Taxes In Belize

Businesses, companies, and self-employed persons with annual earnings exceeding BZ$75,000 are required to pay business tax. The tax rate is determined by business classification, as illustrated in the table below. Business tax payments are made monthly to the Income Tax Department."

Belize Tax Service

Belize Tax Service

Address:

305 Chetumal Street

Belize City

Belize

TEL: 501 222-4776, 501-222-4956

https://bts.gov.bz/

Income tax is levied at a rate of 25% on the taxable income of employed residents in Belize whose annual earnings exceed BZ$26,000 (US$13,000).  Individuals earning less than this amount are exempt from income tax. The basic allowance is BZ$25,600 (US$12,800). This tax, known as PAYE, applies exclusively to employee income and is not considered a cost to be borne by the employer or business.

For further information, kindly contact the Income Tax Department:

Belize Tax Service

Address: 305 Chetumal Street

Belize City

Belize

Tel: 501 222-4776, 501-222-4956

Website:  https://bts.gov.bz/

Belize's General Sales Tax (GST) is a 12.5% consumer tax on goods and services. Some basic goods and services are zero-rated or exempt. GST is calculated on the markup value and paid monthly to the Department of GST. Only registered persons can charge GST (output tax) and claim credits (input tax). Businesses with annual turnover exceeding $75,000 (US$37,500) from taxable activities must register for GST with the Department of GST.

For further information, kindly contact the GST Department:

​Charles Barlett Hyde Building

Mahogany Street Extension

Belize City

Belize, Central America

Tel: +501-222-5574 or +501-222-5579

Fax: +501-222-5513

Email: generalsalestax@gst.gov.bz

Website: www.gst.gov.bz

Businesses operating in the hotel industry are also required to levy an additional hotel tax of 9%. The tax is charged to the hotel guests and paid monthly to the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).

For further information kindly contact the Belize Tourism Board:

P.O. Box 325

#64 Regent Street

Belize City

Belize, Central America

Tel: +501-227-2420 or +501-227-2417

Fax: +501-227-2423

Toll-Free: 1-800-624-0686

Website: www.travelbelize.org

info@belizetourismboard.org

An Environmental Tax of 3% is levied on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of goods imported into Belize. Exemptions from this tax include certain medicines and medicinal supplies for human use, along with specified basic foodstuffs, including rice, beans, potatoes, coffee, tea, butter and butter substitutes, cheese, margarine, cooking oil, shortening, lard and lard substitutes, powdered milk, condensed milk, baby formula, sardines, salted or in brine pork, corned beef, and salt.  Also exempt are goods made available through funds provided by grant agreements with external donor agencies, funds borrowed from external financial institutions by the Government of Belize, or through a government guarantee. This tax is payable by the importer at the time of importation.

Social Security provides benefits to employed individuals in cases of sickness, maternity, injury, or disability. Payments are due monthly to the Belize Social Security Board. Employers must ensure all employees have valid social security cards before hiring.

The table below illustrates weekly contributions to the fund.

For further information, kindly contact the Social Security Board:
 ​
 P.O. Box 18
 Bliss Parade
 City of Belmopan
 Cayo District
 Belize
 Tel: +501-822-2163 or +501-822-2471
 Website: www.socialsecurity.org.bz

This tax is collected by the Department of Lands and is assessed at a rate of 1% of the unimproved value of the lands. The table below details the values for each district.
 
 The table below details the values for each district:

Ministry of Natural Resources

H.M Queen Elizabeth II Blvd

City of Belmopan

Cayo District

Belize

501-822-0667, 501-880-0667

info@naturalresources.gov.bz

Stamp duty, also known as transfer tax, is payable on all transactions involving taxable land. For Belizean and CARICOM nationals, the duty is 5% of the land value exceeding $20,000. For all other persons, the rate is 8% of the land value.

Property tax is levied and controlled by City Councils and Town Boards throughout each district. Within the City of Belmopan, the rate of property tax is set at 2% of the assessed value. The Belize City Council utilizes the rate of 2.5% of the assessed value.

 Excise tax is collected on locally manufactured goods such as alcohol, beer, cigarettes, and soft drinks.  It is also levied on certain classifications of imported vehicles.

The Belize Customs Tariff is modelled from the Harmonized Description and Coding System (HS). The rates are based on the Customs Value (Cost, Insurance, Freight – CIF).

Import duties are levied at the point of importation.  The importer is liable for these duties. The Belize Customs & Excise Department is responsible for their collection. Rates range from 0 to 45%, with most commodities attracting a rate of 20%.

Some imported items are subject to a Revenue Replacement Duty (RRD) ranging from 5% to 40% of the combined Customs Value and Import Duties.  For a complete list of affected commodities, visit the Belize Customs & Excise Department's website.

Under the CARICOM agreement, goods imported into Belize from a CARICOM member state are exempt from import duties. Importers seeking this exemption must provide a CARICOM Certificate of Origin to the Comptroller of Customs. The complexities of the import process, including documentation requirements like the Certificate of Origin, often require importers to engage customs brokerage services.

For further information regarding Import Duty, Revenue Replacement Duty and Excise Tax, kindly contact the Belize Customs and Excise Department:

Belize Customs and Excise Department

Customs House

Port Loyola,

P.O. Box 146,

Belize City

Belize

Telephone: +501-223-7092/93

Fax: +501-223-7091

E-mail: cusnet@btl.net