Set up a company in Belize.
The reformed Caribbean offshore jurisdiction. Common-law, English-speaking, FATF "Compliant" rated. Foreign-source income exempt under the territorial system. The Belize Companies Act 2022 has consolidated the old IBC framework into a unified, internationally-credible regime.
Belize — the essentials.
Six reasons clients choose Belize.
Belize spent the last seven years rebuilding itself out of "tax haven" status into a genuinely compliant offshore jurisdiction. The Belize Companies Act 2022 consolidated the old framework, the Economic Substance Act 2019 brought real substance requirements, and the FATF "Compliant" rating in January 2025 confirmed the reform worked. The result: a credible offshore-structuring jurisdiction with the territorial tax regime intact and the reputational risk materially reduced.
Territorial tax — foreign-source 0%
Belize operates a territorial tax system. Foreign-source income earned by a Belize Business Company (BC) is exempt from tax in Belize, provided economic substance is met (where applicable) and the entity is properly non-tax-resident. The 25% standard CIT applies only to Belize-source income. No capital gains tax. No estate or inheritance tax. The genuine offshore tax efficiency remains, on a properly compliant footing.
FATF "Compliant" rated
In January 2025, Belize achieved "Compliant" or "Largely Compliant" rating across all 40 FATF recommendations — the second-highest global rating. The country is also a CARF (Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework) signatory and CRS-active. Belize is on the EU Annex II watchlist (cooperating with pending commitments) but NOT on the EU blacklist. Reputationally credible in 2026.
Belize Companies Act 2022
The 2022 Act consolidated the old IBC Act (Cap. 270) and Companies Act (Cap. 250) into one unified framework. Former IBCs are now formally "Belize Business Companies (BCs)". Single statutory regime, single registration process, single set of compliance obligations. Modernised, simplified, internationally legible. The fragmentation that confused old-Belize advisers is gone.
Same-day digital incorporation
The Online Business Registry System (OBRS) operated by the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR) supports same-day digital incorporation for standard BCs. Realistic end-to-end timeline including KYC, registered agent appointment, and tax registration: 1–2 weeks. Genuinely fast for a properly-regulated jurisdiction.
BZD pegged 2:1 to USD since 1976
The Belize Dollar has been pegged at 2:1 to the US Dollar since 1976 — nearly five decades of monetary stability. No FX volatility risk for businesses operating in BZD or USD. Most international transactions settle in USD directly. Easy to model, easy to budget, easy to repatriate. A material structural advantage over most non-pegged emerging-market jurisdictions.
English-speaking common-law
The only English-speaking country in Central America. Common-law jurisdiction rooted in English legal tradition. Independent judiciary. CARICOM Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal. Familiar legal environment for UK, US, Canadian, Australian, and Caribbean operators. Documents drafted in English; statute familiar to common-law practitioners.
Choose the right vehicle — six options.
Most international clients use the Belize Business Company (BC) — the modernised successor to the old IBC, governed by the Belize Companies Act 2022. The LLC form is also available and increasingly used for asset-holding and wealth-preservation structures. Genuine common-law flexibility, English-language documentation throughout.
| Structure | Min. Capital | Liability | Best for | Formation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BCBelize Business Company · Companies Act 2022 Most Used |
None statutory USD 50,000 standard authorised (not paid up) |
Limited to share capital | The default for international clients. International trading, holding, treasury, structured-finance vehicles. Successor to the old IBC under the unified 2022 Act. Same-day digital formation possible. Registered Agent required. | 1–2 weeks (OBRS: same-day) |
LLCLimited Liability Company · common-law form |
None statutory Member contributions only |
Limited to member contribution | Asset holding, wealth preservation, family wealth structures, single-purpose vehicles. Pass-through tax treatment available. Increasingly preferred over BC for non-trading wealth-management structures. | 1–2 weeks |
LtdPrivate Limited Company · Belize-resident form |
None statutory For Belize-source operations |
Limited to share capital | Belize-resident commercial businesses, retail, hospitality, agriculture, services within Belize. Subject to standard 25% CIT and Business Tax on Belize-source income. Local-market entry vehicle. | 2–3 weeks |
Limited Partnership (LP)Partnership Act · common-law style |
None statutory Partner contributions only |
LP: limited partners protected GP: joint & several |
Funds, joint ventures, professional services partnerships. Tax-neutral at partnership level (pass-through). Used by some fund managers as a Caribbean alternative to BVI/Cayman LPs. | 2–4 weeks |
PLCPublic Limited Company · rare |
None statutory CARICOM listing minima apply |
Limited to share capital | Larger Belize-resident businesses, regulated sectors, regional listings (e.g. Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange). Rarely used by international clients given BC flexibility. | 4–8 weeks |
Branch / Rep OfficeForeign company presence in Belize |
None Parent provides capital |
Parent company liable | Branch: Belize-source operations of foreign group, taxed locally on Belize-source profits. Rep Office: marketing/research/liaison only, no commercial activity. Useful for staged market entry. | 2–4 weeks |
The numbers that matter.
Belize's tax framework rests on two foundations: territorial taxation (foreign-source income exempt) and Economic Substance (genuine in-country activity required for "relevant activities"). The figures below reflect the 2026 position post-2018/2019/2022 reforms. The substance test is the analysis that matters most at the structuring stage.
From decision to trading entity.
A realistic seven-step path. Belize Business Company (BC) incorporation through the OBRS digital portal can complete same-day. Realistic end-to-end timeline including KYC, registered agent appointment, TIN issuance, and bank account opening: 2–4 weeks. Sector-licensed entities (banking, insurance, fund management) take longer and require IFSC engagement.
Discovery & structure design
Confirm the right vehicle (BC, LLC, Ltd, LP, Branch), assess Economic Substance applicability, design the substance plan if relevant activities apply, evaluate tax-residency position, and select between BC and LLC for the specific use case (trading vs holding vs wealth-preservation).
Registered Agent appointment
Belize requires every BC to appoint a Belize-licensed Registered Agent. We engage a vetted, FSC-licensed Registered Agent for the BC. KYC documentation completed for directors, shareholders and beneficial owners. Articles of Association and Memorandum drafted under Companies Act 2022.
OBRS digital incorporation
Filing through the Online Business Registry System (OBRS) operated by the BCCAR. Standard BC incorporation completes same-day digital. Certificate of Incorporation issued electronically. The BC receives its unique 9-digit company number under the Companies Act 2022.
TIN registration with BTS
Tax Identification Number (TIN) obtained from the Belize Tax Service Department (BTS) through the Registered Agent. Mandatory for ALL BCs regardless of expected tax position. Without a TIN, the BC cannot obtain a Certificate of Good Standing or open a bank account.
ESR assessment & filing setup
Economic Substance Regulations assessment: determine whether the BC is an "included entity" (relevant activities) or "non-included entity". For included entities, design the substance plan: physical premises, employees, CIGA in Belize. For non-included entities, prepare the annual non-applicability filing via the Registered Agent.
Bank account opening
Belize commercial bank account opened. Major banks: Belize Bank, Atlantic Bank, ScotiaBank Belize, Caye International. Multi-currency accounts (BZD/USD) standard given the 2:1 peg. Enhanced KYC standard for offshore-structured BCs — documentation pack prepared via the Registered Agent.
Sectoral licences (where applicable)
For regulated activities, sector-specific licences via the IFSC: international banking, international insurance, fund management, securities dealing, money services, payment service providers. Materially longer timeline (3–9 months). Most international clients do NOT need this layer — standard BCs are unregulated.
A single partner. End to end.
You get one senior point of contact at Grant & Graham. Behind that, a vetted local network of FSC-licensed Registered Agents, attorneys, accountants, and banks that we have worked with for years on the ground in Belize City and Belmopan.
Structure & substance strategy
Choosing the right vehicle (BC, LLC, Ltd, LP, Branch), Economic Substance Act applicability assessment, tax-residency planning, and modelling the territorial system against alternative offshore jurisdictions (BVI, Cayman, Nevis, Mauritius). Direct, evidence-based recommendation.
Constitution & agent appointment
Memorandum and Articles of Association under the Companies Act 2022, Beneficial Ownership disclosures, Registered Agent appointment with vetted FSC-licensed providers, ESR filings drafting, and KIAC/CARICOM-aligned contract review where dispute resolution matters.
BCCAR, BTS & OBRS
OBRS digital incorporation (often same-day), BTS TIN registration, GST registration where Belize-source supplies are made, IFSC ESR registration where relevant, and ongoing annual return filings, ESR returns, and Registered Agent compliance maintenance.
Belize banks & international
Direct introductions to Belize commercial banks (Belize Bank, Atlantic Bank, ScotiaBank Belize, Caye International) plus international correspondent banking partners. Multi-currency BZD/USD account setup. Enhanced-KYC documentation pack prepared end-to-end via the Registered Agent.
Accounting & ESR maintenance
Bookkeeping under IFRS or Belize accounting standards, accounting records retention at the registered office (mandatory under Companies Act 2022 even for non-resident BCs), annual financial statements, GST and Business Tax filings (where applicable), annual ESR filing, and CRS/CARF reporting compliance.
HR, employment & relocation
Employment contracts under the Labour Act, Social Security Board (SSB) registration for any Belize-resident employees, Workmen's Compensation registration, work permit applications via the Department of Labour, and relocation logistics for senior team members moving to Belize for substance reasons.
Belize is the right answer for specific situations.
Belize is a structuring jurisdiction, not a market-scale play. The country's strategic role is as an offshore-structuring base for international trading, holding, asset-management and wealth-preservation vehicles — with the territorial tax system, common-law framework, and post-reform compliance credibility now intact.
You need a credible offshore alternative
For groups that want offshore tax efficiency without BVI/Cayman pricing or scrutiny levels, Belize offers a genuinely compliant alternative. Territorial system, FATF-compliant rating, EU Annex II (not blacklisted), and a unified Companies Act 2022 framework. Lower setup cost than BVI/Cayman; comparable legal credibility post-reform.
You are running an international trading vehicle
Foreign-source income exempt under the territorial system. No CGT on trading profits at the BC level. English common-law contract framework. BZD pegged 2:1 to USD — transactions effectively settle in USD. The classic use case for the Belize BC remains intact post-reform: international trading entity with no Belize-source operations.
You are structuring wealth or asset-holding
No Capital Gains Tax. No Estate Duty. No Inheritance Tax. No Wealth Tax. Strong privacy protection (shareholder/director details not on public register, but transparent to authorities under regulatory exchange). LLC vehicles increasingly preferred over BCs for non-trading wealth-preservation structures. Common-law trust framework also available.
You operate in the Caribbean or Central America
CARICOM founding member with tariff-free access to the Caribbean Community 14M-person market. Strategic geographic position bridging Caribbean and Central America. The only English-speaking country in Central America — cultural and legal fit for UK, US, Canadian operators serving the region. CST time zone aligned with US Central.
You value English-language common-law clarity
Common-law jurisdiction rooted in English legal tradition. CARICOM Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal. Independent judiciary. All statute and corporate documentation in English. Familiar legal environment for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and Caribbean lawyers and operators — no translation overhead, no civil-law learning curve.
You are NOT building an IP-holding structure
Important to flag: IP business is prohibited entirely for Belize Business Companies since 2019 — BCs cannot acquire, hold, own or deal in intellectual property assets. Penalties up to USD 100,000 per breach. If your structure requires IP holding, Belize is the wrong answer — consider Mauritius, the Netherlands, Singapore, or Ireland instead. We will say so directly.
Get an estimate in 30 seconds.
Three quick questions. We will give you a realistic cost range and timeline for your situation, and route the answers straight into a fixed-price quote request.
The questions we get asked most.
Is Belize still a tax haven in 2026?
What changed under the Belize Companies Act 2022?
Does Economic Substance apply to my Belize company?
Why is the Tax Identification Number (TIN) mandatory if my BC has no Belize tax liability?
Can a Belize BC hold intellectual property?
What ongoing compliance does a Belize BC face?
Belize vs BVI vs Nevis.
The three Caribbean offshore jurisdictions investors most often weigh against each other when structuring international trading vehicles, holding companies, or wealth-preservation structures. A side-by-side comparison on the structural realities that matter post-reform.
| Belize | BVI | Nevis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign-Source Tax | 0%Territorial · substance gated | 0%No corporate tax for BVI BCs | 0%No corporate tax for non-residents |
| Setup Cost | Low~$1.5k–3k all-in | Higher~$2.5k–5k all-in | Mid~$2k–4k all-in |
| Annual Renewal | LowerGovt renewal + agent fee | HigherHigher BVI govt fees | MidFederation Govt fees |
| Companies Act | 2022 (consolidated)Modernised, unified | 2004 BVI BCAIndustry standard, well-trodden | 2018 NBCOStrong asset-protection focus |
| FATF Rating (Jan 2025) | "Compliant" (2nd-highest)All 40 recommendations | CompliantLong-established compliance | CompliantFederation-level compliance |
| EU Status (Feb 2026) | Annex II (cooperating)Pending commitments | Annex II (cooperating)Substance regime accepted | CompliantSt Kitts & Nevis off lists |
| Best Fit | Cost-conscious offshore structuring, English common-law, US-time-zone, BZD-USD peg | Industry-standard offshore structuring, deep service-provider ecosystem | Strong asset-protection trusts, multi-form Federation flexibility |
Belize is one of 100+ markets we cover.
If Belize is not the right answer for your situation, here are the markets clients most often consider alongside it — particularly across the Caribbean, the wider offshore landscape, and the natural alternatives for IP-holding and fund domiciliation.
British Virgin Islands
The industry-standard Caribbean offshore jurisdiction. BVI BCs are the most widely-recognised offshore vehicle globally. Higher costs than Belize, deeper service-provider ecosystem, more entrenched investor familiarity.
Set up in BVI →Cayman Islands
The premier fund-domicile jurisdiction. Higher tier than Belize and BVI for institutional-grade structures. Used by most large-scale PE/VC and hedge funds. Substance, regulatory and service-provider depth all materially greater.
Set up in KY →Jersey
European offshore alternative. 0% standard CIT, common-law jurisdiction, robust regulatory infrastructure. The traditional choice for European-investor-led structures and family offices. EU-adjacent but not in the EU.
Set up in JE →Mauritius
Africa-and-Asia gateway offshore centre. GBC regime delivers effective 3% tax via partial credit. 45+ DTAs — the most extensive African network. The preferred jurisdiction for IP-holding structures (which Belize cannot offer).
Set up in MU →United Arab Emirates
Free zone (DIFC, ADGM) or mainland options. 9% corporate tax, 140+ DTAs, gateway to MEA region. Strong banking infrastructure. Often paired with Belize structures for treaty access where Belize lacks coverage.
Set up in UAE →Rwanda
Africa's 3rd-ranked international financial centre. KIFC delivers 3% CIT, 0% WHT, 0% CGT for qualifying members. Modern partnership and trust framework. The Africa-focused alternative when offshore-Caribbean is not the right fit.
Set up in RW →Ready to set up in Belize?
Tell us what you are trying to do and we will come back inside 48 hours with a fixed-price quote, realistic timeline, and an honest read on the right vehicle (BC vs LLC vs Ltd), Economic Substance applicability, tax-residency planning, and whether Belize is genuinely the right answer for your structure. No pressure to commit — just a clear answer from a senior adviser.