Belize Incorporation - Information

Belize is situated on the Caribbean seaboard of Central America, with the Mexican border on its North and the Guatemalan border on the West and South. Belize has been independent since 1981. Belize is known for its political and economic stability and its legal system is based on English Common Law and local statute. Its currency is the Belize dollar. English is the official language and Spanish is widely spoken.

The International Business Company (IBC) is a tax-free and exchange control-free Limited Liability Company, incorporated under the laws of Belize. However all its profit-earning activities must be conducted outside Belize. A foreign company also has the option to continue under the law of Belize as an IBC and would still have all the benefits provided by law. IBC’s incorporated in Belize are often used by high net worth individuals to lease and own property, estate planning, tax optimisation and also in conjunction with trust and by international companies in cross border transactions.

The IBC Registry in Belize allows for Chinese Incorporations and the shares held in a company may be denominated in any currency. Belize, with its developing market and affords individuals the uniqueness of names due to availability.

A fundamental feature of the IBC in Belize is how the law was specially designed to be cost saving. One of the ways this has been accomplished is by ensuring that the registration fee remains competitive alongside the other offshore jurisdictions. The license fee for a standard company having an authorized share capital of US$50,000 having par value is US$100. Because there are no minimum capital requirements, no need for audited accounts, no annual returns, no requirement for a local director or secretary and no requirement for an annual general meeting, the costs of maintaining a Belize IBC are kept to a minimum.

Another feature that makes a Belize IBC attractive is its flexibility. Only one director and one shareholder are necessary and it may have bearer shares or registered shares, voting or non-voting shares. The authorized share capital may or may not have a par value. The IBC may conduct any business that is not prohibited under the laws of Belize save and except for banking, insurance, trust management and collective investments, which require a license. The IBC may also purchase its own shares and redeem its own shares.

Although the Belize IBC must conduct all its profit earning activities outside Belize, it may lease an office in Belize, obtain the services of Belize professionals and trust companies, keep its company records and hold meetings in Belize, operate an account with a local Banking institution, hold shares in another Belize IBC and own vessels registered in Belize.

Finally, one of the most important features why Belize is so attractive is confidentiality. Belize’s law has provided provisions to make certain that the freedom of the individual and the sanctity of private commercial transactions are available. A company may choose to have nominee directors or nominee shareholders. However, the only document presented for public filing at the registry is the Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation. There is no requirement for public disclosure or annual filing of accounts under the act.

Belize’s geographic location, convenient time zone, political and economic stability, common law legal system, an English speaking work force and tax advantages makes doing business in Belize easy, convenient, affordable and professional.