Belize
Belize
Belize (before 1973 British Honduras) is located in Central America in the south-eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its shores are washed by the Caribbean Sea. The area of the country is approximately 23,000 sq. km, and it is bounded by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. The administrative capital is Belmopan, but the major commercial centre is Belize City, situated on the east coast close to the major International airport.
The total population of Belize is about 200,000, of which about 60,000 live in Belize City. Much of the country’s population is ethnically diverse and includes descendants of the original Mayan culture, as well as people of Caribbean, Caucasian, Chinese and East Indian descent. The main population is made up of Negroes and Mulattos. The official and main spoken language is English.
Belize became a British Crown Colony in 1862 and achieved complete self-rule in 1981. Since that time it has enjoyed stable and democratic Government. Now Belize is an independent democratic Commonwealth country. Government policy is set by the Cabinet, under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister and Ministers appointed by him from an elected House of Representatives, and the 28-member Senate. Belize is also a member of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. The type of law is Common Law, based on English Common Law. Legislation is modelled on the earlier British Virgin Islands legislation.
Key Corporate Features
General |
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Type of entity: | IBC |
Type of law: | Common |
Shelf company availability: | Yes |
Time to establish a new company: | 5 working days |
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation): | US$100 |
Corporate taxation: | Nil |
Double taxation treaty access: | No |
Share capital or equivalent |
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Standard currency: | US$ |
Permitted currencies: | Any |
Minimum paid up: | No minimum required |
Usually authorised capital: | US$50,000 |
Directors |
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Minimum number: | One |
Local required: | No |
Corporate Directors Permitted | Yes |
Publicly accessible records: | No |
Location of meetings: | Anywhere |
Shareholders |
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Minimum number: | One |
Publicly accessible records: | No |
Location of meetings: | Anywhere |
Company Secretary |
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Required: | Optional |
Local or qualified: | No |
Accounts |
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Requirement to prepare: | Yes |
Audit requirements: | No |
Requirement to file accounts: | No |
Publicly accessible accounts: | No |
Other |
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Requirement to file annual return: | No |
Change in domicile permitted: | Yes |