Open an Anonymous Company in Belize

To open an anonymous company in Belize, investors follow the company formation setup for their chosen business form, followed by nominee appointments. Our team can help you open a company in Belize that offers a high privacy level for its owners.

What is an anonymous company in Belize?

The anonymous company in Belize is commonly a Belize company (formerly an International Business Company, or IBC) for which the founders select a nominee shareholder and director service. This is an optional solution for those who require a higher level of confidentiality.

There is no public access to the details of a company’s beneficial owners in Belize. Thus, generally speaking, a company may be considered an anonymous company in Belize with this level of investor protection.

Using a nominee service is possible, and it means that shares in the incorporated company will be held by an appointed party, on behalf of the company’s beneficial owner(s).

How can I open an anonymous company in Belize?

Our company formation experts list the general steps required when opening an anonymous company in Belize:

1. Choose a company name: the company must have an original name, and a name check can be performed with the Companies Registry.
2. Draw up the company documents: our agents can provide complete assistance during this stage where the company’s Articles of Association are drawn up and prepared for submission together with the application form.
3. Apply for registration: the company’s documents, the application form and the details of the directors, shareholders and beneficial owners (filed with the Registry but not made public) will be provided.
4. Open a bank account: the Belize offshore bank account can be opened once the company’s documents are issued after the incorporation is complete. 

What documents do I need to open a company in Belize?

The following documents are required for company formation in Belize when the beneficial owner is an individual who will then appoint a nominee:

• Certified passport copy;
• Proof of address (no older than 3 months);
• Bank reference letter (also not dated more than 3 months before making the submission);
• Proof of qualifications (via a signed CV) and a statement on the source of the funds used for company incorporation.

The documents are used by our team as part of the due diligence process required for the purpose of company creation (also known as know-your-client). Once the documents are vetted, we can proceed to the registration of the business, with our agents handling the entirety of the process.

What are the general requirements for the anonymous company in Belize?

As previously mentioned, in most cases, the anonymous company is set up as a Belize company limited by shares (formerly an International Business Company). The following general aspects are relevant:

• The company requires at least one director and one shareholder. Both can be legal entities;
• There is no requirement to appoint a resident director or shareholder;
• There is no minimum share capital requirement; however, the standard authorized share capital is, in practice, around USD 50,000;
• The company must have a registered office address in Belize.

Are there any special conditions for the anonymous IBC in Belize?

Since the 2019 reform and the Belize Companies Act 2022, a company in Belize may also do business with residents and is no longer automatically tax-exempt. It is taxed under the Income and Business Tax Act and must meet economic substance rules.

What are the advantages of an anonymous company in Belize?

The most important advantages of the Belize anonymous company are the following:

• Quick incorporation: the company is easy to set up, and only one founder is needed;
• Low taxes: according to local laws, the company pays relatively little tax, although the IBC tax exemption ended on 1 January 2019;
• Minimal reporting: the regime is relatively light, but companies must file an annual return, keep accounting records in Belize and meet tax and economic substance filing rules;
• Flexibility: there are no requirements to keep the meetings in Belize or have local directors; management is flexible for this company;
• Investor protection: through the local laws and through the use of a nominee director, the privacy of the company owners is easy to achieve in Belize;
• Distinction: the anonymous company will have a legal identity, and it will be different from its founders;
• International accessibility: the fact that the official language in Belize is English is very convenient for international investors.

Contact us for more information and assistance with company incorporation. 

If you need company formation services in another jurisdiction, for example in Jersey, we can put you in contact with our partners – CompanyFormationJersey.com.

In case you are interested in investing in another offshore jurisdiction, you should know that Mauritius has one of the world’s lowest tax rates, a standard tax of 15% and a reduced tax rate of only 3% for companies involved in exporting goods. If you need assistance for registering a business in Mauritius, we recommend our reliable local partners from CompanyFormationMauritius.com.