Services · Company formation

Company registration in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026

Updated 6 October 2026

A local company with an incorporation fee of about $186 or an international business corporation for $300, with no capital gains or inheritance tax. We handle documents, registration and tax setup turnkey.

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Antigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean island nation, a member of the Commonwealth and CARICOM. The Eastern Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2.70, so company costs are easy to plan in dollars. Resident individuals pay no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no estate tax.

People open a company here for trade and services on the islands, tourism, holding property, or as part of a plan with the country's passport. There are two routes: a local company registered with the Antigua and Barbuda Intellectual Property and Commerce Office (ABIPCO), or an international business corporation (IBC) with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC). Dollar amounts below use the 2.70 peg, rounded up.

Which company to set up in Antigua and Barbuda

Local private company under the Companies Act 1995 - for business on the islands and abroad. It needs at least one share, one shareholder, one director and a registered office in the country. Shareholders and directors can be foreigners.
International business corporation under the International Business Corporations Act - for business outside the country. It is formed by a local resident agent, and one incorporator must be a practising Antigua and Barbuda attorney.
External company - registration of an existing foreign company to operate on the islands.

The choice depends on where your clients are, where income comes from and whether you need a local bank account. We sort this out at the consultation before drafting documents.

How to register a company in Antigua and Barbuda: steps

Step	What happens	Time
1. Name search and reservation	search of the register and reservation; the name must not match an existing one or mislead	a few days
2. Constitutional documents	articles of incorporation and by-laws, an attorney's statutory declaration, notices of directors and registered office	2-5 days after the founders' documents arrive
3. Incorporation	filing with the registrar, fee payment, certificate of incorporation and statement of particulars	a few days
4. Social Security	registration with the Social Security Board; the number is needed by other agencies	1-3 days
5. Tax ID	registration with the Inland Revenue Department using the company documents and passports of directors and shareholders	a few days
6. Medical Benefits and Education Levy	mandatory registration for every entity doing business in the country	1-3 days
7. Bank account	opening the company account	2-6 weeks

An IBC is registered by a resident agent with the FSRC; according to the commission it can be formed in as little as 24 hours once the name is approved.

How much it costs to open a company in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026

Fee	Local company	IBC
Name reservation	~$19	$50
Incorporation	~$186	$300
Every year	annual return ~$130	annual fee $300
Restoration to the register	~$112	-
Corporate status report	-	$150
Certified copy	~$15	$50

For a late annual return of a local company the registrar may charge about $19. Government fees are a small part of the cost: most of it is the attorney, the agent and the registered office. Our turnkey packages are in the price table below.

Fees from $186, but a missed annual return is paid for with restoration

The law does not forbid registering a company in Antigua and Barbuda on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: choosing between a local and an international company without weighing taxes and banking, a missed annual return after which the company is restored to the register for a separate fee, late tax registration. We choose the company type, prepare the documents, register it, register it for tax and track the annual deadlines.

The cost of support depends on the company type and reporting workload; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

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What taxes a company pays in Antigua and Barbuda

Corporate income tax - 25%, paid in monthly instalments based on the previous year's tax, with the balance due within three months after year end. Filing late costs EC$500, about $186, or 5% of the tax, whichever is greater.
Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) - 17% under the 2024 budget, including tourism. Businesses with turnover of EC$300,000, about $111,200, a year must register, and lawyers, accountants, architects and engineers must register at any turnover.
Withholding tax - 25% on payments to companies outside CARICOM unless a reduced rate applies.
There is no capital gains tax and no estate tax.

The tax position of an IBC depends on where the business runs and where income comes from, so we work out the tax structure before registration.

Obligations after registration

A company must keep a registered office in the country at all times, maintain registers and minutes, file an annual return and report changes of directors and address. Beneficial ownership information must be provided to the tax authority. A company with staff pays Social Security, Medical Benefits and Education Levy contributions.

Why registration gets delayed

The name matches an existing company or implies a government connection.
A foreign founder's documents lack an apostille or notarisation.
The company type is not decided: local companies and IBCs are registered with different agencies.
The bank asks for a business plan and proof of source of funds.
One of the registrations is missed, delaying the tax ID and the account.

What we do

We choose the company type for your goal, check and reserve the name, draft the articles and notices, provide the attorney and the registered office, register the company, tax ID and contribution schemes, and help with the bank account. After that we handle annual returns, tax returns and register changes. Prices for each service are in the table below.

Fees

Service	Price
Company registration - Base package	$5 900
Company registration - Package with nominee service	$9 000
Company registration - Package with bank pre-approval	$10 200
International banking licence, per year	$30 600
International insurance licence, per year	$20 000
Online gambling licence	$200 000
Non-refundable gambling licence application deposit	$30 000

We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.

Calculate online

FAQ

How much does company registration in Antigua and Barbuda cost?

The government fee for a local company is about $186, plus name reservation of about $19. An IBC costs $300 to incorporate and $300 a year. Turnkey packages with the attorney and office are in the price table on this page.

Can a foreigner own a company in Antigua and Barbuda?

Yes. One shareholder and one director are enough, and both can be foreigners. A registered office in the country is mandatory.

How long does registration take?

A local company with a tax ID and contribution registrations usually takes 2-4 weeks. An agent can form an IBC within 24 hours after name approval. The bank account takes longer.

What taxes does a company pay?

25% corporate income tax paid in monthly instalments, 17% ABST once turnover reaches EC$300,000 a year, and 25% withholding on payments to companies outside CARICOM. There is no capital gains tax or estate tax.

Do I need to travel to Antigua?

Not for registration: documents are signed with an apostille, and the attorney and office in the country are ours. The bank may ask for a visit.

What has to be filed every year?

A local company files an annual return with the registrar, with a fee of about $130, and a tax return. An IBC pays an annual fee of $300.