General Information
The Bahamas extends in a 1,225 km arc from 78 km east of Palm Beach, Florida, to just north of Haiti. The Bahamas consists of an archipelago of nearly 700 islands and 2,400 cays.
Population
The population of the Bahamas is approximately 310,000.
Political Structure
In July 1973, the Bahamas become an independent nation and a Member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Government is based on the British Constitutional pattern with a Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers, an appointed Senate and a House of Assembly elected by the people to control and administer the day to day affairs of the Bahamas. The Head of State is HM Queen Elizabeth II and she is represented by a Governor General. The law of the Bahamas is based on English Common Law and the Court System is also modelled after that of the United Kingdom having Magistrates Courts and a Supreme Court.
Infrastructure and Economy
The Bahamas has excellent communications. There are direct flights from Europe as well as many US cities. Miami is only 30 minutes away and New York is less than three hours away.
Language
The official and spoken language is English.
Currency
Bahamas Dollar is on a par with the US Dollar.
Exchange Control
Residents are subject to Exchange Control, but International Business Companies are exempted.
Type of Law
Statute Law and Common Law based on English Common Law.
Principal Corporate Legislation
International Business Companies Act 2000 and the International Business Companies (Amendment) Act 2004.
Procedure to incorporate | Registered Agent prepares the Memorandum of Association, which after being signed by the two subscribers is delivered to the Registry. The Articles of Association can either be filed at the same time as the Memorandum of Association or within 30 days from the date of incorporation. |
Restrictions on trading | IBCs can conduct business with Bahamians and may also own Bahamian real estate, but local exchange controls and stamp duty will apply in these cases. Unless government permission is granted, cannot undertake the business of banking, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, collective investment schemes, trust management, trusteeship, the rendering of investment advice or any other activity that would suggest an association with the banking or insurance industries. Cannot sell its own shares or solicit funds from the Public. |
Powers of company | An International Business Company has all the powers of a natural person. |
Language of legislations and corporate documents | The legislation and corporate documentation are in English. |
Registered office required | Yes, must be maintained in the Bahamas at the address of a licensed management company or law firm together with a Registered Agent. |
Shelf company available | Yes. |
Time to incorporate | Two days, but a further five working days is required by the Registrar for the production and release of the Certificate of Incorporation and certified copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. |
language of name | The name can be in any language using the Latin alphabet. The Registrar may require an English translation to ensure that the proposed name is not on the list of restricted names. |
Name requiring consent or licence | Bank, building society, savings, loans, insurance, assurance, reinsurance, fund management, investment fund, trust, trustees, Chamber of Commerce, university, municipal or their foreign language equivalents or any name in English or a foreign language that may suggest association with the banking or insurance industries. |
Authorised and Issued Share Capital | The normal authorised share capital is US$50,000; divided in to 50,000 shares of US$1, this being the maximum capital for the minimum duty payable at the time of incorporation and the maximum authorised share capital for the minimum licence fee payable annually. The share capital may be expressed in any currency. The minimum issued capital is either two shares of no par value or two shares of par value. |
Classes of shares permitted | Registered shares, shares of no par value, preference shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights. |
Taxation | The Bahamas is a pure tax haven and has no direct taxation in the form of income tax, capital gains tax, gift tax or inheritance tax. |
Double Taxation Agreements | The Bahamas is not a party to any double tax treaties. |
Licence Fee | Companies with an authorised share capital, with a par value, up to US$50,000 pay the sum of US$350 per year. Companies with an authorised share capital with a par value greater than US$50,001 pay the sum of US$1,000 per year. |
Financial Statements Requirements | The new rules in relation to section 67 of the Bahamas International Business Companies (Amendment) Act 2011 came into force on 1st January 2013. The accounting records and underlying documentation may be maintained in the Bahamas or in another jurisdiction. Where the documentation is kept outside the Bahamas, the company must confirm in writing to its Bahamian registered agent the physical address where the records are kept and any changes in their location. |
Directors | The minimum number of directors is one. Directors may be natural persons or bodies corporate. They may be of any nationality and need not be resident in the Bahamas. |
Company Secretary | The International Companies Act 2000 makes no specific reference to a company secretary, but one is normally appointed to facilitate signing obligations. |
Shareholders | Minimum number of shareholders: two subscribers, but the shares can be transferred to a single person. A register of members needs to be maintained at the Registered Office but is not open to the public. |
Type of Company |
IBC |
Type of Law |
Common |
Shelf company availability |
Yes |
Our time to establish a new company |
2 – 5 days |
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation) |
US$350 |
Corporate Taxation |
Nil |
Double Taxation Treaty Access |
No |
Standard currency |
US $ |
Permitted currencies |
Any |
Minimum paid up |
US $1 |
Usual authorised |
US$50,000 |
Minimum number | One |
Local required | No |
Publicly accessible records | Yes |
Location of meetings | Anywhere |
Minimum number | One |
Publicly accessible records | No |
Location of meetings | Anywhere |
Required |
No |
Local or qualified |
No |
Annual Tax Return | Yes |
Audit Requirements | No |
Requirements to file accounts | No |
Publicly accessible accounts | No |
Minimum Annual Tax / Licence Fee |
US$350 |
Annual Return Filing Fee |
Nil |
Requirement to file annual return |
No |
Change in domicile permitted |
Yes |