BACKGROUND:
Belize is situated on the Caribbean Coast of Central America, south of Mexico. It is large for Caribbean standards with an area of approximately 9000 square miles.  The population is approximately 190,000. It achieved independence in 1981, however, its legal system is founded on English Common Law supplemented by local legislation. The political system is based upon the Westminster Model, with Queen Elizabeth II represented by a Governor-General. Belize is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.

Type of Company(s):
Belize offers the type of company which is known as the IBC (International Business Companies Act). These same companies are also used in the British Virgin Island, and Bahamas. When you take into consideration the various amendments which the Belize company has, it is the most modern IBC since it offers total tax exemption.
A Belize IBC cannot trade or carry on business in Belize or have any resident getting benefits or registering any  property within Belize and the company cannot provide registered offices for other companies.

Company Name:
Any name can be used as long as it complies with restrictions imposed by the Registrar. Permission must be requested for sensitive words such as, assurance, banks, royal etc. The name of the company must include the word; Limited, Incorporated, Corporation, Sociedad Anonima, Societe Anonyme or an abbreviation  of the same. When incorporating the company  you must include in the memorandum of association the full name of the company, the registered address, the name of the resident agent and the purpose for which the Company will be used.
To obtain a Belize IBC you must have a resident address and a resident agent.

Summary Benefits:

• No public disclosure of Directors & Shareholders
  
• Body corporate permitted
  
• No local residence required for Directors & Shareholders
  
• Share capital may be nominal or par value
  
• Shares issued in any currency
  
• No minimum share capital
  
• The normal authorised share capital  under the IBC act is US$50,000 .
  
• Minimum initial annual government duty of US$100
  
• Authorised capital in excess to 50,000 pay an initial duty of US$1,000  and an annual licence of US$1,000 thereafter.
  
• Bearer shares permitted