Belize Offshore Company Formation

When doing business in Belize, it is important to get the right business license for your company. Generally, there are two main types of Belize license that you must know:

Trade license in Belize

Businesses providing any kind of service or product in Belize have to obtain a trade license. You can register the license with the local city or town council. The fees for trade licenses in Belize are divided into sectors and charged based on the annual rental value of the property. For instance, supermarkets, grocery stores, furniture stores, and repair businesses are subject to a 3.5% fee. Hardware stores, gas stations, and dentistry offices are all subject to a 5% fee. For businesses engaging in gaming or monopolies, the highest rate is 25%.

Belize financial license

If your business operates in the international financial services industry in or from within Belize, you must carry a Belize financial license. The Belize Financial Service Commision (FSC) is in charge of granting the license. There are 13 types of Belize financial license, prominently including International asset protection and management, Money Transmission, Accounting, and Payment processing Services. The application fee is flat US$1,000 for each type, but the renewal fee is different ranging from US$5,000 to US$25,000.

Belize's economy is a mix of the country's resources, its strategic location, and the regulations that are investor-friendly, which all together provide a very fertile ground for entrepreneurs. The good business to start in Belize is a matter of your skills and the result that you want to achieve, but there are some areas which are more suitable in this regard.

Promising Business Sectors in Belize

• Tourism and Hospitality: As one of the Caribbean's leading eco-tourism locations, Belize has been a favorite destination for divers, hikers, and cultural tourists. Small luxury hotels, nature resorts, guided tour businesses, and health and relaxation centers are needed to accommodate more visitors.
• Real Estate and Property Services: With the increase in the number of expatriates living in the country and the number of retirees who have decided to relocate to Belize, there is a necessity for real estate sales, property management, and the construction sector to take advantage of this trend.
• Agriculture and Agro-Processing: While the cultivation of sugar and citrus has been the backbone of agriculture in Belize for a long time, now the production of organic cacao, coffee, and exotic fruits has become popular and has profitable potential.
• Renewable Energy: The government is eager to put into effect policies that will favor environmentally friendly technologies; thus, the solar, wind, and other green infrastructure projects are well-positioned to attract resources in the near future.
• Offshore Business Services: Offshore Business Services: Belize remains a recognized jurisdiction for establishing International Business Companies (IBCs) and other financial entities. However, following international regulatory changes, IBCs are now required to comply with economic substance rules and reporting standards. This makes Belize attractive not only for tax efficiency but also for entrepreneurs seeking a compliant and transparent global business base.

Advantages of starting a Business in Belize

• An English-speaking environment simplifies business transactions.
• Belize offers competitive tax rates compared to many jurisdictions, especially within Central America and the Caribbean. While IBCs and investors may still benefit from favorable tax conditions, compliance with substance requirements and reporting obligations is now essential.
• Strategic location offers access to Central American and Caribbean markets.
• Government incentives focus on priority sectors such as tourism, renewable energy, and value-added agriculture, offering targeted opportunities for foreign and local investors.

For global investors, Offshore Company Services provides a streamlined pathway to starting businesses in Belize. From IBC registration and offshore banking setup to compliance and advisory services, the firm ensures that entrepreneurs can establish and scale their operations with confidence.

Belize has a mixed, developing economy that blends free-market principles with targeted government regulation. This structure allows the country to balance traditional industries with emerging opportunities, making it a unique investment destination in Central America and the Caribbean.

Core Economic Drivers

• Agriculture: Once the main support of the economy, Belize still ships out sugar, bananas, and citrus to the international market. Besides the mentioned traditional commodities, the country is also producing cacao and papaya for the global market, which are considered to be niche crops with a rising trend.
• Tourism: The tourism industry has been developing rapidly and is now one of the fastest-growing and most important sectors, to which Belize's unpolluted beaches, the Belize Barrier Reef, and eco-tourism are the major attractions.
• Services and Offshore Finance: The international business sector, including offshore company registration and related financial services, contributes to Belize’s economy, although its share is smaller compared to tourism and agriculture. Moreover, it attracts foreign entrepreneurs who set up their businesses in Belize and start engaging in trade activities there.

Strengths of Belize’s Economy

The comparative advantage of Belize rests on its:

• Strategic Location: Situated at the crossroads of Central America and the Caribbean, Belize provides access to both regional markets.
• English-Speaking Workforce: Companies face fewer difficulties doing business globally when Belizean staff speak English.
• Investment-Friendly Policies: Belize offers tax incentives in designated free zones and selected offshore sectors, along with opportunities in real estate investment.

However, despite these strengths, Belize faces challenges such as vulnerability to natural disasters, reliance on a narrow range of exports, and high public debt, which can affect long-term economic stability.

Offshore Company Services supports international clients in accessing these opportunities. Through services such as Belize company formation, offshore banking setup, and compliance advisory, investors can efficiently establish operations while leveraging Belize’s favorable tax and regulatory environment.

The Belize business tax rate varies depending on the type of income and is set forth in the principal act's ninth schedule (IBTA).

Furthermore, Belize business tax is not applicable in the following cases:

• Companies that engage in petroleum operations.
• If the revenue or income is derived outside of Belize, IBCs operating in a trade, business, or profession are exempt from Belize business tax.
• Companies operating under the Designated processing area (DPA).

In order to be qualified for business tax exemption, IBCs must provide documents and proof of their foreign-sourced revenue/income. For further guidance, please feel free to contact us via email [email protected].

See more: Belize offshore company formation

The Belize business tax rate varies depending on the type of income and is set forth in the principal act's ninth schedule (IBTA).

Furthermore, Belize business tax is not applicable in the following cases:

• Companies that engage in petroleum operations.
• If the revenue or income is derived outside of Belize, IBCs operating in a trade, business, or profession are exempt from Belize business tax.
• Companies operating under the Designated processing area (DPA).

In order to be qualified for business tax exemption, IBCs must provide documents and proof of their foreign-sourced revenue/income. For further guidance, please feel free to contact us via email [email protected].

Since January 1, 2019, Belize international business companies (IBCs) are no longer automatically exempt from taxes. Like a domestic business, these IBCs are subject to the Belize Income and Business Tax Act (IBTA).

Under IBTA, Belize has a dual taxation system. Businesses are levied with two sorts of taxes:

• Belize business tax (equivalent to VAT) is computed on gross income or turnover;
• Belize corporate income tax (CIT) is computed on chargeable income.

The general Belize income tax rate is 25%.

The summary of Seychelles tax guide for offshore companies:

• A 1.5% tax rate applied to special license companies;
• The applicable business tax rates for companies are 25% for the first 1,000,000 SCR and 33% on any amount above it;
• Seychelles capital gains are exempted;
• No stamp duty;
• A reduced VAT rate of 0%.

In case you are looking for more Seychelles tax guides, you can visit our website or contact our specialists directly via email/hotline.

Based on Seychelles Business Tax Act 2009, the Seychelles company tax rate (i.e. Seychelles corporate tax or business tax) is 25% on the first SR 1,000,000 of taxable income and 33% on the remainder.

The Seychelles IBC tax rate is 0%, which means offshore companies in Seychelles can optimize their tax flow, and increase their profits. In addition, company income derived from services outside of Seychelles will not be taxed on dividends, interests, royalties, or other payments paid out to its stakeholders.

For more information about Seychelles company tax rate, please contact us via Hotline +65 6591 9991 or email [email protected].