AS A FOREIGNER, YOU'LL BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING INCOME TAX IN BELIZE ON YOUR INCOME FROM ABROAD, REGARDLESS OF ITS SOURCE............
BELIZE IS DEFINITELY A 'NO SHIRT, NO SHOES,NO PROBLEM' KIND OF PLACE. GONE IS THE OBSESSION WITH PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, FASHION AND WEIGHT.
What is the best rule of thumb for doing anything in Belize ?
Smile a lot and go with the flow!
In Belize things are laid back-way back. It is a fabulous place to just relax. No one is in a hurry to do anything-ever. It's called "Belize Time" and everything in the country runs on it. Many find that the slow pace in Belize is just their speed. They, possibly for the first time in their lives, completely unwind and enjoy life.
My idea of great weather is no winter, no snow and no heating bills. The average year round temperature in Belize is a balmy 79 degrees. Homes in Belize do not have insulation or heating systems, because it never gets cold. The sun shines virtually everyday of the year. On the other hand, there's really no need to cool your home with air-conditioning either, for if your house is built right, the breeze coming off the Caribbean will do that for you.
Apart from having unbelievably clean air and water, it is very easy to have a healthy lifestyle in Belize . Increased exercise and activity come naturally when one walks or rides a bicycle to most of the places they need to go. Year-round ocean swimming will be such a pleasure you won't think of it as a prescription from the doctor
Eating the simpler, healthier, unprocessed foods that are abundant in Belize , fresh fish and tropical fruits, for example, help many people lose weight without even trying when they move to Belize
In Belize , all medical and dental treatment is first world (facilities and trained medical personnel), highly affordable and always accessible. Even free medical care is available to you as a foreigner through Belize 's socialized medicine system. Medical insurance is available and very reasonably priced.
A couple can still get by living on $1000 a month in Belize , that's for the basics, and if you've got more of course, you can live higher on the hog! However, you'll enjoy the same sea and sun even on the lesser amount.
there are no restrictions on what you can or cannot build, and you only need a permit to build if you are within city limits, and then the permit is free.
You don't need a fishing license, unless you plan to fish commercially, and you can light a bonfire anytime you like. You can also buy medication without a prescription.
you can own land outright with fully marketable title! It's yours to do whatever you want to with it. It's in your name; you can pass it on to your heirs. Also, the government of Belize will give you land practically free! Once you receive Permanent Residency, you can apply for a piece of land from the government for as little as $17.50 a year, yes, that's seventeen dollars and fifty cents!
As a foreigner, you'll be exempt from paying income tax in Belize on your income from abroad, regardless of its source be it pension, Social Security, rental property investment income etc. In Belize there is no inheritance tax and no capital gains tax. Property taxes are low at 1% of the value of the undeveloped property.
While either permanent residency status or a work permit is required to work in Belize , both are far simpler and less expensive to get in Belize than many other places. Depending on what type of work you do a work permit can cost from $25-$500 a year.
Comments
Belize looks really good
AS A FOREIGNER, YOU'LL BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING INCOME TAX IN BELIZE ON YOUR INCOME FROM ABROAD, REGARDLESS OF ITS SOURCE............
BELIZE IS DEFINITELY A 'NO SHIRT, NO SHOES,NO PROBLEM' KIND OF PLACE. GONE IS THE OBSESSION WITH PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, FASHION AND WEIGHT.
What is the best rule of thumb for doing anything in Belize ?
Smile a lot and go with the flow!
In Belize things are laid back-way back. It is a fabulous place to just relax. No one is in a hurry to do anything-ever. It's called "Belize Time" and everything in the country runs on it. Many find that the slow pace in Belize is just their speed. They, possibly for the first time in their lives, completely unwind and enjoy life.
My idea of great weather is no winter, no snow and no heating bills. The average year round temperature in Belize is a balmy 79 degrees. Homes in Belize do not have insulation or heating systems, because it never gets cold. The sun shines virtually everyday of the year. On the other hand, there's really no need to cool your home with air-conditioning either, for if your house is built right, the breeze coming off the Caribbean will do that for you.
Apart from having unbelievably clean air and water, it is very easy to have a healthy lifestyle in Belize . Increased exercise and activity come naturally when one walks or rides a bicycle to most of the places they need to go. Year-round ocean swimming will be such a pleasure you won't think of it as a prescription from the doctor
Eating the simpler, healthier, unprocessed foods that are abundant in Belize , fresh fish and tropical fruits, for example, help many people lose weight without even trying when they move to Belize
In Belize , all medical and dental treatment is first world (facilities and trained medical personnel), highly affordable and always accessible. Even free medical care is available to you as a foreigner through Belize 's socialized medicine system. Medical insurance is available and very reasonably priced.
A couple can still get by living on $1000 a month in Belize , that's for the basics, and if you've got more of course, you can live higher on the hog! However, you'll enjoy the same sea and sun even on the lesser amount.
there are no restrictions on what you can or cannot build, and you only need a permit to build if you are within city limits, and then the permit is free.
You don't need a fishing license, unless you plan to fish commercially, and you can light a bonfire anytime you like. You can also buy medication without a prescription.
you can own land outright with fully marketable title! It's yours to do whatever you want to with it. It's in your name; you can pass it on to your heirs. Also, the government of Belize will give you land practically free! Once you receive Permanent Residency, you can apply for a piece of land from the government for as little as $17.50 a year, yes, that's seventeen dollars and fifty cents!
As a foreigner, you'll be exempt from paying income tax in Belize on your income from abroad, regardless of its source be it pension, Social Security, rental property investment income etc. In Belize there is no inheritance tax and no capital gains tax. Property taxes are low at 1% of the value of the undeveloped property.
While either permanent residency status or a work permit is required to work in Belize , both are far simpler and less expensive to get in Belize than many other places. Depending on what type of work you do a work permit can cost from $25-$500 a year.
References
http://www.movingtobelizeguide.com/retire_in_belize/
http://www.belizereport.com/business/doingbus.html
http://www.caribpro.com/Caribbean_Property_Magazine/index.php?pageid=255
http://caribpro.com/Books_Ebooks/Belize_Residency/
http://www.caribpro.com/Caribbean_Property_Magazine/index.php?pageid=251