Jersey Companies Registry Goes Electronic

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

21 April 2006

The Jersey Financial Services Commission has announced the launch of the first phase of the Companies Registry’s e-business initiative, a move which it says is just the start of an e-business development process that will unfold over the next few years.

Phase one of this initiative is to provide an online filing system. This system will allow Registry users to file documents electronically. Initially three type of process will be accessible through the system. These are:

• Reserving a company name;
• Changing a company’s registered office; and
• Submitting an annual return.

Submissions previously requiring a handwritten signature will now be possible using an electronic signature based on a PIN and a pass code.

The service is available for immediate use, including for those companies that have yet to file an annual return for 2006.

According to the JFSC, the system uses the same leading edge technology as that used by the Irish and Norwegian companies registries, and has therefore been tried and tested.

The Jersey Registry is embarking on a programme of e-business development, which will include online searching and online incorporation for reserved companies, and says that the recent launch is only the start of a process that will unfold over the next few years. To ensure that the system realises its full potential, the Registry is also seeking help from its users and is encouraging feedback.

Commenting on the launch, Commission Director General, David Carse, stated:

“The aim is to bring the administration of a Jersey incorporated company into the electronic age, which will increase the value and accessibility of the services provided by the Companies Registry and make Jersey an even more attractive location for company incorporations."

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