Belize tax
2 special regimes for new residents: QRP exemption for foreign-source income and Belize Qualified Retired Persons: exemption.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Special regimes for new residents
Special regime
QRP exemption for foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Foreign-source income and receipts
Qualified Retired Persons are exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize for work or investment abroad, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize. 3
Taxed on
Foreign-source income and receipts
Who it applies to
- Designated Qualified Retired Person aged 45 or over meeting the pension and deposit conditions.
Exclusions
- Exemption is lost if qualifying conditions or the deposit undertaking lapse.
Tax residence
Qualified Retired Persons are deemed non-residents for the Offshore Banking Act and exchange control purposes.
Visas
Tied to QRP designation; import duty exemption for personal effects and transport within one year of first entering Belize.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Special regime
Belize Qualified Retired Persons: exemption on income from outside Belize
Tax relief
Details
- On: Income and receipts from sources outside Belize (Retired Persons
A designated Qualified Retired Person is exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize, for work or investment made outside Belize, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize. 3
Taxed on
Income and receipts from sources outside Belize (Retired Persons (Incentives) Act s. 4(4)); Belize-source income stays under the Income and Business Tax Act.
Who it applies to
- Retired person: at least 45 years of age, designated as a Qualified Retired Person under the Act; dependents are the spouse and children under 18.
- The exemption applies notwithstanding the Income and Business Tax Act.
Exclusions
- Qualified Retired Persons and dependents other than citizens or permanent residents may not take gainful employment in Belize.
- Business carried on from Belize is allowed only if it relates to activities mainly outside Belize and is conducted exclusively with persons non-resident in Belize.
Tax residence
Qualified Retired Persons are deemed non-residents for the Offshore Banking Act, Exchange Control Regulation Act, International Business Companies Act, Trusts Act, Immigration Act and Belizean Nationality Act purposes.
Visas
The exemption attaches to QRP designation, which also grants entry and stay rights for the person and dependents while he or she remains a Qualified Retired Person.
Other taxes
The Act also grants import-duty relief on personal effects and an approved vehicle (within one year of first entry, renewable every three years);.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Which visas the regimes apply to
- QRP exemption for foreign-source income: QRP retiree programme. Tied to QRP designation; import duty exemption for personal effects and transport within one year of first entering Belize.
- Belize Qualified Retired Persons: exemption: QRP retiree programme. The exemption attaches to QRP designation, which also grants entry and stay rights for the person and dependents while he or she remains a Qualified Retired Person.
Standard rules and foreign-source income
Standard rules
Income and business tax: territorial basis
25% tax
Details
- On: Income accruing in or derived from Belize
The Income and Business Tax Act charges tax on chargeable income accruing in or derived from Belize, whether received in Belize or not, so foreign-source income is outside the charge. 1 2
Taxed on
Income accruing in or derived from Belize
Tax residence
The Act taxes by source (Belize) rather than residence; section 20 sets tax on the chargeable income of employed persons at 25%.
Visas
Temporary Employment Permit holders obtain an Income Tax Letter from the Belize Tax Service before the permit is issued.
Other taxes
Social security registration is required for permit holders.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Standard rules
Belize territorial income tax (ordinary context)
25% tax
Details
- On: Chargeable income accruing in or derived from Belize
- Who: Applies to any person
Belize charges income tax on income accruing in or derived from Belize, whether received in Belize or not; employed persons and other persons are charged 25% of chargeable income, and gross time-deposit interest bears a 5% final tax. 1
Taxed on
Chargeable income accruing in or derived from Belize (Income and Business Tax Act s. 5).
Who it applies to
- Applies to any person; the charge depends on the Belize source of the income, not on residence.
Exclusions
- Income without a Belize source is outside the s. 5 charge as read.
- Tax on lottery winnings is 15% final (s. 20(3)).
Visas
The territorial charge applies irrespective of immigration status; the Qualified Retired Persons programme adds an express exemption for foreign-source income.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
VAT, social security and other taxes
- Social security registration is required for permit holders.
- The Act also grants import-duty relief on personal effects and an approved vehicle (within one year of first entry, renewable every three years);.
Questions people ask
Who qualifies for QRP exemption for foreign-source income?
Designated Qualified Retired Person aged 45 or over meeting the pension and deposit conditions. Tied to QRP designation; import duty exemption for personal effects and transport within one year of first entering Belize.
Who qualifies for Belize Qualified Retired Persons: exemption?
Retired person: at least 45 years of age, designated as a Qualified Retired Person under the Act; dependents are the spouse and children under 18. The exemption attaches to QRP designation, which also grants entry and stay rights for the person and dependents while he or she remains a Qualified Retired Person.
Is there a tax break for QRP retiree programme holders in Belize?
Belize Qualified Retired Persons: exemption on income from outside Belize: A designated Qualified Retired Person is exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize, for work or investment made outside Belize, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Sources (3)
Official sources
- Income and Business Tax Act, Cap. 55, Revised Edition 2020 (ss. 5, 20, 21) · Attorney General's Ministry, Government of Belize · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2020-12-31
- Temporary Employment Permit · Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour, Belize · checked 2026-10-12
- Retired Persons (Incentives) Act, Cap. 62, Revised Edition 2011 (published by Belize Tourism Board) · Government of Belize / Belize Tourism Board · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2011