Tuvalu

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Overview

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Identifiers

Collect two identifiers from each business customer in Tuvalu and submit them as strings on the application body. Tax ID: Tuvalu does not impose corporate income tax or capital gains tax. All businesses must file a Business, Revenue & Customs Registration Form with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development; the registration number assigned also serves as the tax reference for quarterly presumptive-tax payments (AUD 100 per quarter for registered businesses under the Licences Act) and payroll tax compliance. No separate TIN certificate in the traditional sense is issued; the business registration number appearing on the registration form and operating licence is the operative fiscal identifier. There is no VAT or GST in Tuvalu. Registration number: Assigned at incorporation under the Companies Act 1991 (Cap. 40.08) for domestic companies or under the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34) for IBCs; also assigned to partnerships and sole traders under the Companies and Business Registration Act (Cap. 40.12, Revised 2008). Appears on the Certificate of Incorporation (companies) or the registration certificate issued by the Registrar. No standardised public alphanumeric format confirmed.

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Sector regulators

Banking Commission of Tuvalu (BCT) · Tuvalu Revenue and Customs Service (TRCS), Ministry of Finance and Economic Development · Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

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Legal structures

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How documents combine

For each evidence area, this table shows whether the listed documents are alternatives (any one of) or a bundle (all required). The artifact-by-artifact lookup follows below.

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Documents to collect

The physical documents you’ll collect from your customer, with the evidence area each one proves. One document can prove multiple areas — for example, Brazil’s Cartão CNPJ covers both tax and business-registration proof, so it appears once with both areas listed.

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Collection notes

• Legal Registration: Issued by the Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, upon approval of Form 1 (Application for Incorporation) and Form 2 (Consent of Director(s)) filed under the Companies Act 1991 (Cap. 40.08) or the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34). Includes company name, registration number, and date of incorporation. For IBCs, the registrar registers the Memorandum and Articles in the Register of International Companies and issues a Certificate of Incorporation, typically within one business day. The company register is not publicly searchable for free; searches available via the Ministry of Finance or third-party agents (e.g. Schmidt & Schmidt) for a fee with 7–14 day turnaround. Partnerships and sole traders receive a registration certificate rather than a Certificate of Incorporation.
• Constitutive Documents: Constitutive document filed with the Registrar of Companies at incorporation under the Companies Act 1991 (Cap. 40.08); sets out the company name, objects, authorised share capital, governance rules, and voting provisions. For IBCs under the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34), the Memorandum and Articles of Association are registered with the Tuvalu International Companies Registry and retained in the Register of International Companies; these documents remain private. For partnerships, a Partnership Agreement (deed) is filed with the Registrar under the Companies and Business Registration Act (Cap. 40.12).
• Tax Registration: Tuvalu has no corporate income tax, capital gains tax, or VAT/GST. All businesses must complete a Business, Revenue & Customs Registration Form with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development upon commencement of business; the assigned registration number serves as the tax reference. Quarterly presumptive tax of AUD 100 applies to all registered businesses (AUD 20 for informal unregistered operators). Personal income tax is payable by individuals (0% up to AUD 10,000; rates up to 35% over AUD 40,000). For IBCs, no tax obligations exist for foreign-source income under the International Companies Act 2009. The Business Operational Licence issued by the Kaupule under the Licences Act also serves as proof of tax compliance at the local government level. No standalone TIN Certificate is issued.
• Operating Permit: Every registered business in Tuvalu must obtain a Business Operational Licence (BOL) under the Licences Act (Cap. 28.XX, as amended 2008). The BOL is issued by the relevant Kaupule (island/local council) — there are eight Kaupule jurisdictions across Tuvalu’s islands (Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaetau, Nukunonu, Vaitupu, Niulakita, and Nanumanga). A copy of the certificate of registration from the Department of Business (Ministry of Finance) is required before a BOL will be issued. The Kaupule has power to suspend or cancel licences for non-compliance; failure to notify the Kaupule when ceasing business can result in up to 3 months imprisonment. Annual renewal is required.
• Sector-Specific License: Banking and deposit-taking licences are issued by the Banking Commission of Tuvalu (BCT) under the Banking Commission Act 2011 (Cap. BCT). The BCT is the sole authority for issuing bank licences; its supervisory capacity is limited and is the subject of ongoing IMF-recommended reform (2025 Article IV Mission). The National Bank of Tuvalu (NBT) is the dominant licensed bank, wholly state-owned. Insurance activities are subject to separate sectoral requirements. No securities regulator or money-services-business licensing regime has been confirmed in Tuvalu’s published legislation as of 2026. For IBCs wishing to conduct financial services (banking, insurance, investment), the International Companies Act 2009 regime does not itself confer financial services authorisation; a separate sectoral licence from the BCT or applicable authority is required.
• Governance Records: Domestic companies under the Companies Act 1991 (Cap. 40.08) maintain a register of directors. For IBCs under the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34), the registered agent keeps a copy of the register of directors at the registered office and a further copy is lodged with the Registrar (ICA s.39(3)); all information is held as confidential and not available for public inspection (ICA s.77). Under the Companies and Business Registration Act (Cap. 40.12), companies and partnerships must file a list of directors/partners with the Minister annually; the Minister maintains a register of this information. A minimum of two directors is required for IBCs at all times (ICA s.40(1)).
• Signing Authority: Board resolution authorising a signatory is standard practice for companies; no statutory prescribed form under Tuvalu law. Power of attorney may be used as an alternative. Note: Tuvalu is NOT a contracting party to the Hague Apostille Convention (confirmed on the HCCH status table as of 2025). Documents for international use must be legalised through consular channels rather than by apostille.
• Address: Conduit universal policy: lease (no time bound) OR utility bill OR bank statement, with utility/bank dated within 90 days. Same evidence satisfies both registered-address and operating-address checks. Utility infrastructure in Tuvalu is limited; bank statements from the National Bank of Tuvalu (NBT) — the sole commercial bank — or the Development Bank of Tuvalu are the most common substitutes. The registered office requirement for domestic companies and IBCs requires a physical address in Funafuti. Bank of South Pacific (BSP) does not operate in Tuvalu.
• Good Standing: A Certificate of Good Standing is available for companies incorporated under both the Companies Act 1991 and the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34). Issued by the Registrar of Companies (Ministry of Finance and Economic Development) on application by the company or its authorised representative; confirms the company’s active status and compliance with annual formalities. The Tuvalu company register is not publicly searchable at no cost; extracts and certificates obtained via the Ministry or through authorised agents (e.g. Schmidt & Schmidt) typically take 7–14 days. Tuvalu is NOT a contracting party to the Hague Apostille Convention; certificates for international use require consular legalisation.

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Person roles

When you submit a person on the application body, set their role to one of Conduit’s canonical BusinessPersonRole values. Use this table to map a local corporate-governance title onto the right canonical role.

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Notes

• Tuvalu operates two parallel corporate regimes: (1) domestic companies under the Companies Act 1991 (Cap. 40.08), intended for businesses operating within Tuvalu; and (2) International Business Companies under the International Companies Act 2009 (Cap. 40.34), intended for business conducted entirely outside Tuvalu. Conduit will predominantly encounter IBCs. IBCs require a minimum of two directors (ICA s.40(1)); registers of directors and shares are lodged with the Registrar but held as confidential (ICA ss.27(3), 39(3), 77) — not publicly accessible. Verify which regime applies before assessing tax and disclosure documents.
• Tuvalu has no corporate income tax, capital gains tax, VAT, or GST. IBCs are fully exempt from all Tuvalu taxes on foreign-source income. The only fiscal obligation for domestic businesses is a quarterly presumptive tax of AUD 100 and Kaupule-level operating licence fees. Do not request corporate tax certificates — none exist.
• Tuvalu is NOT a contracting party to the Hague Apostille Convention (confirmed HCCH status table, December 2025). Do not accept apostille-stamped Tuvaluan documents. All documents for international use (e.g. certified copies, certificates of incorporation, good standing) must be legalised through consular channels. Consular legalisation may take several weeks.
• The company register is not freely publicly searchable. Obtaining a registry extract or Certificate of Good Standing typically requires a request through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development or a licensed third-party agent, with a 7–14 day turnaround and a fee. For IBCs, the registered agent (licensed under the International Companies Act 2009) holds the key corporate records confidentially — no public access.
• The Business Operational Licence (BOL) is a mandatory operational requirement under the Licences Act, issued by the island Kaupule, not the central Ministry of Finance. Funafuti is the primary jurisdiction for most commercial entities. For companies based on outer islands, confirm which Kaupule issued the licence.
• Foreign direct investment in domestic businesses and partnerships is subject to foreign-interest restrictions under the Companies and Business Registration Act (Cap. 40.12, s.3A): partnerships cannot exceed prescribed percentages of foreign interests in assets and profits (40% per current regulations). IBCs under the International Companies Act 2009 permit 100% foreign ownership.
• Australian dollar (AUD) is the functional currency for domestic businesses; IBCs under the International Companies Act 2009 must denominate authorized capital in USD. Tuvalu has no central bank. The National Bank of Tuvalu (NBT) is the sole commercial bank (100% government-owned); the Development Bank of Tuvalu also operates. Bank of South Pacific (BSP) does not operate in Tuvalu. Bank statements from NBT should be accepted as address evidence.