Belize Foundation
Order A Belize Foundation Online
Belize International Foundation Legislation
- International Foundations Act, 2010.
- Persons or corporations can form charitable, non-charitable, ordinary or non-purpose foundations in Belize. The foundation is a hybrid entity with the combined features of trust and corporations.
Belize Foundation Advantages
- The Belize foundation is a tax free entity — exempt from all local taxes and duties.
- Arbitration tribunals are permitted — foundation disputes can be negotiated; there does not have to be court interference and matters can be settled in a private setting. The arbitration committee can interpret the DOE/By-laws on their own terms.
- Founders and members cannot make any ownership claims on assets in the Belize offshore foundation; assets in the Belize foundation are part of an autonomous estate.
- Belize foundations have broad uses and purposes.
- Belize foundations can be revoked, changed or amended.
- In order to make any formal claim against a Belize offshore foundation, the claimant must first meet a deposit (bond) of US$50, 000.
- There are specific laws for protection of assets including exclusion of foreign judgment laws.
- The foundation may open, own and operate bank accounts; they may buy and sell real estate.
Requirements for Belize Foundation Registration
When you order a Belize foundation these are the specific conditions and requirements that must be fulfilled.
- You must use the services of a local agent (that’s us)
- You must set an endowment of no less than US$10,000
- Complete the Foundation Charter (we provide that online)
- Pay up Government Fees (we include this in our fees)
Bodies of the Belize Foundation
- The founder — Belize foundations set up by individuals or corporate bodies.
- The foundation council — the foundation council must have at least one Belize member. That member can be a founder or a beneficiary as well. In our Foundation Regular Package you provide the council members. We provide NOMINEE foundation services in our Nominee Packages; your privacy is maintained when you use nominees as it is their names that show up on documents, not yours. We provide signed letters of resignation for the member and give you a Power of Attorney.
- Secretary — we provide the required Secretary for the Belize foundation. This is included in the Foundation packages.
- The Protector — while this is an optional position we recommend it for clients who use nominee services. You as the founder can empower another person (can be yourself) to oversee the foundation and the council. Once written in the Belize Foundation Charter or By-laws, the Guardian can have power to hire or fire council, and has ultimate control of the operations of the foundation.
Belize Foundation Maintenance Requirements
- Accounts, bookkeeping or audits for government purposes are not needed. The foundation may on its own decide on its reporting requirements.
- Documented meetings of the foundation are not required by law. The foundation may hold meetings if it requires. Annual renewals must be paid up (by agent) to maintain the foundation on the register. We will send annual notices to you in advance.
Belize Foundation Restrictions
- Belize foundations are not allowed to own property or assets in Belize.
- Must have appropriate license to conduct, banking, insurance or finance business activity.
- To maintain an international or offshore status, the foundation cannot include Belize property, none of the founders or beneficiaries can be Belize residents.
Belize Foundations Documentation
Once you order a Belize Foundation online, you will need to have the following:
- Name of Belize foundation — must end with the word “Foundation” or an abbreviated form of the word
- Initial endowment value (no less than $10,000)
- Name and addresses of
- Founder
- Foundation Council member ( nominee or personal)
- Secretary (we provide)
- Guardian (if desired)
- Designated beneficiaries (if any)
- Purpose of the foundation
- Provisions for powers, inclusion of Bylaws, and other lawful provisions
Once we have received payment and completed your order for a Belize foundation, you will be sent a Certificate of Registration as proof of existence. It is issued by the Registrar and contains only:
- Date of registration
- Name of foundation
- Belize foundation registration number
- Name and address of agent
The certificate is valid for one year from date of registration, after which you must complete the renewal process. There are penalty fees for late renewals and if not renewed Belize foundation can be struck off or terminated.