Belize Trust Formation
corporate services
partnership
deltaquest services

Belize Trust Formation

DeltaQuest offer many years of knowledge and expertise in offshore trust formation, and can assist you with every stage of your offshore Belize trust formation. In setting up a Belize international trust, you will be benefitting from the favorable asset protection and tax planning conditions that Belize offers.

To begin the process of applying for a Belize International Trust, please complete our Trust Application Form.

Conditions for an Offshore Belize Trust Formation

Legal form: The governing law of the Trust registered under the Trust Act 2010 shall be the law of Belize. International trust may be created only by an instrument of writing. A Belize trust can be moved from the Belizean jurisdiction to another and vice versa.  Where this applies, Belizean legislation would not regulate the trust if that trust has moved to another country, despite it originating in Belize.  No confidential or private information needs to be disclosed to the Registry.

Most commonly used Belize Trusts:

- Charitable trusts; created for purposes such as; environmental protection, poverty relief and fundamental freedoms.  In Belize, such trusts have no restriction on duration

- Non charitable trusts; such trusts in Belize have a maximum of 120 years of duration

- Unit Trusts; In Belize this trust must be declared in writing to be established

- Land Trusts; In Belize this trust must be declared in writing to be established

Beneficiary: The Beneficiary or Beneficiaries are the individuals specified within the trust deed who will ultimately benefit from formation of the trust. In order for a trust to be valid there must generally be sufficient certainty as to the identity of the beneficiaries.

Settlor: Any person who has the capacity to own and transfer property may be the settlor of a trust. The settlor may also be a trustee, a beneficiary or a protector of a trust. The settlor is the creator of the trust and may be either an individual or legal entity.

Protector: The terms of a trust may provide for the office of protector of the trust. The protector shall have the power to remove a trustee and to appoint a new or additional trustee. The protector’s role is to ensure that the trust deed is correctly administered in compliance with the trust’s deed.

Trustee: The trustee may also be a settlor, a beneficiary or a protector of a trust. Unless the terms of the trust provide for a greater number, the minimum number of trustees shall be one. If a trust is established for charitable purposes, the number of trustees is a minimum of four. A trustee shall keep trust property separate from his own property and separately identifiable from any other property of which he is a trustee. A trustee shall exercise his functions only in the interests of the beneficiaries or of the purpose for which the trust is established and in accordance with the terms of the trust.

Registered office and local agent: An international trust is required at all times to have a trust agent resident in Belize who shall be appointed by the trustee of the trust.

Taxation: The income of the trust shall be exempt from all the provisions of the Income and Business Tax Act. No estate, inheritance, succession or gift tax shall be payable with respect to the trust property by reason of any death occurring. A trust shall be tax exempt:

  • If the Settlor is not resident in Belize
  • Non of the beneficiaries are resident in Belize
  • The trust property does not include any land situated in Belize

The income of the trust shall be exempt from all the provisions of the Income and Business Tax Act. No estate, inheritance, succession or gift tax shall be payable with respect to the trust property by reason of any death occurring.

Financial returns: Whilst there is no requirement to file audited accounts or annual returns with the authorities, a company is required to keep financial records, which should reflect the financial position of a company.

Time needed for formation: Usually it is 3-4 working days, and we need up to 7 working days for legalization of the documents and delivery by courier.

Print This Page Print This Page