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Nevis tax guide 2026

Nevis LLC tax: the exemption ended, residence decides now

Updated 10 November 2026IRD residence guidanceAbout 9 minutes to read
The short answer

A Nevis LLC run from abroad pays no tax in St Kitts and Nevis on foreign income, because it isn't resident there. The old statutory exemption ended in 2021.

Run from the federation, it pays 25% on worldwide income. Either way it files a CIT-101 every year by 15 April.

Is my LLC resident? I'm a US owner
Residence based 25% Nevis tax on a company run from St Kitts and Nevis, on worldwide income Run from abroad, it pays nothing there on foreign income. Every LLC still files a CIT-101 by 15 April.

Most pages still call a Nevis LLC tax exempt. The words are still in the law, but the exemption ended: it closed to new entities after 2018 and to all of them by 30 June 2021. What decides the tax now is where the LLC is managed. Here's how that works, from the Inland Revenue Department's residence guidance and the IRS forms.

Key takeaways

  • The old statutory exemption ended by 30 June 2021, even though the text still appears in the ordinances.
  • A company managed and controlled from abroad pays nothing in St Kitts and Nevis on foreign income, under the Inland Revenue's residence guidance.
  • Run from the federation, it pays 25% on worldwide income; pages quoting 33% are out of date.
  • Every Nevis LLC and corporation files a CIT-101 by 15 April, with or without income, under the CIT-101 guidelines.
  • The US treats a Nevis LLC as a corporation by default; Form 8832 can change that.
  • There is no economic substance law for Nevis entities.
Chapter 1

Nevis LLC tax exemption: what ended and when

US$150,000 profit, run from abroadLLC
Tax in St Kitts and NevisUS$0
If run from the federation, at 25%US$37,500
Withheld on payouts to youUS$0
Yearly returnCIT-101 by 15 April
Your own country may tax the LLC or what it pays you. Where you live: pick it
  1. Before 2019Exempt by statuteLLCs and corporations doing no business in the federation paid no tax of any kind.
  2. 1 January 2019Closed to new entitiesAnything formed from then on was outside the exemption.
  3. 30 June 2021Ended for the restGrandfathered entities joined the residence based system.
  4. January 2024Company rate 25%Down from 33%, for companies resident in the federation.
1
Key takeaway

The statutory exemption closed to new entities in 2019 and ended for all in 2021.

Chapter 2

Is a Nevis LLC tax resident in Nevis?

The Inland Revenue's residence guidance looks at central management and control: usually where the managers or board meet and take the key decisions. A registered agent in Charlestown doesn't make it resident.

Managers or board meet and decide
Office or staff in the federation
Customers in the federation
2
Key takeaway

Where the managers meet and decide, not where the LLC is registered.

Chapter 3

Nevis LLC annual fee and CIT-101 return

Annual fee paid

The fees come from the FSRC fee table and S.R.O. 9 of 2024. The CIT-101 declares residence and where records are kept; the penalty for not filing runs up to EC$10,000.

Late renewal charges, removal, restoration and every yearly record: Nevis LLC annual fees and filings.

3
Key takeaway

A CIT-101 every 15 April and US$300 before each anniversary.

Chapter 4

How the US taxes a Nevis LLC

A US citizen or resident owns it
Owners
Form 8832 election filed

A Nevis LLC is a foreign entity to the IRS, never a US LLC. Form 8832 sets the default and the election; the instructions for Form 5471 and Form 8858 cover the yearly reports that follow. Ask a US tax adviser before electing.

4
Key takeaway

The US treats a Nevis LLC as a corporation unless you elect otherwise.

Chapter 5

St Kitts and Nevis VAT, withholding and stamp duty

17%VAT, on supplies made in St Kitts and Nevis only
15%Withholding on some payments from the federation to non-residents
2%Stamp duty on local share transfers; 6% to 10% on property
NonePersonal income tax for people living there

5
Key takeaway

17% VAT and 15% withholding, only on dealings in the federation.

Chapter 6

Is Nevis a tax haven?

  1. March 2018EU blacklistMoved to the watch list two months later.
  2. 18 February 2020Off the EU listsAnd on neither list as at 9 October 2026.
  3. November 2026Not on the FATF listsThe Global Forum rates it largely compliant.
6
Key takeaway

Off the EU lists since February 2020, off the FATF grey list.

Chapter 7

Nevis tax questions, answered

?!
Is a Nevis LLC still tax exempt?
Not by statute. The exemption ended by 30 June 2021. A Nevis LLC managed from abroad still pays nothing there on foreign income, because it is not resident.
What is the corporate tax rate in St Kitts and Nevis?
25% since January 2024, on the worldwide income of a company resident there.
What is the Nevis CIT-101?
A yearly return every Nevis LLC and corporation files with the Inland Revenue by 15 April, declaring residence and where records are kept.
Does Nevis have economic substance rules?
No economic substance law covers Nevis entities. Residence decides the tax instead.
How does the IRS treat a Nevis LLC?
As a corporation by default when all owners have limited liability. Form 8832 can elect a disregarded entity or partnership.
Is St Kitts and Nevis on the EU blacklist?
No. It left the EU lists on 18 February 2020 and is on neither list in 2026. For what banks ask a Nevis LLC, see our Nevis LLC bank account guide.
Do you file the CIT-101?
Yes. Our Nevis LLC includes the government fee and the CIT-101 every year.

Changelog

  • 10 November 2026: first published.
  • 13 November 2026: official sources linked in the text.
Your Nevis LLC

A Nevis LLC with the CIT-101 filed every year.

US$799 for the first year, then US$699, government fee included.

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