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Features of the Belize International Foundation

Belize
Law International Foundations Act, 2010
International Foundations Regulations, 2010
International Foundations (Amendment) Act, 2013
Establishment of a Foundation Draft the foundation charter
Register the foundation with the registrar in Belize
Transfer of assets/property to the foundation
Legality
After registration, the foundation has a legal personality.
The foundation has same rights and status of separate and independent person.
Types of foundations:
Irrevocable, but the foundation charter may be amended by the council or the foundation may be dissolved if absolutely necessary; charitable and non charitable.
Uses
Holding and managing assets for family purposes, business purposes, commercial activity, philanthropic/charitable activities or other purposes
The foundation must have a foundation council. The council is responsible for the administration of the assets in the foundation. The powers and obligations of the council are set out in the foundations charter. Neither the foundation council nor its members have a personal ownership or title to the endowment.
Elements of the Foundation
Founder – Foundation Charter – Foundation Council
By Laws (optional) – Beneficiary – Protector (optional)
Property/assets/endowment – Secretary – Registered Agent
Creator Founder — the person who establishes the foundation, or makes a transfer of assets to the foundation; may have more than one founder; the founder cannot serve as protector or council member; may be a beneficiary.
Management and Administrative Arm
Minimum Number Of Members There must be at least one member on the council. Individual and corporate members are allowed.
At least one (1) of the members must be a resident of Belize (can be a REGISTERED AGENT)
Beneficiary The person, persons or class of people benefiting from the foundation. The beneficiary can be:
Identified by name
Identified by Class
Identified by Relationship
Not yet born
The beneficiaries can be changed.
Documentation Foundation charter — the foundation charter is the governing document of the foundations. The charter is executed by the founder and each of the members of the council, protector (if any) and signed and witness and contains:
name of the foundation
name and address of founder
purpose of the foundation
name and address of registered agent
name and address of council member
initial endowment (value of assets to be placed into foundation)
specify the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, and if there is no named beneficiary,
provisions for management and administration of the foundation.
Registered agent and office Must have a registered agent and a registered office in Belize.
By-laws (Optional) The by-laws are optional rules and regulations or administrative provisions adopted by the foundation.
Secretary Must have a secretary unless one of the foundation council members is a resident of Belize.
Secretary must be resident of Belize, must be regulated and can be the registered agent.
Optional elements
A Protector may be appointed under the laws, whose powers are set out in the charter. A member cannot be a protector.
Duration
may be established for any period or for an indefinite period
Language
The Foundation Charter and any amendments may be written in any language, but when it is not written in English it must include a certified translation into English language.
Changes in documentation
Foundation Council can amend the foundation; changes or amendments can be made to the foundations charter, once unanimously agreed upon by members. (if the charter makes such provisions)
Type of assets/objects or endowment
Any Kind
Foundation name
Name must end with the word “Foundation” or the abbreviation “Found.” Or “Fdn.” Or the equivalent in a Roman script.
Cannot contain words such as royal, chartered, royal family, or names connected with government of Belize (see Brief Paper for more information)
Meetings of the foundation
If the charter or by-laws require meetings, the meeting can be held in a manner and place as dictated by the foundation laws.
Accounts
May keep accounts as deemed necessary by foundation council; however, the requirements under the Accounting Records (Maintenance) Act, 2013 must be adhered to.
Requirements to maintain status as international foundation
The founder cannot be resident in Belize
None of the beneficiaries is resident in Belize
The endowment or property or assets does not contain any land or shares in Belize
Information on register (registrar)
Name of foundation
Name and address of registered agent
Date of registration of foundation
Document of proof of existence
Certificate of Establishment containing, date of establishment, name of the foundation, name and address of agent, registration number of foundation.
Validity of certificate
A Certificate of establishment is valid for one year, after which it must be renewed.
Renewal/maintenance
Must be renewed on the anniversary of the foundation; there are penalty fees; failure to pay renewal fees or maintain an agent in Belize can lead to striking off (termination) of the foundation.
Dissolution
A foundation may be dissolved when:
it reaches it maturity date;
it is revoked
and may be dissolved voluntarily by the foundation council (if it has such powers according to the charter)
Continuance
Overseas foundations may continue in Belize under this act.
Confidentiality
Disclosure of information relating to the establishment, its administration, management, maintenance and assets, is forbidden and subject to stiff fines and penalties.
Certificate of good standing
This is a government issued document that shows that the foundation:
is a registered foundation
has paid up all fees and penalties
had filed all necessary paperwork
Tax Exemptions
Earnings and revenue of the foundation are 100% tax free in Belize
Restrictions
May not carry out any financial service business (unless licensed to do so)
Advantages
The Belize Foundation allows arbitration, where disputes can be settled out of court.
No member of the foundation council or board has any personal ownership or title to the endowment; no creditor of a member or founder or beneficiary has any right to the endowment.
A foundation set up for both charitable and non-charitable purposes qualifies as a charitable foundation even if the non-charitable purposes are the main purposes, and as such this type of foundation may be able to benefit from tax refunds or rebates where it operates.
Any body, person or agency wishing to take action against the foundation, must first deposit US$50k or any other amount set by registrar.
Specific provisions in the law for civil asset protection, such as non-recognition of foreign judgment

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