Belize allows incorporation of a company in 4-5 working days with zero residency requirements. A Belize LLC allows a single person to act as both manager and member. Business owners can incorporate a company with just a single dollar in paid-up capital. There is also no requirement to deposit the paid-up capital.
Territorial Tax System
LLCs in Belize operate as standard pass-through entities. Any profit generated by the LLC is transferred to the Beneficial Owners at the end of each calendar year. Your LLC is exempt from all forms of local taxation: 0% corporate tax, 0% capital gains tax, 0% withholding tax on dividends, and 0% stamp duty on asset transfers.
High Privacy
Belize remains a premier choice for founders who prioritize privacy. Under the Belize Companies Act 2022, your company’s Managers, Members, and Beneficial Owners are not part of the public record. It cannot be searched by competitors or the general public. The info are stored in the OBRS portal, but only approved individuals have access to it.
Economic Substance Exemptions
Belize LLCs used for holding assets or general international trade are typically exempt from Economical Substance reporting. This significantly lowers the bureaucratic headache compared to 'Tier 1' Caribbean jurisdictions. The same goes for costs because you will not need to keep employees directly in the country or to rent an office.
Automatic TIN issuance
LLCs can receive a Tax Identification Number (TIN) upon formation. Most modern banks (even in the US, Europe, or Singapore) will refuse a corporate application if you cannot provide a TIN. Receiving the TIN with the incorporation documents ensures that you can start the application process right away. The TIN is also required for the LLC yearly reporting process.
Common Law Legal System
Belize legal system follows the English Common Law. However, the ultimate court of appeal is the Caribbean Court of Justice and not London like other Common Law countries. The difference in location can be a big advantage for individuals already located in the LATAM region or the USA. The official language for documents and disputes is English.
Why entrepreneurs love Korporatio
The team at Korporatio is always helpful and replies in a very clear and swift manner. They take away the headaches of running a business!Philip De Smedt, Founder at Arkadiko Inc
Have been working with Korporatio for a number of years. The service rendered is very professional and top of the class. We are glad to partner with Korporatio in our corporate administration and I foresee many years of partnership ahead!PNYX Technologies Inc
Korporatio provides a high quality service to set-up your business abroad. You'll be surrended by experts and advisors in their field to help you set-up everything properly.Jordan Ietri, CEO at Revomon
Incorporating a company is normally a painful process. Korporatio is very efficient and responsive. Thanks team, keep up the good work!Timothy McCann, Founder at Metamasters DAO Corporation
Setting up a corporation can be confusing, complicated and expensive. We interviewed many service providers and finally decided to use Korporatio. They were efficient and completed the work in the timeframes agreed, guiding us through the process each step of the way. Mitch Rankin, Founder at Forward Protocol Corp
The team at Korporatio has brought high standards into the company incorporation business. They incorporate entities in multiple jurisdictions always with top quality and efficiency.Jake Choi, Owner of Choice Investment Management Ltd.
Korporatio's experience is among the highest in the industry yet they make you feel like you're chatting with a good friend. This is a company that really puts the client at the center. Gilad Cohen Aviram, Co-founder of Polychron Corp.
Best v. Worst Company to Incorporate in Belize
Smart Move: Holding Company
Belize is a perfect fit to incorporate a holding company for any person thanks to its common-law legal system, privacy, and ability to gather a TIN quickly. Here’s why it’s a great choice:
1. Ready To Scale
Sign up for an EMI or normal bank in days and not weeks thanks to the easiness of gathering a TIN number.
Belize’s Online Business Registration System (OBRS) allows to gather documents like Certificate of Good Standing, or file changes to the company in just 1-2 days.
2. No Economical Substance
Probably the strongest reason to incorporate a holding company in Belize: There are no Economical Substance Rules for LLCs.
If the holding owns a subsidiary, the company must prepare the consolidated financial statement. There is no need for audits.
You can still incorporate a holding company to receive and accumulate the profits without the need to transfer them to the BOs.
3. Legal Protection
Foreign court orders that would impact assets held by a Belize LLC or a Belize Trust are not recognised. This means that to attack a Belize entity, a creditor must hire a local Belizean lawyer and re-litigate the entire case from scratch in a Belizean court.
Unlike other regions that have a 2-6 year "waiting period" to protect against fraudulent transfer claims, Belize’s protection for certain structures is arguably more immediate and aggressive in its statutory language.
Conclusion
Belize offers an ideal environment for holding companies to thrive. The combination of lack of Economical Substance, privacy, and the fact that court cases must happen in Belize and the final appeal is managed by the Caribbean Court of Justice, makes it a prime destination for any business owner who wants to be protected.
Bad Idea: Crypto Company
While Belize makes it easy to incorporate a company, setting up a crypto business is extremely complicated. Here’s why:
1. Strict But Weak Regulations
Licenses issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) are explicitly stated to be temporary. They do not guarantee renewal or conversion into permanent licenses and are up for review every year.
Travel Rules are also in place for any VASP company. This means you will need to run checks on every transaction above US$1,000 and failing to do so can result in having the license revoked.
2. Banking & Payment Challenges
Many traditional banks in Belize and across the entire offshore industry refuse to work with crypto firms, even if licensed.
Companies are often forced to rely on special solutions that require huge initial deposits often within the 7 or 8 digit range and have high monthly fees.
Even financial institutions that market themselves as pro-crypto end up not opening accounts once the applications are submitted.
3. High Compliance Costs & Operational Burden
Meeting Belize's compliance requirements means you need Economical Substance in Belize; therefore, your managers and senior officers must be physically in the country.
The company is also required to deposit a paid-up capital ranging from US$50,000 to US$500,000 depending on the type of services that it will provide.
Crypto firms must submit detailed reports on transactions, customer activities, and information, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Conclusion
Unless the company is well-funded, fully compliant, has a strong legal team, and part of the team is willing to live in Belize, setting up a crypto business in Belize can be more trouble than it’s worth. At the present time, there are many other countries, such as Panama, that make the process much easier.
Fill out the online form and complete the KYC process.
Keep these points in mind: every individual must provide a certified copy of Passport and a certified valid proof of address in English and not older than 3 months. We can help to translate the documents if required. You will also need to complete a form with some personal information.
Sit Tight (Up to 48 Hours)
Once you submit the form, we will send a few documents to sign. We will handle the rest.
Keep these points in mind: once the company has been created you will need to sign some documents fully prepared by us. E-Sign solutions are allowed. To avoid penalties, all documents must be sent back within 21 days.
Build Your Empire
You're all set! Focus on growing your business while we handle the admin work.
Keep these points in mind: If you need the director to sign any resolutions, such as to open a bank account, just text us. You will be in contact with the team as long as your company is live. We are available via email, Telegram, Whatsapp, Discord, and Signal.
Incorporating a company in Belize can be worth it!
A Numerical Example
Let’s explore how big a financial burden it can be to incorporate a company in California compared to forming a company in Belize with a profit per year of $560,000.
The figures presented in the example above are average figures and can differ a lot in individual scenarios. These figures are used solely and exclusively for content purposes and in no way shall they be taken as tax or financial advice. Do make sure to consult a registered tax advisor before making any decisions. Your nationality, country of residency, family situation, scope of your company’s business, laws of the country where your company is incorporated, etc., are all factors that can drastically change your costs and taxes. In conclusion, make sure to speak with a professional who understands your situation in detail before making any decisions.
What would you do with an extra $193,304?
An Extra Hire
Those funds would allow your business to hire a very talented senior individual or even a small offshore team. You would be able to clear those old backlogs once and for all.
A Marketing Machine
Digital marketing, PPC, EDM, Lead gen, brand and awareness, etc., whatever your goal is to grow the business, you can now deploy capital into the strategy you choose.
A Deserved Dividend
You have built a successful business. All those years of sacrifice and lost sleep to chase an idea. You have done so much, and you absolutely deserve to reward yourself - now you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarity is the first step toward a successful international structure. We’ve compiled the most frequent inquiries from our global clients to help you understand the benefits, timelines, and compliance requirements of a Belize IBC or LLC. Can’t find your answer? Our team is available for a confidential consultation.
Under the updated tax regime, a Belize International Business Company (IBC) that does not conduct business within Belize is generally subject to a low corporate tax rate (often 1.75% on net income over $1.5M BZD or 3% if lower). However, they remain exempt from capital gains tax, stamp duty, and dividend taxes.
A Belize LLC is primarily designed as a tax-neutral vehicle for international business. If your LLC earns its revenue entirely outside of Belize and consists of non-resident members, it is exempt from local income tax, capital gains tax, and withholding tax on distributions.
Details of shareholders and directors must be filed with the Registry, but this information is not accessible to the general public. It is only available to regulatory authorities and law enforcement upon legitimate request, maintaining a balance between global transparency and client confidentiality.
No, there is no requirement for a local resident director.A Belize company can be 100% foreign-owned and managed by a single director who can also be the sole shareholder.However, every company must appoint a Licensed Registered Agent in Belize and maintain a Registered Office address within the country for official notices and service of process.
Every Belize company must fulfill three main annual requirements:
Annual Return: Filed via the OBRS to confirm the company’s current structure.
Economic Substance: Companies engaged in “Relevant Activities” (like banking, insurance, or shipping) must demonstrate substance in Belize.
Accounting Records: While there is no requirement to file audits with the government for most small IBCs, companies must maintain clear accounting records and keep them at the office of their Registered Agent in Belize.
In case you wish to learn more about setting up a company in Belize:
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