Founder and Council: The founder establishes the foundation, while a council oversees its administration and decision-making.

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• Management Options: May appoint a protector to supervise the council and safeguard beneficiaries’ interests.​

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Tax Treatment​

A Mauritius foundation enjoys a flexible and competitive tax regime:

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• Standard Corporate Tax Rate: 15% on chargeable income

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• Global Business Licence (GBL) Option: If licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the effective tax rate may fall to 3% under the Partial Exemption Regime

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• Non-resident Exemption: If both the founder and beneficiaries are non-resident during a tax year, the foundation may be fully exempt from tax

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• Charitable Foundations: Automatically exempt from tax under Mauritian law​​

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Typical Uses

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​Mauritius Foundations are highly versatile and can be tailored to diverse objectives, including:

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• Wealth management and succession planning for international families

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• Asset protection and ring-fencing from personal or commercial liabilities

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• Charitable or philanthropic purposes with transparent governance

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• Investment holding and cross-border structuring ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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• Substitute for trusts in civil law jurisdictions where trust law is unfamiliar

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Advantages at a Glance​

• Separate legal entity

• Strong asset protection and confidentiality

• Flexible governance options

• Possible tax exemption for non-resident structures

• Suitable for family, charitable, or investment purposes

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