Offshore · Company formation

Company formation in Belize

A territorial-tax holding or trading vehicle for income that arises wholly outside Belize.

Last verified July 2026

At a glance

Entity
Company limited by shares — the successor, under the Companies Act 2022, to the International Business Company (IBC); an International LLC is also available
Corporate tax
0% on foreign-source income under a territorial system; ~1.75% business tax on Belize-source trading receipts, rising to ~6% for professional services and up to 19% for regulated sectors. The foreign-income exemption is conditional on proving tax residence elsewhere and no Belize permanent establishment (as of 2026)
Incorporation time
~1–3 business days via a licensed registered agent
Minimum capital
None; authorised capital is conventionally set at USD 50,000 (to stay under the higher fee band), with no minimum paid-up
Resident director
Not required — a single director, individual or corporate and of any nationality, suffices
Audit
Not generally required; accounting records must be kept at the registered agent. Audit applies only to licensed/regulated activities
Remote set-up
Yes, fully remote through a licensed registered agent
Government fee
BZD 300 / USD 150 registration for authorised capital up to BZD 50,000 (BZD 2,000 / USD 1,000 above that); International LLC USD 150. Government fees only — as of 2026
Best for
A territorial-tax holding or trading vehicle for income that arises wholly outside Belize.

The process

  1. Engage a licensed Belize registered agent and reserve the company name with the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR)
  2. Prepare and submit the memorandum and articles of association with director and shareholder particulars and KYC/due-diligence documents
  3. Set the authorised share capital (commonly USD 50,000); no minimum need be paid up
  4. File for registration and obtain the e-certificate of incorporation and the unique 9-digit company number from BCCAR
  5. Register for a TIN with the Belize Tax Service and address economic-substance and foreign-tax-residency obligations
  6. Open an operating bank account, typically offshore given limited local banking appetite
What can go wrong
  • The IBC brand is legally retired: the Companies Act 2022 repealed the International Business Companies Act and consolidated offshore vehicles into a single company register under BCCAR (registry re-opened November 2022).
  • Economic-substance rules apply, and a company claiming the foreign-income exemption must evidence tax residence in another jurisdiction with no Belize permanent establishment; official guidance on the required documentation remains under development.
  • Banking is the practical bottleneck — Belize's EU/OECD scrutiny and de-risking make opening and maintaining accounts slow and subject to enhanced due diligence.
  • CFC and place-of-management rules in the founder's home country can tax the profits regardless, so the headline zero rate rarely tells the whole story.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to register a company in Belize?

~1–3 business days via a licensed registered agent

How much does it cost to register a company in Belize?

BZD 300 / USD 150 registration for authorised capital up to BZD 50,000 (BZD 2,000 / USD 1,000 above that); International LLC USD 150. Government fees only — as of 2026

What is the corporate tax rate in Belize?

0% on foreign-source income under a territorial system; ~1.75% business tax on Belize-source trading receipts, rising to ~6% for professional services and up to 19% for regulated sectors. The foreign-income exemption is conditional on proving tax residence elsewhere and no Belize permanent establishment (as of 2026)

Does a company in Belize need a resident director?

Not required — a single director, individual or corporate and of any nationality, suffices

Can a company in Belize be formed remotely?

Yes, fully remote through a licensed registered agent

What is the minimum share capital in Belize?

None; authorised capital is conventionally set at USD 50,000 (to stay under the higher fee band), with no minimum paid-up

Does a company in Belize need an audit?

Not generally required; accounting records must be kept at the registered agent. Audit applies only to licensed/regulated activities

Form a company in Belize?

One named person on the file, an honest read on tax and substance, and a fixed quote before you commit.