Belize Offshore Companies – General Information

Belize is a Premier Offshore Jurisdiction. A Belize Offshore Company (Belize IBC) is used for International Trade, Investment and Tax Planning. This type of entity is popular for trading companies and investment companies.

A Belize Offshore Company cannot trade within Belize. Banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance business, fund management, collective investment schemes, trust management, trusteeship business provision are not permitted.

A Belize Offshore Company does not pay any tax on its worldwide profits and there is no requirement to file accounts with the Belize authorities.

Belize is not party to any double tax treaties.

Principal Corporate Legislation 

International Business Companies Act 1990 as amended.

Type of Law 

Common.

Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents

English. 

Type of Company for International Trade, Investment & Tax Planning

International Business Company (IBC)

Share Capital

Standard authorised share capital is US$50,000. Minimum paid up share capital is US$1.

Classes of Share Available

Registered shares, shares of no par value, bearer shares, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights.

Bearer Shares

Permitted. 

Restrictions on Trading

Cannot trade within Belize. Banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, collective investment schemes, trust management, trusteeship business provision are not permitted.

Registered Office Required

Yes, must be maintained in Belize.

Directors

The minimum number of directors is one. Director can be of any nationality and need not be resident in Belize. Corporate directors are permitted.

Shareholders

The minimum number of shareholders is one.

Publicly Accessible Records 

No.

Nominee Shareholders and Nominee Directors

Allowed.

Location of Meetings of Directors and Shareholders

Anywhere.

Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities

No.

Personal Presence Required

No.

Taxation 

Nil.

Double Taxation Treaty Access

None.

Requirements to File Accounts

None.

Requirement to File Annual Return

None.

Audit Requirements

None.

Currency

Belize Dollar (BZD). 

Exchange Control

None. 

Language of Name 

English.

Required Words 

Words such as “Assurance”, “Bank”, “Building Society”, “Royal”, “Trust Company”, “Trustee Company” etc. will require justification.

Name of a Company

The words “Limited”, “Corporation”, “Incorporated”, “Societe Anonyme”, “Sociedad Anonima” or Ltd, Corp., Inc., S.A. must be part of the name of every company.

Time to Incorporate

Two days.