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San Marino at a glance
San Marino is outside the European Union. Its companies follow the jurisdiction's own incorporation rules. Compare company types, capital, tax, timing and signing requirements before you choose. The proposed 28th Regime (EU Inc) is a separate option that is not available yet.
Company types in San Marino
- S.r.l. (Societa a Responsabilita Limitata) The most common limited liability company for founders. Minimum capital EUR 25,500, at least one shareholder and one director, 100% foreign ownership allowed.
- S.p.A. (Societa per Azioni) A joint-stock company for larger ventures or raising capital. Minimum capital EUR 77,000.
Company formation in San Marino: key facts (last reviewed July 2026)
- Corporate tax
- Flat 17% corporate income tax (IGR) on profits. New businesses pay a reduced 8.5% for their first five years, and high-tech innovative start-ups (the SUT regime) pay 0% to 8%. Dividends to individuals are taxed at 5%.
- VAT rate
- No VAT. San Marino levies a single-stage import tax (imposta monofase) on goods entering the country instead, at a 17% standard rate (with lower category rates), refunded when goods are re-exported.
- Dividends & payroll taxes
- Dividends to resident individuals carry a modest flat withholding of around 5%. Personal income tax climbs into the mid-30s at the top, employer contributions add roughly a quarter of salary, and new-business regimes can cut the corporate side sharply.
- Minimum share capital
- S.r.l.: EUR 25,500. S.p.A.: EUR 77,000. At least half the capital is paid up within 60 days of registration. A high-tech start-up can be formed with as little as EUR 1 per share.
- Setup time
- Roughly 4 to 8 weeks (about 6 for an S.r.l.), plus around 4 weeks (up to about 2 months) to open the corporate bank account.
- Remote setup
- Yes. Non-residents can fully own and manage a San Marino company and incorporate remotely through a notarial deed (by power of attorney) and a local agent, with no travel required. A San Marino registered office and a local bank account (for the capital deposit) are still needed.
- Director / residency
- No resident director or shareholder required for an S.r.l. or S.p.A.; non-resident directors supply criminal-record certificates. A resident statutory auditor is required once capital reaches EUR 77,000 or revenue exceeds EUR 2 million.
- Banking options
- Capital is deposited through a San Marino bank (Banca di San Marino, CARISP, BAC), supervised by the Central Bank of San Marino. Account opening takes about 4 weeks (up to about 2 months) with full KYC and UBO checks.
- Our formation service
- from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit.
San Marino is an independent microstate, the world's oldest republic, landlocked inside Italy, NOT an EU member, but it uses the euro under a monetary agreement and has a customs union with the EU (an EU Association Agreement is negotiated but not yet in force). There is no VAT; a single-stage import tax stands in for it. It courts founders with a high-tech start-up regime (0 to 8% tax) and an 8.5% rate for new businesses' first five years.
How to register a company in San Marino
Step by step, this is how a San Marino formation actually runs:
- Prepare the file with a local agent. Articles, business plan elements and KYC go through a San Marino professional; a power of attorney covers remote signing.
- Notarise the deed. The S.r.l. deed is executed before a notary with the EUR 25,500 capital arrangement in place.
- Register the company. Entry in the commercial registry follows, with the operating licence issued by the competent office.
- Deposit capital through a local bank. Banking runs under the Central Bank of San Marino's supervision; KYC is thorough but manageable remotely.
- Tax registration. The company registers for the 17% general regime, with reduced schemes for qualifying new businesses (the SUT high-tech regime among them).
We can help coordinate documents, address requirements and filings with licensed local counsel. The steps and timing depend on your company and circumstances.
What company formation in San Marino costs
Professional-led formation commonly totals EUR 2,000 to 4,000 including notary and registry, and the annual licence tax adds several hundred euros. The EUR 25,500 capital is the largest day-one item. Accounting and administration typically run EUR 2,000 to 4,000 a year.
Plan your San Marino company formation
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service fee is from around €100 to €200 (estimated). We help you compare structures and prepare a quote with the scope, costs and expected timing. Government charges, capital and ongoing services are separate unless included in that quote.
Get your free planWho can form a company in San Marino
Check ownership eligibility separately from director, local-address and licensing requirements. Permission to own shares does not automatically give you permission to live or work in San Marino. The director and residency information above identifies the main formation conditions to review.
San Marino fits niche ventures using its incentives (notably the SUT regime for high-tech startups at 0% to 8%) and businesses with Italian-adjacent operations wanting a distinct legal home. The capital requirement and small banking system keep it specialist.
After registration: what San Marino expects each year
Annual financial statements are filed locally, the corporate tax return follows the 17% regime (or the reduced new-business rates while they last), and the operating licence renews with its fee. VAT-style import taxation differs from EU VAT, which matters for goods flows with Italy.
Plan beyond the registration fee
Use these guides alongside the national rules for your company. The cost and filing examples cover Estonia, Ireland and Portugal.
San Marino and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would add a harmonised company form in EU member states. Registration is not open and no launch date is confirmed. San Marino is outside the EU, so forming a company there does not make it an EU company or guarantee access to the proposed regime. Read how to prepare an EU Inc company, or compare current options in company formation in Europe.
Sources and review scope
Use the linked registries, authorities and specialist references to check the requirements for your company. A review of formation costs and filings does not replace a review of your tax position.
No separate topic-level check date is recorded for this profile. Confirm the current requirements with the linked authority before proceeding.
Reference links
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a company in San Marino?
No resident director or shareholder required for an S.r.l. or S.p.A.; non-resident directors supply criminal-record certificates. A resident statutory auditor is required once capital reaches EUR 77,000 or revenue exceeds EUR 2 million.
How long does company formation in San Marino take?
Roughly 4 to 8 weeks (about 6 for an S.r.l.), plus around 4 weeks (up to about 2 months) to open the corporate bank account.
What corporate tax does a company in San Marino pay?
The headline summary is 17% flat, with standard VAT of No VAT (17% import). Company form, activity, size and where the business operates can change the treatment. Read the detailed tax information and confirm the rules for your case.
Can I form a company in San Marino remotely?
Yes. Non-residents can fully own and manage a San Marino company and incorporate remotely through a notarial deed (by power of attorney) and a local agent, with no travel required. A San Marino registered office and a local bank account (for the capital deposit) are still needed.
What does it cost to form a company in San Marino?
Professional-led formation commonly totals EUR 2,000 to 4,000 including notary and registry, and the annual licence tax adds several hundred euros. Our formation service fee is from around €100 to €200 (estimated). Government charges, capital and ongoing services must be budgeted separately unless the written quote includes them.