Belize Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Belize (Offshore Company)
Belize offshore company
Planning a Belize company registration to set up a Belize offshore company? Belize companies are now formed under the Belize Companies Act, 2022, which replaced the old international business company (IBC) regime. Foreign founders must go through a licensed registered agent, who files through the Online Business Registry System (OBRS) of the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR). Shareholders can be foreign individuals or foreign companies.
Under the BCCAR fee schedule, the fee to incorporate a company with share capital of 50,000 or less through a registered agent is US$150, and the annual return renewal fee is US$250. A company whose income comes from outside Belize does not pay Belize income tax on that income, but it must file every year and, depending on its business, meet economic substance requirements. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop service to set up a company in Belize, from structure review and a licensed registered agent to document preparation, bank account opening and annual maintenance, so your Belize company stays compliant.
Name reservation, incorporation, annual returns and changes to company details for a Belize company are all handled in BCCAR’s Online Business Registry System (OBRS). Once approved, you can download an electronic certificate of incorporation with a 9-digit entity number.
Under Belize’s Income and Business Tax Act, a company whose income comes from outside Belize does not pay Belize income tax on that income. A company with business income in Belize must file business tax as required. The tax exemption transition period for old IBCs ended on 30 June 2021.
A Belize company must file an annual return through its registered agent every year and keep its beneficial ownership information up to date. What is disclosed follows the rules of BCCAR and the relevant authorities.
Belize also has international trust and international foundation regimes, which can be combined with family or asset planning as needed. How much protection they give in practice must be assessed by a lawyer based on the case and the laws of the countries involved.
A Belize company can be set up by 1 or more individuals or legal entities, and both incorporation and annual returns can be handled online through a registered agent. Accounting record and record-keeping requirements follow the Belize Companies Act, 2022.
for offshore planning?
Belize’s appeal as an offshore financial center comes from its modern, business-friendly legal framework:
Belize company registration is now done online through OBRS under the Belize Companies Act, 2022, and foreign founders must use a licensed registered agent. NSS Group connects you with a registered agent, prepares shareholder and director documents, and plans your post-incorporation annual returns, economic substance and home-country tax filings, so your Belize offshore company stays clear and compliant from setup through maintenance.
Non-Belizeans must engage a licensed registered agent approved by the Belize Financial Services Commission (FSC), who handles incorporation through BCCAR’s OBRS.
The registered agent searches OBRS and applies for name reservation. The name can only be used for incorporation after it is approved.
Provide passports and proof of address for directors, shareholders and beneficial owners, plus a description of the business and the source of funds. The registered agent reviews them under anti-money laundering rules.
The incorporation fee and annual fee bands depend on whether share capital is 50,000 or less, or above 50,000 (US$150 and US$1,000 respectively when filed through an agent). Plan the capital based on your actual needs.
The registered agent files the documents in OBRS and pays the fee. Once approved, you download the electronic certificate of incorporation with a 9-digit entity number. After that, the company files an annual return and updates its beneficial ownership information every year.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Registration document preparation and filing
- Articles of association drafting
- Certificate collection
- Bank and account options for offshore companies
- Account opening documents
- Bank appointment arrangements
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing
- Document custody and records
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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Good customer service is key to a successful business. We include a free AI customer service system that answers customer questions in real time and raises customer satisfaction.
A professional website is your company’s storefront online. Our full web design service makes sure your site looks clean and works well.
Online marketing is a key part of business success today. Our online marketing services include SEO, social media marketing and content marketing.
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- Company structure review and name reservation
- Introduction to a licensed Belize registered agent
- Articles of association drafting
- KYC documents and OBRS incorporation filing
- First-year registered agent and registered office
BCCAR official incorporation fee US$150 (through a registered agent, share capital of 50,000 or less), annual return renewal fee US$250. Registered agent and advisory fees are quoted based on your structure and the scope of service. See the fee breakdown below. No hidden fees.
Belize company formation cost: fee breakdown
The total cost of setting up a Belize company is made up of the official fees of the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR), the licensed registered agent's service fee and annual maintenance. The table lists the US dollar fees for filings "through a registered agent" in the BCCAR fee schedule, so you can check each item when comparing quotes for a Belize offshore company.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation fee (share capital of 50,000 or less) | US$150 | The BCCAR fee for incorporation through a registered agent. For share capital above 50,000 it is US$1,000. |
| Annual return / renewal fee (share capital of 50,000 or less) | US$250/year | US$1,000 for share capital above 50,000. The annual return is filed in BCCAR's Online Business Registry System (OBRS). |
| Restoration fee | US$1,000 | The fee to restore a company after it has been struck off. Companies formed before 28 November 2022 that did not re-register in OBRS by the deadline must also pay it as required. |
| Licensed registered agent and registered office | Quoted by service | Non-Belizeans must use a licensed registered agent to handle incorporation, annual returns and changes in OBRS. |
| Economic substance and tax filings | Quoted by business type | Depends on whether the company carries out activities listed in the economic substance law and whether it has income in Belize. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, number of directors, whether you need a bank account and your home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Official fees follow the BCCAR fee schedule and may change. The latest BCCAR notice prevails.
Belize company tax and compliance: the IBC regime is gone
Belize has replaced the old International Business Companies Act (IBC Act) with the Belize Companies Act, 2022, and the tax exemption for old IBCs has ended. Before you incorporate, understand the tax, economic substance and annual return rules under the new regime.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | Belize Companies Act, 2022 (Act No. 11 of 2022) | Replaces and consolidates the old International Business Companies Act and Companies Act. Companies formed before 28 November 2022 must re-register in OBRS. |
| Corporate income tax | No tax on foreign-sourced income | Under the Income and Business Tax Act, a company whose income comes from outside Belize does not pay Belize income tax on that income. A company with business income in Belize files business tax as required. |
| Old IBC tax exemption | Ended 30 June 2021 | For IBCs formed before 16 October 2017, the transition period for their tax exemption ran until 30 June 2021. |
| Economic substance | Applies to relevant activities | Under the Economic Substance Act, 2019, a company carrying out relevant activities in Belize must meet substance requirements. It does not apply to a company managed and controlled outside Belize that is tax resident in another country. |
| Annual returns and beneficial owners | Filed in OBRS every year | The company must file an annual return every year and update its beneficial ownership information. |
| Home-country CFC rules | Applies to foreign shareholders | Belize is a low-tax jurisdiction. If your home country has controlled foreign company rules, profits of a Belize company you control directly or indirectly may need to be reported in your home-country income. |
Tax rules are based on Belize law and notices from the Belize Tax Service. Ask an accountant to review how they apply to your structure.
Belize, BVI or Samoa company: which should you choose?
Belize, BVI and Samoa companies are commonly compared offshore options. The table compares the official fees through an agent and the main rules in each jurisdiction.
| Item | Belize company | BVI business company (BC) | Samoa international company (IC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | BCCAR (company registry) and FSC (registered agent supervision), Belize | BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC) | Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA) |
| Incorporation fee, lowest band | US$150 | US$450 | US$300 |
| Annual fee, lowest band | US$250 | US$450 | US$300 |
| Local tax | No income tax on foreign-sourced income; business tax on Belize income | Company, dividends and capital gains tax-exempt | Income from business not carried on in Samoa is tax-exempt |
| How to file | Non-Belizeans must file in OBRS through a licensed registered agent | Must use a licensed registered agent | Must use a licensed trustee company |
Based on notices from the regulators in each jurisdiction. Choose based on bank account opening, trading partners and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know before setting up a Belize offshore company
- Foreign ownership is allowed: according to BCCAR, a Belize company can be set up by 1 or more individuals or legal entities, and shareholders can be foreign individuals or foreign companies.
- A licensed registered agent is required: non-Belizeans must engage a licensed registered agent to handle name reservation, incorporation, annual returns and changes in OBRS.
- Old information is out of date: online claims such as "set up in 24 hours", "completely tax-free" or "no filing needed" mostly describe the old IBC regime and no longer apply under the 2022 Companies Act. Follow the latest BCCAR rules.
- Bank account reviews are strict: to open an account for an offshore company, prepare a business description, contracts or invoices, source of funds and beneficial owner documents. Some banks require directors to attend an interview.
- Home-country rules: if your home country has controlled foreign company (CFC) rules or outbound investment filings, check whether profits of a Belize company you control must be reported there. Keep contracts and records for fund transfers in and out to support bank and tax reviews.
Further reading
Sources: BCCAR fee schedule; BCCAR: company incorporation in Belize; BCCAR FAQ (OBRS re-registration and annual returns); Belize Companies Act, 2022; Income and Business Tax Act, Cap. 55; Belize FSC: economic substance requirements; FSC: IBC grandfathering guidance note. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How long does it take to set up a company in Belize?
What documents do I need to register a company in Belize?
To set up a Belize company, you usually need to prepare the following:
- 1. Identity documents for shareholders, directors and ultimate beneficial owners
- 2. Proof of address from the last three months and contact details
- 3. Belize company name, company type and registered office arrangements
- 4. Description of the business model, main trading regions and source of funds
- 5. Shareholding percentages, director appointments, KYC and required authorization documents
Do I need to be in Belize in person to set up a company?
Most of the Belize company setup process can be completed remotely through document preparation, authorized signing and a local agent, so you do not have to be there in person throughout. However, bank account opening, identity checks, special licenses or certain government procedures may require directors, shareholders or authorized persons to attend in person, join a video call or provide extra documents. We confirm the requirements in advance and help arrange them.
What tax and filing obligations does a Belize company have after setup?
- 1. No income tax on income from outside Belize and business tax on Belize income; shareholders should check controlled foreign company (CFC) rules in their home country
- 2. Annual returns, company register maintenance, registered agent or company secretary services
- 3. Accounting records, audit, economic substance or beneficial ownership records
In Belize, the main ongoing items are the yearly annual return and renewal in OBRS (US$250 for share capital of 50,000 or less), updating beneficial ownership information, renewing the registered agent, assessing economic substance and keeping the required compliance records. We can plan your bookkeeping, filings and annual maintenance calendar around how you operate.
What businesses and structures is a Belize company suitable for?
Who can help me register a company in Belize?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. We provide one-stop support from pre-setup assessment to post-incorporation maintenance for your Belize company, reducing the uncertainty of cross-border setup and compliance.
Our main services include:
- 1. Belize company type and structure assessment
- 2. Company name search, document preparation and registration filing
- 3. Bank account opening, KYC and cross-border payment documents
- 4. Bookkeeping, tax filing and annual compliance
- 5. Changes to shareholders, directors, address, shares and company details
- 6. Trademark registration, contract review and intellectual property planning
- 7. Website build, digital marketing and AI customer service setup
- 8. Ongoing business consulting and cross-border business support
We arrange Belize company setup, maintenance and ongoing operating support based on your industry, customer locations, banking needs and tax planning, so you can focus on growing your market.