Belize
Belize company registration: fees, tax and annual filings, from official sources.
- Company type
- Company limited by shares under the Belize Companies Act, 2022 (replaced the former IBC Act and Companies Act)
- Headline corporate tax
- 25%
- Registration fee
- BCCAR incorporation fee for a company with share capital below 50,000: BZ$300 for verified Belizean natural persons registering themselves, or US$150 when filed through a registered agent. Above 50,000: BZ$2,000 or US$1,000. Incorporation is online only, in the Online Business Registry System (OBRS).
- Region
- Offshore
A Belize company is registered only in the online registry, through a licensed registered agent for non-Belizeans, for US$150 (share capital under 50,000). It files an annual return and an economic substance report.
The figures below come from the registry, tax authority and statutes linked under Sources, as they stood on 30 September 2026. Fees and thresholds change, so check the linked official page before you file. This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation.
Questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Belize?
BCCAR incorporation fee for a company with share capital below 50,000: BZ$300 for verified Belizean natural persons registering themselves, or US$150 when filed through a registered agent. Above 50,000: BZ$2,000 or US$1,000. Incorporation is online only, in the Online Business Registry System (OBRS).
What is the corporate tax rate in Belize?
The Income and Business Tax Act (Cap. 55) charges income tax on persons other than employed persons at 25% of chargeable income (40% for petroleum operations). In practice, business tax on gross receipts, with rates set by activity, is paid monthly and credited against income tax. BTS says that if income tax exceeds business tax paid, the difference is written off, so business tax is effectively the final tax.
Can a non-resident set up a company in Belize?
Incorporation is done only in OBRS. Non-Belizeans, or Belizeans without a Social Security ID, must use a Licensed Registered Agent to access OBRS and register and manage the company. No in-person visit is stated.
Annual deadlines for this and other jurisdictions are in the company filing deadlines calendar. Read next: Seychelles, BVI and Belize: owning an offshore company.
- Corporate tax
- The Income and Business Tax Act (Cap. 55) charges income tax on persons other than employed persons at 25% of chargeable income (40% for petroleum operations). In practice, business tax on gross receipts, with rates set by activity, is paid monthly and credited against income tax. BTS says that if income tax exceeds business tax paid, the difference is written off, so business tax is effectively the final tax.
- Forming it from abroad
- Incorporation is done only in OBRS. Non-Belizeans, or Belizeans without a Social Security ID, must use a Licensed Registered Agent to access OBRS and register and manage the company. No in-person visit is stated.
- Local requirements
- Non-Belizeans, and Belizeans without a Social Security ID, must use a licensed registered agent to access the Online Business Registry System and register and manage the company.
- VAT, GST or sales tax
- GST registration is mandatory once annual turnover reaches BZ$75,000, or if a business under 12 months old averages BZ$6,250 a month.
- Annual filings
- An annual return is filed in the Online Business Registry System with the annual fee: US$250 through a registered agent for share capital under 50,000, or US$1,000 above (BZ$200 / BZ$2,000 for Belizeans filing themselves). An economic substance report (Form B, C or D) goes to the FSC through the registered agent within nine months of fiscal year end. Business tax returns are filed monthly with the Belize Tax Service by the 15th of the following month, and an income tax return is filed with the Belize Tax Service.
- Beneficial owners
- The Belize Companies Act 2022 provides for registering the registers of members, beneficial owners and directors with the Registrar (s.93).
- Also know
- Under the Economic Substance Act 2019, an 'included entity' carrying on a relevant activity (banking, insurance, fund management, financing and leasing, headquarters, distribution and service centre, shipping, or a holding company of these) must have substantial economic presence in Belize. Every entity files Form B, C or D with the FSC through its registered agent; penalties run up to BZ$150,000–300,000 and strike-off. Companies registered under the old IBC Act or Companies Act had to re-register under the 2022 Act by 28 November 2023.
- Company registry
- Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR), under the Financial Services Commission
- Registry website
- bccar.bz
- Tax authority page
- bts.gov.bz
- Last reviewed
- Sources
Source Link BCCAR – Fees Schedule https://bccar.bz/library/fees-schedule/ BCCAR – Frequently Asked Questions https://bccar.bz/frequently-asked-questions/ Belize Companies Regulations 2022 (SI 152 of 2022), FSC https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SI-No-152-of-2022-Belize-Companies.pdf Belize Companies Act, 2022 (Attorney General's Ministry) https://www.agm.gov.bz/uploads/laws/639771ad84fb6_Act_No._11_of_2022_Belize_Companies_Act__2022.pdf FSC press release and FAQ on the Belize Companies Act 2022 https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/05AUG22newcompaniesact_FINAL-1.pdf Income and Business Tax Act, Cap. 55 (BTS) https://bts.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Cap-55-Income-and-Business-Tax-Act.pdf BTS – ITX FAQ https://bts.gov.bz/itx-faq/ BTS – Guides and Guidelines (GST rate, threshold, business tax) https://bts.gov.bz/guides/ BTS – Registration https://bts.gov.bz/registration/ FSC – Economic Substance Act Guidance Notes https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Guidance-Notes-March-3-2020_-1.pdf FSC – Economic Substance Form B https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FORM-B.pdf FSC – Compliance Forms https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/compliance-forms/