Belize and U.S. tax treaty and FATCA lists

What the U.S. lists show for Belize

The IRS A-to-Z list of United States income tax treaties does not include Belize among its listed countries. The list describes treaties as affecting certain U.S. or foreign source income, with rates and exemptions varying by country and income type.^[3]

The Treasury FATCA agreements and understandings table likewise has no Belize entry. It lists jurisdictions and the status and model of their FATCA intergovernmental agreement, where applicable.

Where no treaty exists between a country and the United States, income is taxed under the instructions and rates for the applicable U.S. tax return.^[3]

What a tax treaty means

The IRS describes a tax treaty as an agreement that can set reduced rates or exemptions for certain income, depending on the country and income type. The IRS says foreign country residents, who are not necessarily citizens, may receive reduced U.S. taxation or exemptions on certain U.S.-source income under such treaties.^[3]

The IRS also says U.S. residents or citizens can be taxed at a reduced rate or exempted from foreign taxes on certain income from foreign sources under treaties. For a U.S. citizen, the IRS description makes treaty effects dependent on treaty coverage, the relevant income, and the other country's rules.^[3]

The IRS further states that if a treaty does not cover a particular kind of income, or no treaty exists between the country and the United States, the applicable U.S. return instructions and rates govern the income.^[3]

What a FATCA intergovernmental agreement means

Treasury says FATCA requires foreign financial institutions to report information to the IRS about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities where U.S. taxpayers have a substantial ownership interest. Treasury says these institutions are encouraged either to register directly with the IRS under FATCA regulations and any applicable FFI agreement, or to comply with intergovernmental agreements treated as in effect in their jurisdictions.^[2]

Treasury explains that it published a Model Intergovernmental Agreement to improve tax compliance and implement FATCA. Its table organizes jurisdictions by agreement status and model. The table gives no Belize agreement status or model.^[2]

The treaty list and FATCA table address distinct subjects. The IRS describes the treatment of certain income under tax treaties. Treasury's FATCA text describes information reporting by foreign financial institutions, and its table lists agreements and understandings by jurisdiction.^[2][3]

Related reading

Reporting rules are covered in Belize information exchange and U.S. trust reporting. FATCA agreement lookup provides a jurisdiction lookup for Treasury's FATCA table. Belize trust rules and U.S. reporting addresses Belize trust taxation alongside U.S. reporting requirements.

Questions and answers

Related resources

Related glossary terms

• Treaty rate table: A treaty rate table summarizes income categories and tax rates or exemptions under U.S. income tax treaties. The IRS explains the tables' scope and limits.
• Trust: The Hague Convention describes a trust as a relationship in which a settlor places assets under a trustee's control for beneficiaries or a specified purpose.
• Foreign grantor trust: A foreign grantor trust is a foreign trust treated as owned by a grantor, often a U.S. person. Ownership brings Form 3520 and Form 3520-A reporting duties.

Related articles and guides

• Cook Islands and U.S. tax agreements: The IRS treaty list and Treasury FATCA table show where the Cook Islands stand, with the IRS descriptions of those agreements and of foreign trust reporting.
• Belize information exchange and U.S. trust reporting: Belize publishes how it exchanges account information automatically, and the article sets that alongside the U.S. reporting duties that apply to U.S. citizens with a trust.
• Isle of Man treaty and FATCA position: The IRS treaty list does not include the Isle of Man, while Treasury lists it as In Force under FATCA Model 1. The two lists cover different subjects.

Tools and official documents

• FATCA agreement lookup: Look up any jurisdiction in the U.S. Treasury FATCA table and see its agreement model and status as the Treasury lists them, with a link to the source.

Related pages

• Belize: overview: Start page for this jurisdiction.
• Types of trusts
• Trustee regulation and licensing
• Taxation of trusts