Is the Bahamas blacklisted by the EU?

No. The Bahamas is on the EU's compliant list, having implemented economic substance, beneficial-ownership reporting and CRS exchange.

Can I get Bahamian residency?

Yes. Permanent residency is available with a property purchase of USD 750,000 or more, with accelerated consideration above USD 1.5m.

How long does a Bahamian IBC take?

Three to seven working days through a licensed agent once due diligence is complete.

Jurisdiction · Caribbean

Bahamas

Zero-tax private wealth centre with real banks and an hour's flight to Miami.

Scope a structure here Talk to a director

Overview

The Bahamas is one of the few zero-tax jurisdictions with a genuine banking sector on the ground rather than a mailbox industry. Private banks, trust companies and fund administrators are physically present, the trust law is modern, and Nassau is fifty minutes from Miami — which matters when a family actually needs to sit across the table from its trustee.

Zero tax here means zero income, capital gains, inheritance and corporate tax, funded instead by VAT and stamp duty. The jurisdiction has cleared the OECD and EU listing processes by legislating economic substance and beneficial-ownership reporting.

Typical use-cases

Where Bahamas fits

Private trusts
Family offices
Fund vehicles

Banking

Banking landscape

Butterfield, Scotiabank, CIBC FirstCaribbean and a bench of private banks including Julius Baer, UBS and Pictet operate in Nassau. Private banking minimums typically start around USD 1m. Corporate accounts for IBCs require the full structure chart, source-of-wealth evidence and, usually, a licensed local agent in the file.

Tax

Tax & reporting

No corporate income tax, no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and no withholding tax. Government revenue comes from 10% VAT, customs duty, stamp duty and annual company fees. The Bahamas has enacted a domestic minimum top-up tax for in-scope multinational groups.

Substance

Substance & register visibility

Economic substance requirements apply to relevant activities such as banking, insurance, fund management, financing, headquarters, distribution, shipping and IP. Pure holding companies face a reduced test. Beneficial ownership is filed to a secure private register accessible to competent authorities; there is no public register.

Decision

When to pick this jurisdiction

Pick the Bahamas for a private trust or family office that needs a real trustee and real bankers in a zero-tax jurisdiction, or for a fund vehicle serving US-adjacent investors.

The director's view

Written up as a comparative shortlist.

Every Bahamas recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.

Next step

Considering Bahamas? Get a written comparison first.

Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.

Scope a structure here Compare jurisdictions

Frequently asked

Questions we hear on every Bahamas intake.

Is the Bahamas blacklisted by the EU?: No. The Bahamas is on the EU's compliant list, having implemented economic substance, beneficial-ownership reporting and CRS exchange.
Can I get Bahamian residency?: Yes. Permanent residency is available with a property purchase of USD 750,000 or more, with accelerated consideration above USD 1.5m.
How long does a Bahamian IBC take?: Three to seven working days through a licensed agent once due diligence is complete.

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