Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km) of territory and 320,000 people, National currency is Belize dollar.
| Corporative legislation | International Business Companies' Act 1990 |
| Form of tax-exempted company | International Business Company (IBC), hereinafter - company |
| Authorized business activities | All and any activities not prohibited by the law Providing of banking, insurance, and re-insurance, trust services is subject to special license |
| Prohibited activities | Transactions with the residents of Belize, ownership of real estate on the territory of Belize |
| Name of company | Must not be identical or confusingly similar to the existing ones The name has to include the words Limited, Corporation, Incorporated or abbreviations Ltd., Corp., Inc. The words Assurance, Bank, Building Society, Chamber of Commerce, Chartered, Cooperative, Imperial, Insurance, Municipal, Royal, Trust Company, Trustee Company or other words with similar meaning cannot be used in the name of IBC company |
| Taxation | Company is exempted from all and any taxes and duties |
| Who executes the foundation documents? | At least two individuals whose functions are limited to signing of the foundation documents and nomination of the first director |
| Equity capital of the company | Equity capital of the company is established by declaration, no mandatory contribution is required, and no minimum/maximum limits are set |
| Recommended equity capital | 50 000 USD, divided into 50 000 shares with par value 1 USD |
| Shares | Authorized emission of both registered and bearer shares with or without par value |
| Shareholders - Minimum number - Nominal shareholders - Holders of trust equities |
One natural or legal entity or bearers' shares Permitted Permitted |
| Does the law provide for non-disclosure of the information about actual owner of the company? | Yes, the actual owner of company does not need to be registered in Belize |
| Directors - minimum number - nationality and citizenship - status |
One natural or legal entity No requirements All the powers apart from those falling into exclusive competence of shareholders (as determined by memorandum, articles of association and/or the law) |
| On the territory of Belize there has to be - registered office - registered agent |
Required Required |
| Holding of the meeting of shareholders/directors | Meetings may be hold in any part of the world, also by means of telephone communication Minutes may be kept at any place |
| Mandatory - keeping of accounting records - annual account - presentation of auditor's conclusion |
No No No |
| Information at disposal of the registered agent | Name of the registered agent and registered office; incorporation documents; register of shareholders and directors |
| Agreements on exemption from double taxation | None |
| Currency control | No |
| Term of incorporation | Approximately 3 weeks |
| Financial year ending on | Look for: Annual support of companies |
| Costs of registration of company | Look for: Costs of registration and service |
| Possibility to purchase a ready-made company | Yes, look for: Ready made companies |