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Serbia at a glance
Serbia 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 Serbia
- d.o.o. (limited liability company) The most common form for SMEs, startups and foreign investors. Minimum capital RSD 100, liability limited to the contribution, one or more members, managed by a director.
- Preduzetnik (sole entrepreneur) A natural person doing business with no minimum capital, fast and cheap to register but with unlimited personal liability. Popular with freelancers.
Company formation in Serbia: key facts (last reviewed July 2026)
- Corporate tax
- Flat 15% corporate income tax, among the lowest in Europe, with no local profit tax. Incentives include an IP Box (up to 80% of qualifying IP income excluded), an investment tax credit and R&D relief. Withholding of up to 20% on dividends to non-residents is usually reduced under tax treaties.
- VAT rate
- Standard VAT (PDV) is 20%, with a reduced 10% rate and 0% on exports. Registration is mandatory above RSD 8,000,000 (about EUR 68,000) of turnover.
- Dividends & payroll taxes
- Dividends to resident individuals are taxed at 15%, and withholding of up to 20% on payments to non-residents is usually treaty-reduced. Salaries combine a 10% income tax with social contributions heavy enough that total employment cost runs well above the net wage, so founders usually balance salary against dividends deliberately.
- Minimum share capital
- A d.o.o. needs only RSD 100 of capital (under EUR 1), which is symbolic. Founders planning to seek residence through the company are advised to contribute at least EUR 250. A joint-stock company (a.d.) requires RSD 3,000,000.
- Setup time
- The Business Registers Agency (BRA) issues the registration decision within 3 to 5 business days of complete documentation; allowing for apostilles and the bank account, the realistic end-to-end timeline is about 10 to 15 business days.
- Remote setup
- Yes. Physical presence is not required: a local attorney completes the incorporation under an apostilled power of attorney, and BRA registration has been fully electronic since 2023. The corporate bank account is the step most likely to need extra attention.
- Director / residency
- No Serbian residency required: a single foreign national can be sole owner and sole director, and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. Only a director who physically lives and works in Serbia needs a residence and work permit.
- Banking options
- After BRA registration the company opens a corporate account at a Serbian bank; banks working with non-resident-owned companies include Raiffeisen, UniCredit, Banca Intesa, OTP and Erste. KYC and UBO review can take from a day to a few weeks.
- Our formation service
- from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit.
Serbia is not an EU member; it is an official EU candidate (accession talks open since 2014) outside the EEA and EFTA, with a Stabilisation and Association Agreement and CEFTA free trade. It uses the Serbian dinar. The draw is a low 15% corporate tax, near-zero capital, 100% foreign ownership and fully electronic, remote-friendly setup, and a Serbian company would not fall under the EU Inc / 28th Regime unless Serbia joins the EU.
How to register a company in Serbia
Step by step, this is how a Serbia formation actually runs:
- Prepare the founding act. The d.o.o. founding act with an apostilled power of attorney lets a Serbian attorney run the process remotely.
- File with the BRA. The Business Registers Agency processes electronic incorporations, typically within 3 to 5 business days.
- Deposit the capital. The symbolic RSD 100 minimum can be paid within years of registration; most founders pay a practical amount at once.
- Tax registration. The BRA filing covers the tax identification number; VAT registration applies past RSD 8 million of turnover.
- Banking. Open the corporate account with a bank used to non-resident owners, such as Raiffeisen or UniCredit; KYC is document-heavy but workable.
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 Serbia costs
The APR incorporation fee is RSD 8,000, including the documents registered with the formation application, and attorney plus translation costs for a remote setup typically total EUR 200 to 500. There is effectively no capital barrier. Accounting runs around EUR 100 to 200 a month for a small d.o.o.
Plan your Serbian 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 Serbia
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 Serbia. The director and residency information above identifies the main formation conditions to review.
Serbia fits founders hiring the strong regional engineering talent or serving Balkan markets, with low costs and a workable 15% rate. It is a candidate country, not an EU member, so no single-market rights; the IT industry's growth makes it primarily a talent play.
After registration: what Serbia expects each year
Regular annual financial statements and the statistical report go to the APR electronically. For a calendar-year company, the 2025 statements were due by 31 March 2026; accompanying documentation for audit-obligated companies and voluntary audit was due by 30 June 2026. These are separate submissions. Companies with a different financial year generally have three months for the regular annual statements and six months for the accompanying documentation. Confirm the next applicable filing calendar. The corporate tax return has its own deadline; VAT payers file monthly or quarterly, and local payroll adds recurring filings.
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.
Serbia 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. Serbia 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.
Topics checked
These dates apply to the named topics. Other figures and indicative service prices have separate review needs.
- APR company incorporation fee Checked . Source 1
- 2025 annual statements and accompanying document deadlines Checked . Source 1
Reference links
- taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income
- zuniclaw.com/en/company-formation-in-serbia
- apr.gov.rs/регистри/привредна-друштва/накнаде.1070.html
- apr.gov.rs/registri/finansijski-izvestaji/uputstva-za-dostavljanje-finansijskih-izvestaja-za-2019-godinu/rokovi-za-dostavljanje-izvestaja-za-statisticke-potrebe-i-finansijskih-izvestaja.2124.html
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a company in Serbia?
No Serbian residency required: a single foreign national can be sole owner and sole director, and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. Only a director who physically lives and works in Serbia needs a residence and work permit.
How long does company formation in Serbia take?
The Business Registers Agency (BRA) issues the registration decision within 3 to 5 business days of complete documentation; allowing for apostilles and the bank account, the realistic end-to-end timeline is about 10 to 15 business days.
What corporate tax does a company in Serbia pay?
The headline summary is 15% flat, with standard VAT of 20%. 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 Serbia remotely?
Yes. Physical presence is not required: a local attorney completes the incorporation under an apostilled power of attorney, and BRA registration has been fully electronic since 2023. The corporate bank account is the step most likely to need extra attention.
What does it cost to form a company in Serbia?
The APR incorporation fee is RSD 8,000, including the documents registered with the formation application, and attorney plus translation costs for a remote setup typically total EUR 200 to 500. 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.