Property is the same for all people whether they belong to the same country or not.
- No capital gains tax.
- Fee simple title.
- No inheritance tax.
Investment Opportunities
There are many opportunities to invest in Belize. The Government of Belize is focused on providing an enabling environment for private businesses to attract local and foreign investors to invest in Belize. Authorities become favourable activities that are export-oriented because they increase employment rates and also the development of local technological infrastructure. The Government of Belize encourages joint ventures and partnerships as the preferred mechanism, however, 100% foreign ownership of the business is permitted. Highly skilled personnel can be imported to strengthen the Belizean workforce and this is facilitated by providing nationals with appropriate training programs. Almost always, the Government of Belize wishes to have one national placed with a highly skilled foreigner hired by the company.
Several developed countries have entered into certain agreements with Belize to not only help the country and its people but also benefit from it, and some are:
- Some Belize goods may enter Canada Duty-Free.
- There is preferential treatment from the US under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).
- Also preferential access to the CARICOM
- Under the Lomé IV Convention, it has duty-free access to the EU for certain commodities, such as bananas and sugar.
- There are a number of incentives offered by the Government of Belize to attract inward investment. Some investment incentives are:
- It offers special incentives for retirees.
- 100% foreign ownership of the company’s land and assets.
- Support for joint ventures with local entities.
Significant Benefits to Investors
Belize’s Export Processing Zones (EPZs) provide significant benefits to investors for some businesses. Those taking advantage of EPZs often end up being businesses in tourism, agriculture, mariculture, distribution and also light industry. In Belize Real Estate, the advantage these three trade zones have is a way to incentivize foreign trade and investment. The benefits for investors are:
- Exemption from the Supply Control Act and its regulations.
- Exemption from dividend tax for an indefinite period
- Ability to open foreign currency bank accounts in Belize and abroad.
- Exemption from import and export duties such as capital gains, sales and consumption, property, trade turnover, foreign exchange and transfer taxes.
- Tax holidays of 20 years with the option to extend and deduct losses from profits after the tax holiday period.