Offshore · Company formation

Company formation in Antigua and Barbuda

For foreign founders who want a low-cost, tax-neutral holding or international-trading vehicle and will operate entirely outside Antigua and Barbuda. Expect the usual offshore friction with domestic banking and reputation.

Last verified July 2026

At a glance

Entity
International Business Corporation (IBC) — the limited-liability vehicle under the International Business Corporations Act, CAP 222, used by foreign founders for business conducted outside the country
Corporate tax
0% on foreign-source income for an IBC that trades exclusively outside Antigua and Barbuda (the domestic corporate income tax rate is 25%). The exemption covers income, capital gains, dividends, interest and withholding tax; it depends on staying outside the local economy, and the treatment is under EU/OECD pressure — confirm current status before relying on it. As of 2026.
Incorporation time
~3-7 business days (name approval ~2-4 days, then Certificate of Incorporation ~3-5 days); the FSRC says formation is possible in as little as 24 hours via an agent, but 5-7 days is realistic
Minimum capital
No statutory minimum. At least one share must be issued; IBCs are commonly set up with an authorised capital of US$50,000 to fall in the lowest annual-fee band
Resident director
Not required. Minimum one director; corporate (entity) directors and nominees are permitted, with no residency or nationality requirement. Note the Articles must be signed by two incorporators, one of whom must be a practising attorney in Antigua and Barbuda, and a locally licensed registered agent is mandatory
Audit
No statutory audit and no filing of audited accounts or tax returns for an IBC doing business exclusively outside Antigua and Barbuda; proper accounting records must still be maintained
Remote set-up
Yes — formed entirely remotely through an FSRC-licensed registered agent; no visit required. Full KYC/due-diligence on beneficial owners, directors and shareholders (certified passport, proof of address, source of funds) is required and is the main gating step
Government fee
Modest government fee set by the FSRC schedule — the initial IBC registration fee is around US$300, plus an annual licence/state duty from US$300 (US$350 for no-par-value shares, US$1,000 where share capital exceeds US$50,000) and a ~US$100 annual return filing fee. Registered-agent and office costs are separate and make up most of the ~US$1,500+ all-in market price
Best for
For foreign founders who want a low-cost, tax-neutral holding or international-trading vehicle and will operate entirely outside Antigua and Barbuda. Expect the usual offshore friction with domestic banking and reputation.

The process

  1. Engage an FSRC-licensed registered agent and complete KYC/due-diligence on all beneficial owners, directors and shareholders
  2. Submit the proposed company name to the FSRC for approval (~2-4 business days)
  3. File Articles of Incorporation in triplicate with the International Business Charter application — signed by two incorporators, one a practising Antigua and Barbuda attorney
  4. Receive the Certificate of Incorporation, pay government/licence fees, then appoint directors, issue shares and adopt by-laws
What can go wrong
  • You cannot self-file: a locally licensed registered agent and a practising Antigua and Barbuda attorney as one of the two incorporators are both mandatory, so third-party fees are unavoidable.
  • The tax exemption applies only if the IBC trades exclusively outside Antigua and Barbuda — it cannot do business locally or own real estate there — and the offshore tax regime faces ongoing EU/OECD substance and transparency pressure, so verify the current position rather than assuming a locked-in 50-year exemption.
  • Antigua and Barbuda is a small offshore jurisdiction with a legacy reputational profile and CRS/AML reporting; opening bank accounts and passing counterparty due-diligence can be slow and is the practical bottleneck, not the incorporation itself.

Form a company in Antigua and Barbuda?

One named person on the file, an honest read on tax and substance, and a fixed quote before you commit.