Belize

 

  • Procedure to Incorporate
Registered Agent delivers the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association to the Registry together with the appropriate fee.

  • Restrictions on Trading
Cannot trade within Belize or own real estate there. Cannot undertake the business of banking, insurance, assurance or reinsurance, company management or registered office facilities for Belizean incorporated companies.

  • Powers of Company
A Company incorporated in Belize has the same powers as a natural person.

  • Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents
English.

  • Shelf Companies Available
Yes.

  • Name Restrictions
Any name that has already been incorporated in Belize, or is so similar as to cause confusion. Any name which in the opinion of the Registrar is considered undesirable, obscene or offensive. Names such as royal or imperial and any name that suggests the patronage of Belize Government.

  • Language of Name
A Belize IBC can be incorporated using any language. Chinese language incorporations with Chinese documentation are very popular.

  • Registered Office Required
Yes, must be maintained in Belize at the address of a licensed management company.

  • Names Requiring Consent or Licence
Bank, building society, savings, loans, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, trust, trustees, Chamber of Commerce, university, municipal or their foreign language equivalents or any name in English or a foreign language that may suggest association with the banking or insurance industries.

  • Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability
Limited, Corporation, Incorporation, Société Anonyme, Sociedad Anónima, Aktiengesellschaft or the relevant abbreviations.

  • Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Government Authorities
No.

  • Authorised and Issued Share Capital
The usual authorised share capital is US$50 000 divided in to shares with or without par value. The share capital may be expressed in any currency. The minimum issued capital may be one share of no par value or one share of par value.

  • Classes of Shares Permitted
Registered shares, shares of no par value, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights.

  • Taxation
A Belize International Business Company does not pay any tax on its worldwide profits to Belize authorities.

  • Double Taxation Agreements
Belize is not a party to any double tax agreements.

  • Licence Fees
Companies with an authorised capital up to US$50,000 pay the sum of US$100 per year.
Companies with an authorised share capital over US$50,001 pay the sum of US$1,000 per year.
Companies with some or all of its shares of no par value, pay the sum of US$350 per year.

  • Financial Statement Required
Whilst there is no requirement to file audited accounts with the authorities, a company is required to keep financial records that reflect the financial position of a company.

  • Directors
The minimum number of directors is one. Directors may be natural persons or bodies corporate, they may be of any nationality and need not be Belize resident.

  • Company Secretary
A company secretary is not a requirement under the Act, but a secretary is normally appointed to facilitate signing obligations.

  • Shareholders

The minimum number of shareholders is one.