TAX POLICY

1. Corporate Income Tax Rates: 35%
2. Payroll Taxes: Pay As You Earn (PAYE) System
3. Personal Income Tax Rates: Ranges from 15% - 45%
(Resident Individuals earning less than $10,400.00
per annum are fully exempted)
4. VAT Value Added Tax is 15% effective from April 1, 1996.
5. Exemption from Taxes: Exemption granted for Import duties and Income
Taxes for approved enterprises.
6. Double Taxation Treaties: With United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark and the
countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
7. Withholding Tax: 25% Tax is applied to non-resident Corporation and
Individuals on any sum paid in respect of management
fees, rental of plant and machinery, mortgage
and debenture interest, and Insurance Premiums.
Principal forms of tax

The principal taxes in Belize are:

* Import duties
* Income tax
* Revenue replacement duty
* Stamp duties
* Excise on spirits, beer and cigarettes
* Export duties
* Land tax

There is no tax on capital gains.

The Income Tax System Residents of Belize (individuals and companies) are liable to tax on their worldwide income with the exception that individuals resident in Belize but domiciled elsewhere are not liable to tax in Belize on income earned outside of Belize unless that income is remitted to Belize.

Non-residents are liable to Belize tax only on income derived from Belize.

The Income Tax Department publishes a schedule of allowable wear and tear (depreciation) allowances on industrial buildings and plant and machinery. Where book depreciation differs from these allowable rates an adjustment must be made in the computation of taxable income to substitute the permitted allowances for the book figures.

Determination of taxable income
In ascertaining the chargeable (i.e. taxable) income of an individual or a company there may be deducted all bona fide expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in the production of the income, including:

a) interest on money borrowed
b) rent
c) repair of premises, plant and machinery
d) bad debts

Losses
Losses cannot be carried back but they can be carried forward and applied against future profits. This includes losses sustained during a tax concession-period. Losses may not, however, be carried forward if control of the company changes and the company ceases to carry on the business in which the loss was sustained.

Allowances for wear and tear
The law permits claims for allowance for wear and tear on:
a) Industrial buildings
b) Plant and machinery (Including furniture and fixtures, and boats and launches

PROVIDED the assets are used for purposes of trade, business, a profession or vocation during the year.

No allowance for wear and tear may be claimed on the following; but the net cost for replacement of any of these items may be claimed as an expense in the Year of replacement.

* Irrigation flumes
* Loose tools

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Welcome to Ambergris Caye (Belize)

ambergriscaye.com

see also:

belizenews.com
belizesearch.com
seborga.net