Request the company name
Agency: Companies Registry
Company name search is done through the Single Electronic Window at www.ttbizlink.gov.tt.
Time and cost: Less than 1 day (online procedure), TTD 25
Register with the Companies Registry
Agency: Companies Registry
The completed documents are filed in person with the Commercial Registry, along with payment of the required fee. The company is legally registered and acquires its own legal personality on the day on the date shown on its Certificate of Incorporation. However, it takes about 4 business days to obtain the certificate of incorporation, which provides required evidence for the company to undertake other procedures (for example, registering with tax authorities).
The following documents must be filed in duplicate: (a) Form 1 (now also includes form 31), the embossed articles of incorporation; (b) Form 6, Notice of address of registered office; (c) Form 8, Notice of directors; and (d) Form 27, Notice of secretary. All forms are available at the Government Printer.
As of April 2013, online registration is available at www.ttbizlink.gov.tt.
Once the incorporation is approved, the original signed forms must be submitted in person to the Registry, where they are stamped and processed. Then, the Certificate of Incorporation along with accompanying documents can be received the same day. If the subscription account was not chosen to pay for the incorporation, then payment for the incorporation has to be paid at the cashier.
Time and cost: 3 days, TTD 560 (TTD 400 for Articles of Incorporation Form + TTD 40 for Notice of Address of Registered Office Form + TTD 40 for Notice of Directors Form + TTD 40 for Notice of Secretary Form + TTD 40 for Certificate of Incorporation)
Make a company seal
Agency: The OfficeWorks Limited
As of January 2017, the fees for the company seal are TTD 195 + VAT for a rubber company seal with no logo, TTD335 + VAT for a self inking seal and a metal/iron seal costs TTD550 plus VAT.
Company seals can be obtained as quickly as four hours, but same day service is guaranteed if the request is placed by 10:00 am, the seal will be ready by 2:00 pm for no expedited fee.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), TTD 195 + VAT
Apply for tax payer identification number
Agency: Board of Inland Revenue
To apply for a taxpayer identification number, the company applies with the Board of Inland Revenue for a corporate file number and a pay-as-you-earn file number. Required documents are: i)The original and 1 copy of the Certificate of Incorporation; ii) The Name and file numbers of Directors, iii)The Original and 1 Copy of the Notice of Directors, iv) The Original and 1 Copy of Notice of Addresses; and v) any Returns, if applicable
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Apply for Registration as an Employer
Agency: National Insurance Board
To obtain a national insurance number, the company must apply to register as an employer by completing an application form (NI.1) and filing it with the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago. Employer registration is effective immediately upon receipt of the application except when the system data indicates previous registration of the employer. A Certificate of Registration is issued in the name of the company immediately following registration.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Apply for Registration of Employees
Agency: National Insurance Board
After applying to be registered as an employer and receiving a national insurance number, the company must enroll with the National Insurance Board any qualifying employee who has not been enrolled previously. The employer must submit N1.4 – Application to Register an Employed Person to the National Insurance Board Service Centre within 14 days of hiring the employee. The employee is then required within 7 days of employment, to provide the company with the information needed to complete Form NI.4. This form must be signed by the company and filed with the authority. It takes 4 weeks for the National Insurance Board Service Centre to notify the company that the application is in order and to supply the company with the employee’s national insurance number.
Time and cost: 4 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Register for VAT
Agency: Value Added Tax (‘VAT’) Office, Board of Inland Revenue
If the company earns gross income over TTD 500,000 per year or if it anticipates earning such an income within 12 months from the date that it applies for VAT registration, it may apply by completing, signing, and filing two forms (VAT No. 1 and VAT No. 2) with the required supporting documentation. The company can start operating without being registered for VAT and apply only once it has reached the TTD 500,000 threshold. Upon registration, it will receive a certificate and a VAT registration number.
Time and cost: 7 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
