Bahamas company formation in 2026
An international business company in 48 hours, government fee from $400 and annual tax from $350, with no corporate income tax. We prepare the documents, address and filing turnkey.
The Bahamas is one of the longest-standing jurisdictions for international business in the Caribbean. There is no corporate income tax and no personal income tax, the Bahamian dollar is pegged one-to-one to the US dollar, and the companies registry works online: a regular filing takes 48 hours, an express one 1 hour. The government fee for an international business company (IBC) with capital up to $50,000 is $400, and the annual government tax is $350.
Only a licensed financial and corporate service provider in The Bahamas can file the incorporation. So a company is set up through an agent who checks the owners, issues a certificate of compliance and becomes the company's registered agent. We run the whole process with such a partner and take care of the paperwork on your side.
Which company to set up in The Bahamas
- International business company (IBC) - the standard choice for business outside The Bahamas: trading, holding, owning assets and investments. It is formed under the International Business Companies Act, the company rather than the owner is liable, and shareholders and directors can be foreign. For most people searching for a Bahamas LLC, this is the equivalent vehicle.
- Regular (domestic) company under the Companies Act - for doing business inside the country: it obtains a business licence, pays business licence tax on turnover and registers for VAT.
- Exempted limited partnership - for investment funds and joint ventures that need general and limited partners.
If you need a company to open an account, hold shares or work with clients abroad, an IBC almost always fits. We choose the form after discussing your goal.
How to register a company in The Bahamas: steps and timeline
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Owner checks | the licensed agent verifies the founders' passports, addresses and source of funds | 1-3 days after documents arrive |
| 2. Name reservation | the name is reserved in the online registry; a dual name in English and another language is allowed | held for 28 days, extendable by 14 days up to three times |
| 3. Constitutional documents | memorandum and articles of association, certificate of compliance from the agent | 1-2 days |
| 4. Incorporation | the agent files with the Registrar General's Department | 48 hours, or 1 hour for an extra fee |
| 5. Officers and beneficial owners | the register of directors and officers is filed; the registered agent holds the beneficial ownership details | right after incorporation |
| 6. Bank account | a file for a bank or payment institution | from 2 weeks, the bank decides |
Without the owner checks the agent cannot issue a certificate of compliance, and without it the registry will not accept the filing. So the longest step is not the incorporation itself but collecting and certifying the founders' documents.
How much it costs to open a company in The Bahamas in 2026
Fees are set by the International Business Companies Act as amended in 2014. The Bahamian dollar equals the US dollar, so the amounts below need no conversion.
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Incorporation, capital up to $50,000 | $400 |
| Incorporation, capital over $50,000 | $1,200 |
| Express incorporation within 1 hour, on top of the fee | $450 |
| Name reservation | $25, dual name $50 |
| Filing the register of officers and directors | $25 |
| Annual government tax | $350, or $1,000 with capital over $50,000 |
| Certificate of good standing | $50 |
| Restoration of a struck-off company | $600 within 24 months, $1,000 after that |
Government fees are only part of the budget: agent services, the registered address and owner checks come on top. Turnkey packages are in the price table below.
Fees from $400 and tax from $350 a year, and the beneficial owners register is mandatory
The law does not forbid registering an international business company in The Bahamas on your own, but filings go only through a registered agent. Mistakes cost more than the fees: the annual tax paid late, beneficial owners not entered in the register, substance requirements for certain activities. We register the company in 48 hours, provide the address and agent, and keep the beneficial owners register and annual payments.
The cost of support depends on the activity and the bank; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What taxes a Bahamas company pays
- No corporate income tax, no tax on dividends and no personal income tax.
- An IBC pays the annual government tax of $350 or $1,000 depending on its capital.
- A company doing business in the country pays business licence tax: $100 for a new business and for turnover up to $50,000, then 0.5% of turnover up to $500,000, 0.75% up to $5 million and 1.25% above. Renewals are filed by 31 January and the tax is paid by 31 March.
- VAT is 10%, with a zero rate on exported goods.
- Since 2024 large multinational groups with revenue of €750 million or more pay a domestic minimum top-up tax under the OECD rules.
No tax in The Bahamas does not remove tax where the owner lives: controlled foreign company rules may require the company's profit to be taxed at home. We go through this on a consultation before incorporation.
Economic substance and beneficial ownership
Since 2023 the Commercial Entities (Substance Requirements) Act has applied. If a company carries on a relevant activity - banking, insurance, fund management, financing and leasing, headquarters, shipping, holding or intellectual property - its core income-generating activities and management must be in The Bahamas, with employees, expenditure and premises proportionate to the business. The company reports on this every year.
Under the Register of Beneficial Ownership Act 2018 the registered agent holds the details of the ultimate owners and submits them to a secured government database. There is no public access, but tax and law enforcement authorities can obtain them on request.
Why incorporation gets delayed
- The agent cannot confirm the founder's source of funds or address, so there is no certificate of compliance.
- A foreign founder's documents lack an apostille or certified English translation.
- The name matches an existing company or uses restricted words such as bank or insurance without a licence.
- The business falls under the substance rules, but there is no plan for premises and staff.
- The annual tax was not paid: the company is struck off, and restoration costs $600-1,000.
What we do
We choose the right form for your goal, reserve the name, draft the memorandum and articles, run the owner checks through a licensed partner in The Bahamas, provide the registered address and registered agent, file with the registry and hand you the full set of corporate documents. After that we help open an account and remind you about the annual tax in advance so the company is not struck off. Prices for each service are in the table below.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Company registration - Base package | $10 800 |
| Company registration - Package with nominee service | $13 600 |
| Company registration - Package with bank pre-approval | $14 800 |
| Nominee director, per year | $1 600 |
| Nominee shareholder, per year | $1 200 |
| Apostilled power of attorney | from $830 |
| Courier delivery (DHL/TNT) | $550 |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $1 300 |
| Certificate of Incumbency | $1 100 |
| Compliance fee - standard | $550 |
| Compliance fee - each additional person | from $150 |
| Compliance fee - High Risk | $770 |
| Document signing | $220 |
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property
FAQ
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Need a company in the Bahamas?
We choose the Bahamas international company form, prepare the documents, register it and help with the bank and annual filings. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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