
Incorporate in Barbados
Set up a company in Barbados
Barbados has been a popular jurisdiction for incorporating international businesses – especially for Canadians who enjoyed certain benefits under DTAs. However, the jurisdiction has also gone through several legislative amendments to avoid being classified as having a ‘harmful preferential tax regime’ by the OECD / EU.
Under these amendments, the International Business Companies (IBC) Act has been abolished, and the Societies with Restricted Liabilities Act has removed preferences to International Societies with Restricted Liability (ISRL).
IBCs and ISRLs licensed after October 17, 2017, have been converted to regular Barbados companies and societies, and are subject to local corporate taxation. Those incorporated and licensed before October 17, 2017, will be grandfathered until June 30, 2021 – at that point, they will need to be converted to regular Barbados companies.
Note that Barbados companies earning 100% of their income in foreign currency would be able to apply for a Foreign Currency Permit under the Foreign Currency Permits Act, 2018, to avoid capital controls under the Exchange Controls Act.
The Income Tax Act has been also amended. Since January 1, 2019, all Barbados entities, except those that are grandfathered are taxed on a sliding scale from 5.50% (for taxable income below BBD 1 million) to 1% (for taxable income over BBD 30 million). Previously, IBCs and ISRLs were subject to tax on a sliding scale between 2.5% and 0.25% and local companies were subject to tax at a 25% rate.
Barbados Companies are powerful tools for international trading and commerce, manufacturing operations and holding company for investments in foreign subsidiaries.
Learn more about incorporating in Barbados:
Barbados Limited Company Formation and First-Year Fees – USD 8,500.00 (All included)
Note that our incorporation and annual corporate service fees are “all-included fees”, and cover all the required services to incorporate a Limited Company in Barbados, and keep it in good standing with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office, as well as government fees and duties, disbursements such as courier fees, and assignments such as the preparation of a certificate of incumbency, and the notarization of documents, which are generally required for opening bank accounts.
- All applicable Registration and Government Fees
- Acting as the Incorporator of the Limited Company
- Preparing the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws
- Filing the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs
- Providing Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Registrar
- Preparing the Directors’ Resolution resolving the appointment of directors, allotment of shares, adoption of company bylaws and other related corporate matters
- Preparing the Register of Shareholders and Register of Directors
- Preparing the Share Certificates
- Preparing and Executing a Certificate of Incumbency
- Applying for and obtaining a Foreign Currency Permit
- Providing Corporate Secretary Services for one year
- Providing Registered Office Services, including business address, for one year
- Providing Notarized and Apostilled copies of the Corporate Documents
- Delivering Original, and Notarized and Apostilled copies of the Corporate Documents via Courier, inclusive of Courier fees
Time to form
It generally takes us 1-3 days to prepare and file the Articles of Incorporation, as well as to prepare post-incorporation resolutions and other documents; and 1 to 5 business days for the Registrar to issue the Certificate of Incorporation/Formation.
Bank Account Opening Services (Optional)
We can open bank accounts for Barbados companies in the following jurisdictions:
- Barbados Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 900.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- Cayman Islands Bank Account (5 Banks, Remotely) – USD 900.00 – Brokerage Accounts and Debit/Credit Cards Available
- British Virgin Islands Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 900.00 – Brokerage Accounts Available
- Mauritius Bank Account (3 Banks, Remotely) – USD 600.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- Labuan/Malaysia Bank Account (1 Bank Remotely, 1 Bank In-person ) – USD 500.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- Bahamas Bank Account (4 Banks, Remotely) – USD 500.00 – Brokerage Accounts Available
- Curaçao Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 500.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- Singapore Bank Account (5 Banks, Remotely) – USD 900.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available – Remote account opening available due to COVID-19
- Hong Kong Bank Account (3 Banks, In-person) – USD 2,000.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- New York (US) Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 2,000.00 – Debit/Credit Cards and Brokerage Accounts Available
- Armenia Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 1,200.00 – Debit/Credit Cards and Brokerage Accounts Available
- Turkey Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 1,200.00 – Debit/Credit Cards and Brokerage Accounts Available
- Cook Islands Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 600.00 – Brokerage Accounts available
- Puerto Rico Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available and Brokerage Accounts available
- Antigua Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available Available
- Nevis Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- Belize Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Prepaid Cards Available
- Saint Lucia Bank Account (1 Bank, Remotely) – USD 300.00
- Dominica Bank Account (2 Banks, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
- UK, Latvia and Lithuania Electronic Money Institution Account (8 EMI’s, Remotely) – USD 300.00 – Debit/Credit Cards Available
In addition to the above jurisdictions, we may be able to open bank accounts in Cyprus, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Latvia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands for Barbados holding companies and private wealth structures (no commercial activity) and Barbados companies conducting commercial activities via a branch office in the EEA. The availability of such accounts depends on a number of specific factors. Contact us for further information.
All our bank account options provide for accounts in major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, etc) as well as internet banking facilities. Note that “Remotely/In-person” means whether the account can be opened remotely or a personal visit to the bank is required to finalize the application.
Our bank account opening service is not just a mere introduction to the bank. We assist you in filling out the business plan forms appropriately and help you understand and provide business details, commercial information, and purpose/use of the bank account that a given bank wants to know in order to approve your account application.
Banks want certainty and clarity on how the account will be used. Everything must be watertight. We will work with you to make sure there is minimal ‘back and forth’ and a smooth account opening process.
Annual Fees – USD 3,900.00 (payable one year after incorporation, and annually thereafter)
- Preparing and filing Company Renewal and Annual Return
- Renewing the Foreign Currency Permit
- All applicable Government Annual Fees and Duties
- Maintaining the Minute Book, Registers and Statutory Records
- Preparing and Filing the Annual Return
- Providing Corporate Secretary Services for one year
- Providing Registered Office Services, including business address, for one year
Additional Services
- Accounting and Tax Services
- Audit Services
- Local Director Services
- Economic Substance Services (Local Directorship, Physical Office, Outsourcing of CIGA, etc.)
Please, contact us for further information.