Belize, a formerly British colony, gained its independence 1981 and remains a fairly small country with only 340,000 inhabitants. The old capital Belize city is the major commercial centre, but Belmopan city is the current capital of the country. It is perfectly located between the tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea and the tropical jungles of Central America. Belize is renowned for having a wealth of flora and fauna featuring the famous Barrier Reef. Therefore, the country has a lot to offer such as fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and visiting the impressive Mayan ruins.
Belize for Offshore Incorporation – Attractive Offshore Banking Jurisdiction 
Additionally, legislative changes during the 1990´s allowed Belize to transform itself into a very attractive offshore banking jurisdiction, whereby it is possible to incorporate an offshore legal entity in Belize (assuming the entity does not conduct any business within Belize itself) and as such pays zero company tax. Additionally, within Belize, it is possible to operate in both English or Spanish. Belize operates under common law, which makes the country a very attractive for many Commonwealth citizens, such as Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada etc.
Other specific advantages of incorporating a business in Belize are as follows:
- No foreign ownership restrictions
- No capital or foreign exchange controls
- Any individual and legal entity may become a shareholder, director and officer.
- Zero tax including income tax, capital gain tax, dividend tax, and stamp duty on transfer of corporate shares, and other property.
- Set up fees and annual maintenance fees are relatively modest (when compared to some other jurisdictions).
- No requirement to file accounting, audited statements, annual filings or reporting.
- Companies choosing to register in the country enjoy the quickest registration around the globe (only a few hours).
- No requirements of a minimum paid up capital.
- A minimum of one shareholder is required. Just one share of US$1.00 could be issued to that shareholder.
- No Belize residency requirement.
Belize is fast becoming the number one justification for both individuals and companies looking to incorporate an offshore entity based on the combination of:
- Zero Company Tax
- Ability to operate in English or Spanish
- Application of Common Law
- Strong Privacy Provisions.
Biz Latin Hub can assist you doing business in Belize
At Biz Latin Hub, we provide integrate market entry and back office services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with offices in more than a dozen countries around the region and trusted partners in other markets where we don’t currently have a presence.
Our unrivalled reach around the region means that we are ideal partners to support multi-jurisdiction market entries and cross border operations.
Our portfolio of services includes company formation, accounting & taxation, legal services, due diligence, and hiring & PEO, among others. So whatever your investment plans are, we can provide a package of services to suit your needs.
Contact us to find out more about how we can support you doing business.
If you found this article on doing business in Belize of interest, check out the rest of our coverage of Central America. Or read about our team and expert authors.