Belize
International Business Company (IBC)
- Privacy Rights
Common Law - Worldwide Tax
0% - Government Fees
$100 (USD) - Registration Time
1 Business Day
| A Belize International Business Company (IBC) is a tax-free company designed to engage in international business transactions with strict owner privacy laws, minimal record keeping and no reporting requirements. Since the introduction of the Belize International Business Companies Act in 1990 (Amended in 2000), tens of thousands of IBC's have been formed and registered. Belize is heavily invested into its incorporation services industry with a modern computerized IBC Registry capable of processing a company registration within an hour. An International Business Company is suited for management consultants, network engineers, software developers, professionals who tend to travel between various countries on short-term assignments, internet based businesses, international commodity trading, investors and financial transaction businesses. A Belize IBC may be used as a personal asset protection vehicle to passively hold property and investments. |
| Authorized capital is a notional amount of capital that the company is allowed to draw from its shareholders in consideration for the company shares. Any amount of authorized capital, as determined by the beneficial owners, may be stated in the company formation documents. There are no mandatory time frames as to when such capital must be paid up by the shareholders. |
| A Belize IBC is not required to have any minimum paid-up capital in order to initiate business operations. |
Belize did sign a limited Legal Assistance Treaty with the U.S. where client information would only be disclosed under internationally recognized grievous crimes such as drug trading, terrorism and human trafficking. At the time, Belize was wrongfully accused of harboring money-launderers and was "blacklisted" by the United States of America, suffering unjust restrictions of foreign aid, world political isolation and an economic crisis.
Belize would not give in to such tactics and by upholding their commitments to the banking "know your client" regulations, Belize was eventually exonerated. By standing their ground to the world's super-power, Belize has emerged as a credible and secure offshore asset protection and tax haven.
Belize
Company Laws
Official Document Language
Conduct Business Internationally
Conduct Business in Belize
Resident Agent Required
Registered Office Required
Resident Secretary Required
Company Taxation
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements
Company Tax Resident Qualification
Income Tax and Business Tax
Detailed Client Application Required
Minimum Shareholders
Company Shareholders Allowed
Residency of Shareholders Allowed
Register of Shareholders
Register of Shareholders Public Record
Bearer Shares Permitted
Minimum Directors
Company Directors Allowed
Residency of Directors Allowed
Register of Directors
Register of Directors Public Record
Disclosure of Beneficial Owners to Registered Agent
Disclosure of Beneficial Owners with Registrar
Annual General Meeting Required
Shareholders / Directors Meeting Required
Company Minutes and Resolutions
Company Seal Required
Minimum Paid Up Capital Required
Maximum Authorized Capital Investment
Capital Considerations
Subject to Currency Controls and Restrictions
Application Fees
Annual Government Fees
Keeping of Accounts Required
Filing of Accounts and Returns Required
Annual Government Return Filing Fees
Auditing of Accounts Required
Re-Domicile from a Foreign Country
Re-Domicile to a Foreign Country
Shelf Companies Available
Incorporation Time
International Business Companies Amended Act, 2000
English
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
0 % of Worldwide Income
No
No
No
No
1
Yes
Any Nationality
In Private Possession of Registered Agent
No
Yes (Only in Private of Possession of Registered Agent)
1
Yes
Any Nationality
In Private Possession of Registered Agent
No
Yes (Due Diligence Requirements)
No
No
Yes (Anywhere in the World or by Proxy)
In Private Possession of Registered Agent
Yes
No
Unlimited (Fees Apply in Excess of 50,000 Shares)
Any Currency or in Kind
No
No
$100 (Under $50,000 Authorized Capital)
$1,000 (Over $50,000 Authorized Capital)
$350 (Issuance of Any No Par Value Stock)
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
1 Business Day
| A Belize International Business Company is not required to prepare or file any financial accounts. A Belize IBC is free to arrange its business accounts in any manner fitting to establish and maintain reasonable accuracy of the company's financial position. |
Country
Anguilla
Bahamas
Belize
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Cook Islands
Dominica
Hong Kong
Nevis
Panama
Republic of Seychelles
Samoa
St. Vincent
United States (Nevada)
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
(Fees in Excess of 50,000 Shares)
Unlimited
(Fees in Excess of 50,000 Shares)
$50,000
$5,000
$100,000
Unlimited
(Fees in Excess of 50,000 Shares)
$100,000
$10,000
Unlimited
$1,000,000
$100,000
Unlimited
Annual Licensing Fee
$230
$350
$100
$350
$600
$300
$150
$315
$220
$300
$100
$300
$100
$325
| AG | Aktiengesellschaft |
| AS | Sociedad Anomina |
| Corp | Corporation |
| Inc | Incorporated |
| Ltd | Limited |
| SA | Société Anonyme |
| In general, a Belize IBC name may not be similar or identical to an existing company, a name which constitutes a criminal offense, is offensive, contrary to the public interest or implies royal or governmental patronage. (Belize IBC Act, 2000 / Part II - Constitution of Companies / Section 11 - Name) |
Belize International Business Companies Act, 2000
Part II - Constitution of Companies
Section 5(1)
(1) For the purposes of this Act, an International Business Company is a company that does not -
(a) carry on business with persons resident in Belize;
(b) own an interest in real property situate in Belize, other than a lease referred to in paragraph (e) of subsection (2);
(c) carry on a banking business unless it is licensed under an enactment authorizing it to carry on such business;
(d) carry on business as an insurance or a reinsurance company, insurance agent or insurance broker, unless it is licensed under an enactment authorizing it carry on such business;
(e) carry on the business of providing the registered office for companies,
(f) carry on trust business, unless it is licensed under an enactment authorizing it carry on such business;
(g) carry on collective investment schemes, unless it is licensed under an enactment authorizing it carry on such business;
(h) hold shares, stock, debt obligations or other securities in a company incorporated under the Companies Act or under any enactment amending or substituting the said Act;
(i) subject to subsection (4) below, issue its shares, stock, debt obligations or other securities to any person resident in Belize or to any company incorporated under the Companies Act or under any enactment amending or substituting the said Act.
| A Belize IBC may issue registered shares or bearer shares. Company shares may be designated as: 1.) Voting 2.) Non-Voting 3.) Common 4.) Preferred 5.) Redeemable 6.) Unnumbered 7.) No Par Value 8.) Shares having more or less than one vote per share 9.) Shares that may be voted only when held by persons who meet specified requirements 10.) Shares that entitle participation only on certain assets |
11.) Shares that may be voted only on certain matters 12.) Shares that may be voted only upon the occurrence of certain events |
| Bearer shares must remain in the private physical possession of a licensed Registered Agent in Belize. |
| A Belize International Business Company has an independent legal personality and possesses the same powers as a natural person. A Company shareholder and director may be the same person and apart from the director, no other officers need be appointed. A current register (complete contact information) of shareholders and directors must be kept at the office of the local Belize resident agent. |
Belize International Business Companies Act, 1990
Part XII - Exemptions from Tax
Exemptions from tax, etc.
Order Form
CFMA
Due Diligence
$ 1,200
Complete Formation
Name Availability Search
Statutory Due Diligence for Up to Two Persons
Filing with the Registry
Government Licensing Fees ($100)
Original Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum of Association (Registry Stamped)
Articles of Association (Registry Stamped)
Resolution for the Appointment of the First Director
Resolution for the Allocation of Shares
Up to Five Share Certificates Provided
Resident Agent
Registered Office
Safekeeping of Registers and Accounts
One Year of Customer Support
Annual Business Review
Incorporation Time is 1 Business Day
$ 725
Annual Renewals Statutory Due Diligence for Up to Two Persons Filing with the Registry Government Licensing Fees ($100) Resident Agent Registered Office Safekeeping of Registers and Accounts One Year of Customer Support Annual Business Review
This inquiry form works best with the following browsers: Safari, FireFox, Internet Explorer (Version 8.0 and above)