INCORPORATE IN Bahamas

In the Bahamas there is no corporate income tax, no capital-gains tax, no dividend tax, and no withholding on interest or royalties. Legal entities pay only a fixed annual licence fee (from USD 350 for a standard IBC), and individuals pay no personal income tax—their obligations are limited to contributions to the National Insurance system.

Instead of classical VAT/VIES, the island economy uses a value-added tax (VAT) with a base rate of 10 %, so Bahamas incorporation can reduce the overall tax burden. The VAT applies only to goods and services consumed inside the country, which makes offshore activity and international trade effectively tax-free. In addition, several special zones—such as Harbour Bay and Grand Bahama—offer exemptions from import duties on equipment and raw materials. Bahamas company formation therefore, greatly facilitates the launch of e-commerce, charter, and logistics projects operating between North and Latin America.

The Bahamas adheres to FATF and OECD standards yet preserves strong privacy: data on directors and shareholders are not published, and information on ultimate beneficial owners is held only by the licensed registered agent in a closed register. Another reason to open a company in Bahamas is that no annual financial statements must be filed with state authorities; you need only keep current corporate documents and pay the licence fee.

This balance between tax advantages, moderate compliance, and statutory privacy makes the islands one of the most attractive jurisdictions for international holdings, financial services, family offices, and trading structures.

We assess your goals, tax residency, and expected cash flows to define how to open a business in the Bahamas in a way that ensures low exposure, strong confidentiality, and access to banking.

International Business Company (IBC)

A fully foreign-owned structure with no capital threshold and fast setup (24–48 hours). An IBC pays a flat state fee, submits no financial reports, and enjoys full exemption from taxes on income, dividends, and asset sales. Names of directors are not made public. Confidentiality and minimal formalities make it the top pick for holdings, online commerce, and fintech SPVs when incorporating a company in the Bahamas.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Introduced by the 2018 Act, a Bahamas LLC doesn’t issue shares but member interests. A key Bahamas LLC benefit is that profit is taxed at the member level under home-country rules. This suits ventures needing pass-through treatment—family assets, pooled investment vehicles, or cross-border startups. Limited liability, optional nominee management, and appealing Bahamas LLC cost reinforce its flexibility.

Segregated Accounts Company (SAC)

Allows each asset group or project to be separated within one legal body. Under the SAC Act 2004, each “cell” has its own liability shield. This format works well for insurance schemes, asset-backed charters, and private funds. No tax applies, and all portfolios run under one licence.

Exempt Limited Partnership (ELP)

Built around general and limited partners—at least one of each. Profits are distributed directly without taxation locally. Non-residents can use a foreign legal entity as the managing partner. This model supports confidential Bahamas company setups for hedge strategies or capital pools needing flexible ownership and zero local filing.

Bahamian Foundation

This entity has no owners and is run by a council under the 2004 Act. No tax is levied on offshore income, and all beneficiary details remain private. It is widely used in estate planning, intellectual-property holding, or as a discreet family-office vehicle—one of many reasons why the Bahamas business registry is a preferred choice for long-term wealth structuring.

Our mission is incorporating a company in the Bahamas while preserving efficiency, legality, and confidentiality. Each task is handled by specialists familiar with the local compliance system.

1. Fast incorporation. We prepare the constitutional documents—Memorandum, Articles, and Form IBC-1 or LLC/ELP-1—and notarize them locally. Filing takes place via the official eServices portal. The company appears in the registry and receives its certificate, usually within 48 hours.
2. Structure guidance. Following a review of your operations and tax goals, we advise how to set up a company in the Bahamas that balances privacy, asset protection, and financial transparency.
3. Full documentation support. Our team prepares the internal registers, issues shares (registered or bearer), pays the fixed annual licence (starting at USD 350), and provides legal address services. UBO disclosures are submitted to the private Competent Authority platform that meets FATF obligations—no data is placed in public view.
4. Bank onboarding. We compile the full KYC file under Central Bank guidelines: concise business model, funds source, and professional references. Clients then complete a short video verification and receive a dollar bank account at Ansbacher, Deltec, or a fintech with SWIFT access. Timeframe: 7 to 10 business days.
5. Personal manager. A dedicated coordinator handles every phase, ensuring setting up a business in the Bahamas stays smooth and error-free. You receive updates without having to interact with multiple departments.

This integrated approach delivers a compliant Bahamian structure with an operational USD account, secure UBO status, and no exposure to corporate or dividend taxes—ready in under two weeks.

Among the undeniable advantages that your decision to entrust us with setting up a company in the Bahamas affords, it is worth highlighting a whole range:

• Fast setup. Documents are filed directly through the Registrar General’s e-platform, allowing incorporation in just 1–2 days.
• Fixed cost of incorporating in Bahamas. The service contract covers all essentials: licence duty, notary work, agent services, and legal coordination—everything included, no surprises.
• Structure tailored to your goals. We recommend the best legal form to achieve zero taxation, protect beneficial ownership, and ensure bank onboarding proceeds smoothly.
• Full cycle under one curator. A single specialist oversees the process from start to finish, including opening your USD account—avoiding repetition and delays.

That combination explains why international clients choose our assistance with company formation in Bahamas and trust us with their market entry.

If you’re exploring how to open a Bahamas LLC, the process involves just five clear steps. Freeport Solutions walks you through each one:

1. Initial briefing and name reservation. We define the structure, allocate ownership, appoint a director, and secure your chosen name through the eServices platform. A registered office in Nassau is reserved.
2. Formation package preparation. Our legal team drafts the Memorandum & Articles, fills out the IBC-1 form, and creates the registers of directors and members. At the same time, we collect KYC documents: ID, address confirmation, source of funds, and a short business summary.
3. E-filing and incorporation. Once documents are ready, we upload the package, pay the state fee (starting at USD 350), and receive the digital Certificate within 1–2 days—along with the panama company registration number equivalent in the Bahamas.
4. UBO registration and licence renewal. We submit beneficial-owner details to the confidential state register and immediately pay the licence fee to keep the entity active.
5. Bank onboarding. We forward the KYC file to trusted banks like Deltec, Ansbacher, or a licensed fintech. After a short video call, your multi-currency USD account is operational in 7–10 days, with SWIFT access enabled.

Each step is handled by the same project manager—no repetition, no delays.

To learn how to set up a Bahamas LLC and receive a free consultation, fill in the simple form—our manager will contact you. Our experience in twenty countries lets us apply proven algorithms in practice, so do not pause on the road to entering a high-profit market with a favourable tax system.