Bahamas company formation for non-residents

Why founders choose the Bahamas

The Bahamas is an established financial centre a short flight from the US east coast, with an English common-law system and a large private banking and trust industry. Its International Business Company is used mainly for holding investments and family wealth.

An IBC needs one director and one shareholder, pays no corporate income tax in most cases and does not file audited accounts. It sits in the same time zone as New York, which helps if your advisers or banks are in the Americas.

The Bahamas is not on the EU tax list or the FATF grey list, as of September 2026. That tends to make banking and counterparties easier than for listed jurisdictions.

The Bahamas is a higher-profile choice than some smaller registries, and banks tend to review Bahamas structures carefully. That is usually a sign of a well-supervised centre, but it means you should prepare clear source-of-funds evidence from the start.

Directors, shareholders and the registered agent

IBCs are formed under the International Business Companies Act 2000. A company needs at least one director and one shareholder. Directors can be individuals or companies and can live anywhere.

Every IBC must keep a registered agent and a registered office in the Bahamas. The agent files documents with the Registrar General's Department and holds the due diligence on the owners.

Bearer shares were abolished by the 2000 Act, so every share is registered to a named holder. Since the International Business Companies (Amendment) Act 2025, a director may not act as a nominee on someone else's instructions; directors must use their own judgement (confirm commencement with your specialist).

The memorandum sets the authorised share capital, which also sets the band for the annual government fee. We help you choose a figure that fits your plans without paying for capital you will never issue.

• Directors: 1 or more, individual or corporate
• Shareholders: 1 or more
• Registered agent and office: required
• Bearer shares: not allowed

How we form your Bahamas IBC

The process starts with a name check and the choice of directors. Once you upload your KYC documents, the registered agent completes due diligence on every director, shareholder and beneficial owner. Complete, clear documents are the single biggest factor in how fast this goes.

The agent then files the memorandum and articles with the Registrar General's Department, and the certificate of incorporation is issued. Most files take 5–7 days from KYC approval.

After registration, we hold the first board resolutions, issue the shares, prepare the registers and file the beneficial ownership information. You receive the certificate, memorandum and articles, share certificates and registers through the client portal.

If you need certified or apostilled copies for a bank or a counterparty abroad, we order them at the same time, so you do not have to wait for a second round of paperwork.

Tax in the Bahamas

The Bahamas does not levy corporate income tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax on most companies. Government revenue comes mainly from VAT, customs duties, stamp duty and licence fees.

For fiscal years starting in 2024 or 2025 (depending on the group), the Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax Act 2024 charges 15% on Bahamas entities of multinational groups with annual revenue of €750 million or more. For most founders and family structures, it does not apply.

A company doing business inside the Bahamas may need a business licence and pay business licence fees based on turnover (confirm with your specialist). An IBC used only for international holding usually does not.

Remember your own country's rules. If you manage the company from home, your home country may treat it as resident there or tax its profits under controlled-company rules.

The Bahamas has no personal income tax either, but that only matters if you live there.

Economic substance and records

The Commercial Entities (Substance Requirements) Act 2018 applies to Bahamas companies. Every entity files an annual report with the tax authority's reporting portal, generally within nine months of its financial year-end (confirm with your specialist).

Entities carrying on relevant activities, such as holding, financing, headquarters or intellectual property business, must also show adequate management, staff, spending and premises in the Bahamas. A pure equity holding company faces a lighter test.

Every IBC keeps accounting records that explain its transactions and financial position, for at least five years. It also confirms to its registered agent that it keeps those records.

Registers, beneficial owners and privacy

The register of directors and officers is filed with the Registrar. The register of members is kept at the registered office and is not filed publicly.

Under the Register of Beneficial Ownership Act 2018, beneficial owners are recorded in a secure search system that only competent authorities can use. The registered agent enters the information and keeps it current.

This is privacy within the law. The Bahamas exchanges financial account information under the Common Reporting Standard, so assume your home tax authority can learn about the company.

When a director, shareholder or beneficial owner changes, the records must be updated promptly: the beneficial ownership register within a short statutory window, and the register of directors with the Registrar. Tell us before the change happens and we prepare the filings, so the company's records and your bank's records stay consistent.

Annual upkeep and banking

Each year the IBC pays its annual government fee, which depends on its authorised capital, and files its economic substance report. Late payment brings penalties that grow over the year, and continued non-payment can lead to strike-off (confirm current dates with your specialist).

We keep one calendar for the fee, the substance report and any record updates. For banking, we introduce you to suitable banks or payment institutions and prepare the application. The bank decides.

If you want a lower-maintenance holding company without the Bahamas' banking profile, we can compare it with Seychelles or Nevis, with running costs side by side.