Company Registration in the Bahamas
Capital: Nassau.
Official languages: English.
Currency: Bahamian dollar.
Advantages of company registration:
- No corporate tax on profits, interest, dividends and other income received outside the Bahamas.
- 20 year tax holidays for new or expanding business projects in the Bahamas.
- Partial confidentiality of data on shareholders and directors of an offshore company.
- Strict asset protection laws.
The Bahamas is a state located on the islands of the same name, north of the Caribbean Sea and Cuba, southeast of the Florida peninsula.
To date, the Bahamas still retains the status of one of the leading offshore jurisdictions, but is forced to make concessions towards greater transparency under pressure from the EU and FATF.
Confidentiality and anonymity of company and account owners. The Bahamas is known for its high degree of confidentiality in the banking sector. In 2021, a law came into force obliging the disclosure of ultimate beneficiaries of companies to the Bahamian authorities. However, there is no public registry yet.
The main advantage of the Bahamas remains - the absence of corporate taxes on income received outside the jurisdiction of the islands.
Taxation and Reporting Features
Corporate Income Tax:
- No corporate income tax
- Exemption for certain business activities
- No capital gains tax
VAT:
- No VAT system
- Customs duties may apply to certain imports
Dividends:
- 0% withholding tax on dividends for non-residents
- Favorable tax treaties with many countries
Company registration in the Bahamas is streamlined and efficient. The process is managed by the Registrar General's Department. A unique company name must be approved and reserved before proceeding with registration.
To register a company, applicants must provide a completed incorporation form, which includes essential company information. This is accompanied by necessary documents such as the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and identification documents for directors and shareholders.
Once registered, the company details are recorded in the Bahamas Companies Registry. To operate, companies must also apply for a business license from the Ministry of Finance.
At the time of registration, the company must have:
- A registered office address within the Bahamas.
- A local registered agent to handle legal documents.
- A set of certified Memorandum and Articles of Association.
- Payment of the registration fee to the Registrar General's Department.
Company Registration in the Bahamas
- Limited liability
- Minimum 1 director / 1 shareholder
- Simple business structure
Company Registration in the Bahamas
Additional information
- Financial reporting: Not mandatory in the Bahamas
- Audit: Not required for most companies
- Annual Return: Required for all registered companies
- Tax return: No corporate income tax
- Employer's Return: Applicable if employing staff
- Registers: Shareholders and directors (private)
- Directors' details Not publicly available
- Shareholders' details Confidential and protected
- Financial reporting Confidential and not disclosed
Timeline and Stages
- 01
Preparation of documents and selection of company name
1-2 days - 02
Conducting a name search in the Bahamas Company Registry
1 day - 03
Submission of registration documents online or in person
1 day - 04
Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration
1-4 days - 05
Establishing a corporate bank account
2-4 weeks
The bottom line
The Bahamas still maintains its status as one of the leading offshore jurisdictions and provides a very attractive tax regime for companies investing or doing business outside the Bahamian jurisdiction. However, recently the Bahamas has been faced with the need to bring its rules in line with global trends.
Therefore, before proceeding with the registration of a company in the country in question, we recommend that you seek professional advice from the legal experts of IT-OFFSHORE in order to obtain up-to-date information on the rules and requirements, as well as to ensure a successful registration process and compliance with the law.
Cost calculation
Add the required options for your company:
FAQ
Can you register a company remotely?
Yes, in most cases — you can.
Remote company registration is available in the vast majority of popular jurisdictions today. Modern corporate services, electronic document management and professional registered agents make it possible to complete the entire registration process without being physically present in the country.
The process typically works as follows: you provide the required documents electronically, sign them remotely — via a notary, apostille or electronic signature — and a local registered agent handles all communication with government authorities and document submission on your behalf.
This has been made possible by several factors: most countries allow foreign founders and directors, corporate service providers operate remotely across the globe, and the digitisation of government registries has significantly streamlined and accelerated the procedures.
The one step that may still require in-person presence is opening a corporate bank account — however, even here many banks and fintech platforms now offer remote identity verification.
What documents are needed for registration?
Registering a company in most jurisdictions requires a standard set of documents. For individuals — founders and directors — the typical requirements include: a certified copy of a passport, proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement no older than 3 months), and in some cases a bank reference letter or CV.
For corporate shareholders, the required documents include: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, register of directors and shareholders, and confirmation of the ownership structure.
Do I need to keep accounting records and submit reports?
Accounting and reporting requirements vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. In most countries, companies are required to maintain proper bookkeeping, file annual financial statements and submit tax returns.
At the same time, there are a number of jurisdictions where reporting requirements are minimal or effectively non-existent for non-resident companies. These include, for example, the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, Panama, Belize, Seychelles and Vanuatu — in these countries, companies that do not conduct business within the territory of the registration state are generally exempt from mandatory financial reporting and audit requirements.
We provide full company administration services, including preparation and submission of annual reports, liaison with local authorities and ensuring full compliance with all corporate requirements of the jurisdiction.
Is it possible to open a bank account for a company?
Yes, opening a corporate bank account is possible for virtually any jurisdiction, however this process deserves careful attention. Today businesses have two main options: traditional banks and fintech platforms.
Traditional banks offer a full range of financial services, but account opening requirements have become increasingly stringent — KYC procedures, source of funds confirmation, business plans and in some cases in-person presence may be required. Fintech platforms — such as Wise, Airwallex, Revolut Business and others — open accounts significantly faster and remotely, making them a popular solution for international companies at an early stage.
Is it possible to use nominee directors?
Yes, the use of nominee directors and shareholders is a common and legitimate practice in international corporate structuring. A nominee director is formally listed in the company registry but acts exclusively in accordance with the instructions of the beneficial owner, providing an additional layer of privacy.
This service is particularly in demand in jurisdictions where information about directors and shareholders is entered into a public register — for example, in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Malta and a number of other EU countries. In offshore jurisdictions, nominee services are also widely used to simplify corporate governance and protect ownership structures.
We provide nominee director and shareholder services for any jurisdiction we work with.
