Company Formation in Belize

Last updated: April 2026.

Belize incorporated its first International Business Company in 1990 and has kept non-resident offshore entities outside its domestic tax net ever since. The Belize Companies Act 2022 unified the old IBC Act and the domestic Companies Act and renamed IBCs as Belize Business Companies (BCs). Corporate tax on a non-resident BC is zero. No capital gains tax. No withholding tax on dividends, interest, or royalties paid abroad. Formation through the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR) takes 24 to 48 hours. One director and one shareholder are enough — same person allowed, any nationality, no residency. The beneficial-ownership threshold is 10%, lower than the 25% BVI and Cayman standard, and BCCAR holds UBO data on a register accessible only to competent authorities. Nominee directors remain permitted, which is now unusual among Caribbean offshore centres.

We form Belize BCs end to end: name reservation, Registered Agent, M&A drafting, BCCAR filing, UBO registration, ES classification, banking. Fixed price, no hourly billing.

Quick facts	Value
Corporate income tax (non-resident BC)	0% if tax resident elsewhere and non-included under Economic Substance Act 2019
Business tax (resident BC)	1.75% of gross receipts above BZD 3m / 3% at or below BZD 3m
Capital gains tax	0%
Withholding tax (non-resident BC → non-residents)	0% on dividends, interest, royalties
GST (standard)	12.5% — registration threshold BZD 75,000 per 12 months
Minimum share capital (BC)	None — statutory minimum is zero, standard authorised capital USD 50,000 in 50,000 shares of USD 1
Minimum directors / shareholders	1 director, 1 shareholder (same person allowed, any nationality)
Residency requirement	None for directors or shareholders
Standard formation time	24–48 hours via BCCAR
Nominee directors	Permitted
Government fees	Included in our packages
Language of filings	English
Currency	Belize Dollar (BZD) — pegged 2:1 to USD

Why Form a Company in Belize

Belize took a pragmatic path through the 2018–2023 OECD and EU reform cycles. It kept the non-resident exemption, narrowed the domestic perimeter, and emerged with a usable statute. Four points drive new BC formations.

Zero tax on non-resident BCs. A Belize BC whose income is foreign-sourced and that is tax resident in a non-EU-blacklisted jurisdiction pays no Belize corporate tax, no capital gains tax, and no withholding tax. Recurring costs are the Registered Agent fee, registered office, and annual government fee.

Common-law statute with a modern spine. The Belize Companies Act 2022 folded the International Business Companies Act 1990 and the Companies Act 2000 into one statute and created BCCAR as the unified registry. Privy Council and Caribbean Court of Justice decisions bind Belizean courts.

Fast and light. BCCAR processes new incorporations in 24 to 48 hours under standard service. Urgent service delivers inside a working day. One director, one shareholder, any nationality, no minimum capital.

Privacy still means something here. Unlike the BVI, which moved to a legitimate-interest UBO access framework on 1 April 2026, Belize has not opened its beneficial-ownership register beyond competent authorities. UBO data sits on a secure electronic platform held within Belize territory and accessed only by the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Belize Tax Service, and the Financial Services Commission.

Trade-offs are real. The 2019 business-tax amendment made resident BCs taxable at 1.75% or 3% of gross receipts. Non-resident BCs continue to benefit but have to prove non-resident status annually. The beneficial-ownership threshold is 10%, lower than the 25% standard elsewhere. And BCs cannot carry on banking, insurance, or fund-management business without an FSC licence.

Company Types Available in Belize

Belize corporate law gives you several vehicles. The Belize Business Company — formerly the IBC — covers the large majority of new incorporations.

Belize Business Company ("BC", formerly IBC)

The default offshore vehicle. Governed by the Belize Companies Act 2022, which replaced the International Business Companies Act 1990. Limited liability up to the value of issued shares. One director, one shareholder — can be the same natural or legal person. No statutory minimum capital. Standard template: 50,000 authorised shares of USD 1. Used for holding, cross-border trading, IP licensing, JV SPVs, crypto vehicles, and the majority of non-resident offshore structures. Non-resident BCs pay no Belize corporate tax; resident BCs fall within the business-tax regime.

Belize International Limited Liability Company ("LLC")

Governed by the International Limited Liability Companies Act 2011, integrated into the 2022 unified statute. The Belize LLC has members, not shareholders. Management runs through managers or members under an Operating Agreement. Pass-through for tax. Favoured by US clients familiar with the LLC template and for multi-member joint ventures. Non-resident LLCs remain tax-exempt; resident LLCs lost their exemption in 2023.

Protected Cell Company

A cell-structured BC that creates ring-fenced asset pools — each cell has its own creditors and statutory protection from sister cells. Used for captive insurance, multi-class fund structures, and securitisation. Requires FSC licensing where regulated activity is carried on.

Limited Partnership

General partner with unlimited liability plus limited partners with capped exposure. Used for private fund structures — private equity, VC, real estate funds — typically paired with a Belize BC as the general partner. Pass-through at the partnership level.

Foreign Company (Branch)

An overseas company registered to carry on business in Belize. Not a separate legal person. Used by groups that need Belizean presence without a new entity. Uncommon among cf24 clients.

Form	Min capital	Liability	Tax (non-resident)	Common use
BC (ex-IBC)	None	Limited	0%	Default — offshore trading, holding, JVs, SPVs
International LLC	None	Limited	0% (pass-through)	US-profile clients, multi-member JVs
Protected Cell Company	None	Limited per cell	0% on offshore income	Captive insurance, multi-class funds
Limited Partnership	None (per partner)	Mixed	0% at partnership level	Private funds
Foreign Company	n/a	Parent's	Belizean-source income only	Foreign group presence

For clients who need a Belize vehicle this week rather than a fresh registration, our sister brand offers ready-made Belize IBCs — pre-registered, dormant, and transferable inside a few business days.

Step-by-Step Formation Process

A standard Belize BC formation through BCCAR follows these steps.

1. Name check and reservation. We run the proposed name against the BCCAR Companies Register. Belize BC names end in "Limited", "Corporation", "Incorporated", "Société Anonyme", "Sociedad Anónima", or their abbreviations. Restricted words — bank, trust, insurance, royal — require FSC consent. Two alternatives is standard practice.

1. Registered Agent appointment. Every Belize BC must have a licensed Belize Registered Agent under the Belize Companies Act 2022. We act as Registered Agent through our licensed Belizean partner firm. The Agent holds statutory records — Register of Directors, Register of Members, Register of Beneficial Owners — and is the Registry's point of contact.

1. Memorandum and Articles of Association. We draft the M&A. Standard template covers holding, trading, and IP-licensing BCs. Bespoke drafting available for joint-venture share classes, redemption mechanics, and director veto provisions.

1. KYC on directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners. Each director, shareholder, and natural person holding 10% or more of shares or voting rights provides passport, proof of address, professional or banker's reference, and source-of-funds declaration. The 10% threshold captures more people than the 25% BVI/Cayman standard.

1. BCCAR filing. The incorporation application goes electronically to the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry. Standard processing is 24 to 48 hours. Urgent service delivers same working day for an additional government premium that we include in expedited packages.

1. Certificate of Incorporation. Issued electronically by BCCAR on approval. The BC exists from that moment.

1. Beneficial-ownership registration. Under the Companies (Amendment) Act 2023 and the Accounting Records (Maintenance) (Amendment) Act 2023, UBO data is lodged with the Registered Agent within 15 days of incorporation or any change. The Agent uploads it to a secure electronic BO platform held within Belize, accessed only by the FIU, BTS, and FSC.

1. Economic Substance classification. Every BC is classified at incorporation as an "included entity" (relevant activity — banking, insurance, fund management, finance and leasing, headquarters, shipping, holding, IP, distribution and service centre) or "non-included entity" (pure offshore, tax resident elsewhere). Non-included entities are exempt from substance. Included entities file an annual ES report with the FSC.

1. Banking and operational set-up. Bank or EMI introduction, GST registration only where Belizean taxable supplies exceed BZD 75,000 per 12 months, and planning any annual business-tax filing by resident BCs with the Belize Tax Service.

End-to-end from KYC clearance to a fully operational Belize BC with a banking solution is typically 5 to 10 business days. The Certificate of Incorporation lands on day 1 or 2. Banking takes the longest, and choice of bank matters — see the Banking section below.

Required Documents

For each director, shareholder, and beneficial owner (10%+ holder) we need:

• Government-issued photo ID — passport preferred, biometric national ID accepted
• Proof of residential address dated within three months
• Professional or banker's reference (required by Registered Agent KYC)
• Source-of-funds declaration with supporting evidence where amounts are material
• Date of birth, nationality, occupation, and current residential address
• For PEPs: enhanced due diligence questionnaire

For corporate shareholders:

• Certificate of incorporation (apostilled or with certified English translation)
• Register of directors and register of members
• Good-standing certificate dated within three months
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Ultimate beneficial owner declaration identifying natural persons at 10%+

You also confirm the share structure (most commonly 50,000 authorised shares of USD 1), the business activity, and the registered office address. We provide the Registered Agent and registered office in the package.

Apostille is required for foreign corporate documents and most source-of-funds evidence. Natural-person KYC documents generally do not require apostille — certified copies by a notary, lawyer, or bank manager are accepted.

Costs and Timeline

Belize BC costs depend on the authorised share capital band, whether the BC falls within an Economic Substance relevant activity, and whether you need ancillary services — nominee director, nominee shareholder, bookkeeping to support Economic Substance reporting, or ongoing corporate secretarial work. Bank account opening is the cost-of-time variable.

Our packages cover the full incorporation through BCCAR, all government filing costs, Registered Agent and registered office for year one, M&A drafting, beneficial-ownership filing, Economic Substance classification, and a banking introduction calibrated to your profile. Contact us for a fixed-price quote — no hourly bills, no government surcharges added later, no extras invoiced after the work is done.

Typical timeline from KYC clearance:

Day	Milestone
0	Engagement, KYC submitted
1	KYC cleared, M&A drafted, Registered Agent appointed
1–2	BCCAR filing submitted (standard 24–48 hours / urgent same working day)
2–3	Certificate of Incorporation issued
3–4	Beneficial-ownership register filed, Economic Substance classification lodged
5–10	Bank account opened (highly variable per provider)

Tax Overview for Belize Companies

The Belize tax regime is bifurcated. Non-resident BCs operate outside the domestic tax net. Resident BCs sit inside the business-tax system.

Corporate income tax: 0% for a Belize BC that is tax resident in a foreign jurisdiction (other than an EU-blacklisted one), qualifies as a non-included entity under the Economic Substance Act 2019, and meets the conditions in section 106 of the Income and Business Tax Act. This is the standard cf24 use case.

Business tax on resident BCs: 1.75% or 3% of gross receipts under Amendment 26/2018 and its successors. The 1.75% rate applies where gross receipts exceed BZD 3 million; the 3% rate applies at or below. Business tax replaces corporate income tax — there is no layered CIT. A BC that fails one of the non-resident tests falls into this regime.

Capital gains tax: 0%. Belize has never introduced a standalone CGT. Sales of shares, financial assets, and offshore real-estate gains are untaxed at the Belize level.

Withholding tax: 0% on dividends, interest, royalties, or service fees paid by a non-resident Belize BC to non-residents. Regular Belize domestic companies pay 15% on outbound dividends, interest, and royalties, and 25% on management fees, technical services, and equipment rental. The BC carve-out preserves the historical IBC position.

GST: 12.5% standard rate on Belizean-source taxable supplies, with a registration threshold of BZD 75,000 per 12-month period. The 2026/27 Belize budget held the GST rate flat and confirmed full rollout of B2B e-invoicing during the fiscal year, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank and CIAT. Non-resident BCs with no Belizean taxable supplies are outside the GST system.

Stamp duty applies to transfers of Belize real estate and certain domestic securities. It does not typically apply to BC share issuances or offshore share transfers.

Economic Substance. Under the Economic Substance Act 2019, BCs carrying on a "relevant activity" must demonstrate adequate substance in Belize. Pure-equity holding companies face reduced requirements; IP and trading companies carry the highest bar. Non-included entities — the typical cf24 non-resident BC — are exempt from substance but must file an annual declaration confirming non-included status. Penalties run to BZD 150,000 and include strike-off.

Accounting records. Every BC keeps accounting records adequate to show and explain its transactions, held by the Registered Agent or at a notified location under the Accounting Records (Maintenance) Act 2013. Financial statements are not filed with BCCAR for non-resident BCs. Audit is not required save for regulated entities.

Tax residence certificates are issued only to entities genuinely tax resident in Belize — resident BCs paying business tax, not non-resident BCs claiming exemption. Where treaty access matters, a Belize BC is rarely the right vehicle.

Banking for Belize Companies

Belize banking comes in two tiers. Domestic Class A banks serve the local economy. International Class A banks — licensed under the International Banking Act — are dedicated to non-resident corporate accounts. Most non-resident BCs go international.

Caye International Bank is the most flexible international bank for offshore BCs. Remote account opening available, minimum opening deposits from around USD 1,000, onboarding 2 to 6 weeks for straightforward profiles. Accepts USD, EUR, and CAD corporate accounts across a broad range of director nationalities.

Heritage International Bank & Trust is the offshore sister to Heritage Bank. Minimum deposits around USD 3,000. Thorough KYC, strong on holding and investment structures with documented source of funds.

Belize Bank International is the international arm of Belize Bank Limited. Minimum deposits around USD 4,000. Selective on high-risk industries. Suits BCs with operating substance and clear transaction histories.

Atlantic Bank Limited and Belize Bank Limited are domestic Class A banks that occasionally open accounts for BCs with Belizean-nexus operations. Rarely the fit for a pure offshore BC.

For most cf24 Belize BCs the operating account sits elsewhere. HSBC Hong Kong and UOB Singapore are the standard Asian homes for offshore holding and trading vehicles. DBS Singapore and Standard Chartered onboard selectively. Swiss private banks — Julius Baer, VP Bank, Bordier — handle Belize investment-holding structures at higher thresholds. Airwallex takes a selective view depending on director nationality. Wise Business does not onboard pure offshore Belize BCs. Mercury requires a US footprint through a Delaware or Wyoming LLC layered on top.

We screen bank choice against director nationality, transaction flows, and Economic Substance classification before any introduction. Applying to the wrong bank and failing wastes 6 to 12 weeks.

Nominee Director Services

Belize is one of the last Caribbean offshore jurisdictions where nominee directors remain fully permitted. This is a meaningful market distinction from the BVI's tightened 2025 regime, the Cayman beneficial-ownership rules, and the Bahamas nominee prohibition that comes into force on 19 July 2026. The compliance backdrop has changed, and the mechanics matter.

What nominees still do. A nominee director signs board resolutions, opens bank accounts where the bank is comfortable with the arrangement, executes contracts, and sits on the Register of Directors. A nominee shareholder holds legal title to shares and appears on the Register of Members. For clients who want the beneficial owner's name kept off transactional counterparties, credit files, and commercial registries outside Belize, nominees still achieve that — the counterparty sees the nominee, not the ultimate owner.

What nominees cannot do since 2023. They cannot obscure beneficial ownership from Belize authorities. Under the Companies (Amendment) Act 2023 and the Accounting Records (Maintenance) (Amendment) Act 2023, every BC's beneficial owners — natural persons ultimately owning or controlling 10% or more of shares or voting rights — must be disclosed to the Registered Agent and uploaded to the secure electronic BO register. The 10% threshold is lower than the 25% BVI and Cayman standard. The register sits within Belize and is not publicly accessible, but the FIU, BTS, and FSC have direct access.

Economic Substance signatures. The ES declaration must be signed by a non-nominee director or a non-nominee shareholder. A nominee director cannot validate a non-included entity claim or an included-entity substance position. Structures using nominee directors must plan the ES signature path at incorporation.

Our position. We provide nominee director and nominee shareholder services where the structure is legitimate and KYC-compliant, supported by a signed nominee declaration and indemnity deed. The beneficial owner is recorded with the Registered Agent and the Registry's BO platform regardless. We decline instructions aimed at obscuring beneficial ownership from regulators — the filing regime makes that neither possible nor lawful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Belize company pay tax?

A non-resident Belize Business Company pays zero Belize corporate tax, zero capital gains tax, and zero withholding tax on dividends, interest, or royalties to non-residents, provided it is tax resident in a foreign non-EU-blacklisted jurisdiction and qualifies as a non-included entity under the Economic Substance Act 2019. Resident BCs pay 1.75% or 3% business tax on gross receipts.

How long does it take to form a Belize company?

The Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry processes new incorporations in 24 to 48 hours under standard service and same-working-day under urgent service. Including KYC on directors and beneficial owners, Memorandum and Articles drafting, and beneficial-ownership registration, our typical end-to-end timeline from first contact to an operational BC is 5 to 10 business days. Banking takes the longest.

Are nominee directors allowed in Belize?

Yes. Belize permits nominee directors and nominee shareholders under the Companies Act 2022. This is now unusual among Caribbean offshore centres — the Bahamas prohibits nominees from 19 July 2026, and BVI regulation tightened in 2025. Beneficial ownership must still be disclosed to the Registered Agent on the secure BO register, but nominees remain a valid privacy tool for counterparty-facing records.

Is Belize on any EU or FATF blacklist in 2026?

Belize is not currently on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. It has been included and removed from the list over the past decade as reforms progressed. The Economic Substance Act 2019, the Companies Act 2022, and the 2023 beneficial-ownership amendments addressed the core OECD and EU concerns. Belize has passed recent OECD Global Forum peer reviews.

Do I need to file accounts for a Belize BC?

Every Belize BC must keep accounting records adequate to show and explain the company's transactions, held by the Registered Agent or at a location notified to the Agent. Financial statements are not filed with BCCAR for non-resident BCs, and audit is not required save for FSC-regulated entities. Resident BCs and included entities file annually with the Belize Tax Service.

Can a non-resident own and direct a Belize BC?

Yes. There is no residency or citizenship requirement for directors or shareholders of a Belize BC. A single non-resident individual can be the sole director and sole shareholder. Corporate directors and corporate shareholders are also permitted. The only mandatory Belize-resident party is the licensed Registered Agent, which we provide as part of the formation package.

Can a Belize BC open a bank account?

Yes. International Class A banks — Caye International, Heritage International, Belize Bank International — open accounts for non-resident BCs with opening deposits from around USD 1,000 to USD 4,000. Onboarding runs 2 to 6 weeks. Most cf24 BCs also bank offshore in Hong Kong, Singapore, or Switzerland. We screen the choice against director nationality and transaction profile.

Get Started — Form Your Belize Company

A fixed-price quote in 60 seconds. Certificate of Incorporation in 48 hours through BCCAR, or same working day on urgent service. Licensed Registered Agent and registered office included. Bank introduction calibrated to your director profile — not a generic referral.

Call +48 2222 5 2222 or email [email protected] to start. Most Belize formations are operating with a bank account within 10 business days of KYC clearance.

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Content prepared by Piotr Walter, In-house Counsel. Approved by Tomasz Bielski, Managing Director.