Our promise to you

Belize Offshore Company Formation

What you get with your formation

Company Incorporation
Registered office and agent for the first year
Government fees for the first year
Company Seal
Guidance Notes on your company
Original Certificate of Incorporation
Original Subscriber Minutes appointing the directors to the company
Draft first minutes of the company
Issued Share Certificate
One bound copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
One un-bound copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
Completed Belize Share Register

Data sheet

The table below shows all the information connected with this particular company formation.

1	Advantages	One of the newest Caribbean jurisdictions that, as a result, has benefited from mistakes that others have made by implementing highly flexible legislation which allows operation of the company's affairs in the way most desired by the beneficial owner Very cost effective Speedy incorporation time
2.	Disadvantages	Because of lack of public registers, ownership can be difficult to prove Not recommended for high profile trading operations
3.	Company Status	International Business Company (IBC)
4.	Corporate legislation	Common Law - International Business Companies Act 1990
5.	Company Name	Certain words are prohibited, eg Royal, Imperial, Bank, Insurance, etc
6.	Time taken to incorporate	Incorporation within 2 to 3 working days. All documents received within 2 to 3 weeks.
7.	Are shelf companies available?	Yes
8.	Usual minimum capital	No minimum, but shelf companies generally have a capital of US $50,000
9.	Capital Duty	US $100
10.	Minimum number of shareholders	One
11.	Are bearer shares/shares of no par value possible?	Yes but must be held by a recognised professional such as ourselves / Yes
12.	Directors: minimum number / corporate directors allowed / location	One / Yes / No restriction
13.	Secretary: mandatory / corporate secretary allowed / location	No / Yes / No restriction
14.	Is there a requirement for a Registered Office / Registered Agent?	Yes / Yes
15.	Is any information required by the authorities prior to incorporation or prior to tax status being granted?	None
16.	What information is available on the public file?	Memorandum & Articles of Association / Registered Office & Registered Agent
17.	What documents must be kept at the Registered Office?	Copies of the Register of Members and Register of Directors (if maintained) together with an impression of the seal.
18.	Corporate books & seal	Company must have a seal, and the above registers
19.	Are accounts required / filed?	No / No
20.	Is an annual return required?	No
21.	Where are meetings to be held?	No restriction
22.	Annual fees payable to the government: Tax / Annual Return Filing Fee	US $100 if authorised capital is US $50,000 or less US $1,000 if authorised capital is more than US $50,000 US $350 if authorised capital is shares with no par value
23.	Are there any exchange controls?	Yes, but not applicable to International Business Companies
24.	Double tax treaties	None

General information

British Honduras was the former name of a British colony on the east coast of Central America, adjacent to the southeast of Mexico, now the independent nation of Belize. Settled by Europeans since the 17th century, it was a crown colony from 1871 to 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became fully independent from the United Kingdom in 1981. Belize was the last continental possession of the United Kingdom in the Americas.

Belize began its first forays into offshore business with the introduction of the International Business Companies Act in 1990, allowing for zero taxation on IBCs. Its legislation was based upon British Virgin Island laws –the most flexible (and popular) model available.

With its low incorporation costs and flexible legislation, it is rapidly becoming a viable alternative to other more expensive jurisdictions.