COMPANIES IN ESTONIA

INSTEAD OF OFF-SHORE COMPANIES

Every company is required to pay taxes. Tax planning is part of the work of each organization. However, many do not know how to legally optimize tax payments. However, there are ways, and they help many companies. One of these ways - offshore companies. Unfortunately, recently, the use of offshore companies has become problematic due to increased interest from the tax side and a bad attitude to all schemes with offshore.

However, there is the option of creating a European company in the state of the “white” list and using this company as an offshore harbor, on fully legal grounds.

Since 2004, Estonia is a member of the EU, in 2011 it became part of the Eurozone.

Estonia is open to foreign capital. This makes it very convenient for solving many problems: protection of assets, reduction of tax payments, acquisition of European assets on a common basis, access to the European market on behalf of a European entity, etc.

Estonian organizations can obtain a European EORI number and a VAT number.

Since 2000, the profit tax in Estonia has been 0% if the company's profit has not been distributed. It does not matter in which country the profit is received, it is not possible to collect tax from it. The profit is reinvested and applied to the business of the organization, for example, is used to repay the loan. Taxes are not charged and there are no fiscal payments until the profit are directed to dividend payments.

Also, the founder of an Estonian company may be a legal entity. This makes registration easier and makes it possible to use the company for profitable tax planning.

The banking system in Estonia is highly developed and allows you to create any multicurrency accounts, escrow accounts, receive any types of bank cards. In addition, many banks provide the services of personal banking managers. Even in Russian.

Cost of company registration in Estonia:

• Company registration, including government fees - €3000
• Notary services - included in the price
• The contact person of the organization is included in the price.
• Legal address - €50 per month
• Accountant- €50 month
• Opening a bank account - €3000
• Tax Number - Not Required
• VAT number of the company - on request
• Authorized capital - €2500

The heavy burden of tax liabilities often causes business failures and problems with regulatory agencies. Once and for all the difficult issues will be resolved by registering a company in Estonia - a country from the “white list” of states where the conditions for legal business are created.

The main advantage of opening a company in Estonia is the reduced to 0% tax rate on retained earnings. This is beneficial if the proceeds are not sent to payments to individuals (for example, shareholders in the form of dividends), but to finance their own economic activity - loan repayment, etc. This attracts novice businessmen and entrepreneurs with many years of experience.

Estonia: why should you open a company here?

Estonia became a member of the European Union more than 10 years ago (in 2004) and during that time has established itself as an attractive offshore, but not in its pure form.

The fact is that due to the keen interest of the tax authorities to offshore companies and their schemes of work, many entrepreneurs began to think about legal ways to reduce the tax burden. And Estonia turned out to be the economic zone where the registration of the company was a good solution to the problem. It has become possible to conduct business with minimal tax obligations, avoiding intermediary services in the sale of goods and products in the European Union.

Companies in Estonia most often are used:

• to protect assets;
• reduction of tax payments;
• import or export of goods;
• protection of intellectual property rights;
• obtaining a residence permit.

TAX SYSTEM IN ESTONIA: 4 KEY NUANCES:

The Estonian tax system in its key points is similar to the systems of other European countries. Its main advantage is the absence of the income tax itself, if it is not distributed directly (dividends) or indirectly (in the form of material benefits to the owners and employees of the company).

If the profit is distributed, then the tax is 25% of the amount. If the owner is a resident of a state with which Estonia has an agreement on avoidance of double taxation (including Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine), the rates will be different.

For firms that are not exempt from paying VAT, the number of payments is 20%.

When exporting goods produced in Estonia, the tax rate is 0%. This tax was introduced in 2000. It is important to understand that:

•   this rate is valid only until the distribution of profits among shareholders, founders or shareholders;
•   it remains so, even if profits are not distributed after the financial period has ended;
•   funds can be accumulated in the current account of a company in Estonia;
•   if a company has foreign trade loans, then only interest is taxed, not the main debt.

When selling goods or providing services outside of Estonia, the company is registered on its territory and is not subject to VAT. The same rule applies to the sale of products throughout the European Union and the customs territory.
Separately, we note that the citizenship of employees of a company opened in Estonia also affects the amount of tax. If cadres have Estonian citizenship, the social tax is 33%. If employees are not residents of the country and work outside it, then the tax is 0%.

Company registration in Estonia. WHAT IS BENEFIT? 

1. Opening a tax-free company in Estonia will bring the owner many advantages and relieve the burden of tax burden in the “home” country.
2. Zero interest on retained earnings gives you the opportunity to invest these funds in the further development of your own business.
3. The civil status decree adopted in 2011 allows you to become the owner and hold a position on the company's board to non-residents of Estonia and the European Union. For comparison: in other European countries (Lithuania, Finland, for example), to open a company, you must have the appropriate citizenship. Therefore, non-residents need a mediator, which entails additional costs.
4. A transparent and understandable tax system is interesting for entrepreneurs who have opened companies in Estonia to do business with European partners, or to reduce the tax burden.
5. Small expenses on account maintenance as compared to other European banks (about 2 euro per month is the use of Internet banking services and account management. For new companies it is completely free).

IMPORTANT! You can open an account in an Estonian bank only if the company cooperates with Estonian counterparties in the country.

Simplified approach to reporting. Duty-free companies operating in Estonia must submit reports:

• In the Estonian tax department: if the company has a VAT number, then on a monthly basis up to 10th day there is information on income and social taxes, up to the 20th day - on turnover tax. The report on the turnover of products within the European Union (Intrastate) is submitted each month to the 14th day, if the company operates in the territory of the Eurozone.
•  Department of Statistics: quarterly (information on the type of the company's activities, the salaries of its employees).
• Commercial register: annually until June 30, a declaration is submitted, which reflects the financial activities of the past year.

Existing treaties with many countries (more than 56 - with Belgium, Germany, Austria, England, France, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Canada, USA and other countries) exclude double taxation.

Since 2016, the “black list” of offshore jurisdictions with which transactions were subject to income tax has been abolished.

The opportunity to acquire ownership of vehicles in Estonia without paying VAT (or returning 10-20%) or real estate.

IMPORTANT! No transport taxes.

If the company does not have a VAT number and has not accrued staff salaries, it is not necessary to submit reports to the Tax Department.

The maintenance of the company will not exceed 600 euros per year.

Paying taxes allows you to use free medical care and rely on a pension that Estonia will pay.
 
The possibility of obtaining a residence permit by the owner of the company in Estonia or a member of its board.

Marking on manufactured goods “Made in the EU”, which means increased customer demand because the European Union and quality are inseparable concepts.

As you can see, there are enough advantages from registering a company in Estonia. Having the usual features of offshore, such organizations operate in Europe and successfully conduct business.

Opening a company in Estonia: what do you need to know?

To become the owner of an Estonian company, you can either organize a new company, or acquire an operating company.
One common form is a limited liability company, or OU. Its key advantage is that during registration no fixed capital is needed. But declare it (at least 2500 euros) is necessary. After that, within 3 years the founder (or founders) must create the declared capital.

Option 1 - registration from scratch. Suitable for Estonian citizens or its residents, as well as people with an Ai-di card.

Option 2 - the purchase of a ready-made company with a registered capital of 2500 euros. This path is designed for non-residents of the country. This way you can open a company remotely.

To make a purchase legally, you must provide the scanned pages of the director and founder of the passport, and specify the following information:

• activity direction;
• name;
• residential address, telephone number and e-mail address of the director / founder.

After registration of all papers, the owner receives a package of documents, which include:

• registration certificate;
• company charter;
• memorandum of association;
• minutes of meetings of participants and directors.

After successful registration, the company can start work. Opening a company in Estonia is a good way to improve financial condition on legal terms and expand the area of operations. European manufacturers are more willing to cooperate with organizations from the European Union than from Russia and the CIS countries. And the “Made in the EU” stamp will open the way to the hearts of customers and increase sales profits.