Belize
Limited Liability Company
Belize is a Central American country known for its English-speaking ability, and robust offshore environment.
The Limited Liability Companies Act was enacted in 2011. LLCs are similar to IBCs except they have membership interest, rather than shareholder stock, having both the advantages of a partnership and the advantages of a corporation, being a more flexible structure than the latter.
An LLC requires minimal corporate formation requirements. They may be incorporated as a single-member LLCs, and there are no company structure requirements for its management, nor are there provisions for company meetings, directors, secretary, or capital. Its operating agreement may be arranged by its members according to their needs.
Belize LLCs do not face any reporting requirements. Setup costs and ongoing government fees are low.
An LLC is suitable for protecting liquid assets like cash, or securities, bonds or other investments.
Legal
Country code – BZ
Legal Basis – Common law
Legal framework – Limited Liability Companies Act 2011
Company form – Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Liability - The liability of the members is limited to the amount of their capital contributions.
Capital – There is no minimum capital required, and it may be in a nonpaid up basis.
Members – An LLC may be formed by one or more members who may be residents or non-residents and natural persons or corporations. Details of members are not publicly disclosed.
Manager – At least one manager must be appointed by the members, who may be a member or a third party, natural or legal person and non-resident. Details are not available to the public.
Secretary – The company may appoint a secretary, but it is not mandatory.
Registered Address – A company shall appoint a licensed registered agent and shall have a registered address and office in Belize.
General Meeting – There is no statutory requirement for any formal meetings of members, and these can be held anywhere.
Electronic Signature – Permitted.
Re-domiciliation – Inward and outward re-domiciliation is allowed.
Compliance – Companies may maintain accounting records for 5 years, these may be kept anywhere and in any currency.
There is no requirement to file an annual return, financial statements nor a tax return for companies that are not doing business within Belize.
- Members not disclosed
- Managers not disclosed
- Corporate members permitted
- Corporate manager permitted
- Local manager required
- Registered office or agent required
- Annual meeting required
- Redomiciliation permitted
- Electronic signature
- Annual return
- Audited accounts
- Audited accounts exemption
- Exchange controls
- Common law Legal basis
- 1 Minimum members
- USD 1 Minimum registered capital
- - Minimum paid up capital
- USDAny Capital currency
- 100% Foreign-ownership allowed
- 2018 AEOI
Taxes
Corporate income tax – The International Limited Liability Companies Act (ILLCA) still provides for a tax exemption for International LLCs, as long as the LLC does not have operations in Belize. Furthermore, Belize LLCs are out of the scope from the Economic Substance Act as well. Therefore, we suggest forming an LLC rather than a domestic company.
Article 94 of the ILLCA provides the following -
94.―(1) Subject to this Act, a limited liability company shall not be subject to any income tax, business tax, withholding tax, asset tax, gift tax, profits tax, capital gains tax, distributions tax, inheritance tax, estate duty or any otsher like tax based upon or measured by assets or income originating outside of Belize or in connection with matters of administration that may occur in Belize.
Belize levies a real property tax of 12.5% of the annual rental value for an occupied property, and a 2% tax on the annual rental value for unoccupied properties. Property tax may not exceed 2% of the market value of the property. There is a land tax of 1% for unimproved lands.
There is a stamp duty on the transfer of assets, rates depend on the asset class. Purchase of real property is subject to a 10% stamp duty.
- Tax transparent entity
- Offshore Income Tax Exemption
- Offshore capital gains tax exemption
- Offshore dividends tax exemption
- CFC Rules
- Thin Capitalisation Rules
- Patent Box
- Tax Incentives & Credits
- Property Tax
- Wealth tax
- Estate inheritance tax
- Transfer tax
- Capital duties
- 0% Offshore Income Tax Rate
- 0% Corporate Tax Rate
- 0% Capital Gains Tax Rate
- 0% Dividends Received
- 0% Dividends Withholding Tax Rate
- 0% Interests Withholding Tax Rate
- 0% Royalties Withholding Tax Rate
- 0 Losses carryback (years)
- 0 Losses carryforward (years)
- 3.18% Social Security Employee
- 5.35% Social Security Employer
- 25% Personal Income Tax Rate
- 12.5% VAT Rate
- 30 Tax Treaties
Country details
Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a CARICOM and SICA member. Located in the northeastern corner of Central America, bordering to the north with Mexico and to the south and the west with Guatemala. The capital is the city of Belmopan and the most populated city is Belize City, which has the main port of the country.
Although is the only Central American country with English as the official language, its just over 380,000 inhabitants speak predominantly Spanish and Creole. Its currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD), which is currently pegged to the US$ (2:1), but most commercial establishments accept US dollars.
Belize is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented in the country by the Governor General.
The executive power is headed by a Prime Minister, who heads the Cabinet of 13 ministers, plus 5 deputy ministers, who represent the majority political force of the Belizean Parliament.
The legislative power is bicameral, composed of a House of Representatives of 31 members democratically elected for a period of five years and a Senate of 12 members appointed by the Governor General from proposals of the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition and of Various religious, economic and social institutions.
The Belizean economy is the smallest in the Central American region, but it is the third largest in GDP per capita, only after Panama and Costa Rica.
Belize has an economy based primarily on agriculture and services. Domestic industry is limited, constrained by relatively high-cost labor and energy, and a small domestic market.
Tourism attracts the most foreign direct investment although significant foreign investment is also found in the energy, telecommunications, and agricultural sectors. The stability of the currency is one of the attractions for foreign investment.
Belize's exports of goods and services account for over half of its GDP. The export products mainly consist of seafood such as shrimp, followed by sugar, citrus products, bananas and small manufactures.
Its Barrier Reef (longest in the Western Hemisphere), 127 islands, excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling, abundant jungle flora and fauna, and numerous Mayan ruins has bolstered tourism and ecotourism industry.
Belize is a well-known offshore jurisdiction for its privacy policies, tax advantages for non-residents and its full tax exemption for its domiciled International Companies. Although its banking sector is not as large as other offshore financial centers, it is gaining popularity in recent years.