Revisions to Fees Payable by Regulated Mutual Funds and Regulated Private Funds (2026-02-04)

Summary

This is a CIMA general industry notice explaining how recently approved Cayman Islands Government fee increases apply to the Annual Return Fee and sub-fund/AIV fees paid by regulated mutual funds and regulated private funds. It follows an earlier notice dated 31 December 2025 and clarifies the new fee amounts, effective dates, and how the increases will be reflected on the REEFS portal.

New Fee Amounts (Effective 1 January 2026)

Annual Fee for registered funds: Rises from $3,675 to $4,125.
Annual Fee for Master Funds: Rises from $2,625 to $3,075.
Sub-fund fees for registered mutual funds: Rise from $300 to $750.
Sub-fund/AIV fee for registered private funds: Rises from $300 to $525.
Fees for financial years ending on or before 31 December 2025: Remain at the old rates.

For 2026 only, the base fee and the incremental increase will show as separate REEFS payments due to timing between the REEFS release and government approval of the new rates. From 1 January 2027, this will become a single consolidated payment.

Deadlines and Compliance

Remittance deadline: The annual fee remittance deadline remains 15 January each year, and the pre-revised annual fee was statutorily due by 15 January 2026.
Top-up requirement: Funds that already paid the old (lower) amount must top up to the full revised fee, with any shortfall to be settled by 15 February 2026.
Penalties: CIMA will not assess penalties on the unpaid incremental increase before 15 February 2026, but non-compliance and penalties will follow for amounts unpaid after that date.

Key obligations

Regulated mutual funds and regulated private funds (including Master Funds, sub-funds and AIVs) must pay the revised Annual Return Fee amounts ($4,125 for registered funds; $3,075 for Master Funds) applicable from 1 January 2026.
Funds must pay the revised sub-fund fee ($750 for registered mutual fund sub-funds) or sub-fund/AIV fee ($525 for registered private funds) applicable from 1 January 2026.
Entities that already remitted the pre-revised annual fee amount must ensure the full revised fee (plus applicable sub-fund/AIV fees) is paid, settling any outstanding balance by 15 February 2026 to avoid penalties.
Entities must continue to pay the annual fee by the unchanged deadline of 15 January each year.
Entities must continue to pay sub-fund/AIV fees separately from the annual fee, in accordance with current procedures.

Applies to

regulated mutual funds, regulated private funds, Master Funds, sub-funds, alternative investment vehicles (AIVs)

Deadlines

1 January 2026: Effective date for the revised Annual Fee and sub-fund/AIV fee amounts.
15 January (each year): Unchanged statutory deadline for payment of the annual fee.
15 January 2026: Statutory deadline by which the pre-revised annual fee was due.
15 February 2026: Deadline for funds to settle any outstanding balance between the pre-revised amount already paid and the full revised fee obligation, after which penalties for non-compliance will be assessed.
1 January 2027: Date from which the annual fee and incremental increase will appear as a single consolidated payment on REEFS, rather than separate payments.