Create your BVI annual financial return

The BVI annual financial return is a compulsory document that must be filed by all BVI companies and partnerships, with their registered agent on an annual basis, unless otherwise exempted.  

Exemptions   

Companies

The following entities are exempted and therefore not required to file an annual return with their registered agent: 

• a listed company, meaning a company that is listed on a stock exchange 
• a company that is regulated under a financial services legislation and provides financial statements to the Commission in accordance with the requirements of that financial services legislation  
• a company that files its annual tax return to the BVI Inland Revenue department accompanied by the company's financial statements 
• a company in liquidation, except that this exemption does not apply  
• if the company's annual return become due prior to the commencement of the liquidation  

Limited Partnerships 

The following limited partnerships are exempted and therefore not required to file an annual return with their registered agent: 

• a limited partnership that is regulated under a financial services legislation and provides financial statements to the Commission in accordance with the requirements of that financial services legislation 
• a limited partnership that files its annual tax return to the BVI Inland Revenue Department accompanied by the limited partnership's financial statements  

Where a limited partnership is part of a group that prepares and maintains consolidated accounts, it shall suffice if the limited partnership: 

1. submits the consolidated accounts of the group if the consolidated accounts shows the accounts of the limited partnership or  
2. in the case of more than one limited partnership, act in accordance with paragraph (1) or make a single submission which shows the annual returns attributable to each limited partnership required to make submission.  

For further support for your business either reach out to your usual Ogier contact, or complete our contact form below. 

All BVI companies and partnerships, unless otherwise exempted, are required to file with their registered agent an annual financial return (AFR) containing specified financial information.  

The BVI Business Companies (Financial Return) Order, 2023, effective from March 2 2023 and the Limited Partnership (Financial Return) Order 2025, effective from September 1 2025 te set out the requirements for AFRs. These orders specify the content and format of AFRs, outline the method for calculating the due date and filing deadline for BVI companies and partnerships, and identify categories of entities that are exempt from filing. 

Related briefings

• 2022 Amendments to BVI the Business Companies Act | Ogier
• BVI Business Companies – Annual Financial Return | Ogier
• BVI Annual Financial Return Solutions | Ogier
• BVI Limited Partnerships: Annual Financial Return Requirement

Annual Returns are due at the end of a company's and limited partnerships financial year. The financial year may be the calendar year (as the default), or a 12 month period expressly adopted by the company or partnership.  

For companies with a calendar year financial period, the first annual return was due January 1 2024, and these companies should have filed their annual return with their registered agent no later than September 30 024.   

Limited partnerships with a calendar year financial period will have their first annual financial return due on January 1 2026, with the filing deadline being no later than September 30  2026.  

If a BVI company or limited partnership fails to file its return on a timely basis, its registered agent  is obligated to notify the Registrar within 30 days of the filing deadline.  The non-complying BVI company or limited partnership will then be subject to penalties or may even be struck off or deregistered by the Registrar. 

Our team of highly qualified and experienced professionals in Ogier Global can support you with: 

• timely and accurately filing  
• reviewing records and underlying documentation to see if they sufficiently show and explain the company's transactions 
• preparation of unaudited balance sheet (statement of financial position), income statement and accounting records 
• preparation of annual financial returns 
• preparation of director's resolution  
• ongoing monitoring of regulatory requirements as they develop 

Those in control of BVI companies and limited partnerships should make themselves aware of the annual financial return filing requirements because a failure to file properly or in time could affect a company's or limited partnership's good standing with the Registry of Corporate Affairs.  

If you are a controller of a BVI company or a general partner of a limited partnership and uncertain about the company's or limited partnership's filing obligations, you should seek advice from our professionals to help you clarify the requirements.  

For BVI legal advice, contact Michael Killourhy or Simon Schilder, or use our contact us form below.

Yes the Ogier  BVI AFR tool can be shared online via the email and social media icons on the left of the page. 

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Arabic

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - French

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Hindi

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Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Malay

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Polish

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Portuguese

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - simplified Chinese

Instructions for creating your BVI annual return - Spanish