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Sweden at a glance
Sweden is an EU member state with its own national company forms and registration 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 Sweden
- Aktiebolag (AB) The private limited company and standard vehicle for founders. Shareholders are not personally liable beyond their capital. Minimum capital SEK 25,000, with at least one board member. A board with fewer than three ordinary members needs an alternate. Cash capital requires a bank certificate; eligible in-kind capital uses an approved or authorised auditor statement.
- Publikt aktiebolag (public AB) The public limited company able to offer shares to the public and list. Requires SEK 500,000 of capital and stricter board and auditor rules.
Company formation in Sweden: key facts (last reviewed July 2026)
- Corporate tax
- Flat 20.6% corporate income tax at a single national rate, in force since 1 January 2021, with no separate municipal corporate tax. Sweden's rate sits below the EU average.
- VAT rate
- Standard VAT (moms) is 25%. Reduced rates include 12% for restaurant services and accommodation, and 6% for books and passenger transport. Food supplies, including takeaway food, are temporarily taxed at 6% from 1 April 2026 through 31 December 2027. Restaurant services remain at 12%; classify the sale before choosing the rate.
- Dividends & payroll taxes
- The closely held company (3:12) rules tax dividends within an annual allowance at 20%, with any excess taxed like salary. Top income tax sits in the mid-50s, and employer contributions are a flat 31.42%, the defining Swedish payroll number.
- Minimum share capital
- SEK 25,000 (roughly EUR 2,200) for a private aktiebolag, reduced from SEK 50,000 on 1 January 2020. A public AB requires SEK 500,000. For cash capital, a bank certificate (bankintyg) confirms payment. Capital can instead consist of eligible property contributed in kind, supported by a statement from an approved or authorised auditor.
- Setup time
- Typically about 1 to 2 weeks. Filing online via Verksamt.se is fast for founders with a Swedish BankID, but Bolagsverket processing is around 9 to 10 working days in mid-2026. For cash-capital formation, opening an account to obtain the bank certificate can delay non-resident applicants. In-kind formation uses a separate auditor-statement route.
- Remote setup
- Partial. Founders with a Swedish e-identification (BankID) can register fully online. Non-residents who lack a Swedish e-ID generally submit paper forms through a local agent under a power of attorney, and the bank account and KYC often still demand an in-person visit.
- Director / residency
- A private AB needs at least one ordinary board member. If the board has fewer than three ordinary members, it also needs at least one alternate. At least half of the board, and half of the alternates, must reside in the EEA, and a managing director (if appointed) must also be EEA-resident; Bolagsverket can grant an exemption. A Swedish-resident person to receive service of process is required if no signatory is resident.
- Banking options
- Banks (SEB, Handelsbanken, Swedbank, Nordea, Danske Bank) issue the bank certificate (bankintyg) used for cash-capital registration, but account opening is often difficult for non-residents and may require an in-person visit. Wise and Revolut Business are used for daily operations but do not issue the share-capital certificate. For eligible in-kind capital, an approved or authorised auditor statement replaces the cash bank certificate.
- Our formation service
- from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit.
Most new private ABs can opt out of an auditor while below the small-company thresholds. A beneficial owner must be registered with Bolagsverket, and every AB files an annual report. The AB is the vehicle international founders most commonly use, including in the context of the proposed EU Inc and 28th Regime.
How to register a company in Sweden
Step by step, this is how a Sweden formation actually runs:
- Draft the AB documents. Memorandum and articles for the aktiebolag, with SEK 25,000 minimum capital.
- Document the capital contribution. For cash capital, obtain a bank certificate (bankintyg) confirming payment. Eligible property contributed in kind instead needs a statement from an approved or authorised auditor.
- Register with Bolagsverket. Registration costs SEK 2,400 through the e-service or SEK 2,700 using a form. Check the supported identification and signing route; founders who cannot use the service can use the appropriate form or arrange authorised assistance.
- Tax registrations. Apply to Skatteverket for F-tax, VAT and employer registration in one filing.
- Board residency check. A board with fewer than three ordinary members needs an alternate. Check EEA residence separately for ordinary members, alternates and any managing director. Apply for any necessary exemption and assess the Swedish service-of-process representative requirement.
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 Sweden costs
Registration costs SEK 2,400 through the e-service or SEK 2,700 using a form plus the SEK 25,000 (about EUR 2,200) capital that becomes working money. Non-EEA founders may add exemption-application and representative costs. Accounting typically runs SEK 1,500 to 3,000 a month for a small AB.
Plan your Swedish 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 Sweden
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 Sweden. The director and residency information above identifies the main formation conditions to review.
Sweden fits founders building in the Nordic ecosystem, hiring Swedish talent or selling to Swedish enterprises, where the AB's standing pays off. Fully remote non-EEA founders face the supported-identity, cash-capital bank-certificate and board-residency requirements, which make lighter jurisdictions easier for a first EU entity.
After registration: what Sweden expects each year
The annual report goes to Bolagsverket within seven months of year end, and the corporate tax return follows Skatteverket's calendar. VAT is monthly, quarterly or yearly by size. Most new small ABs opt out of the auditor while under the thresholds; payroll triggers monthly employer declarations.
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.
Sweden 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. A national company in Sweden is available under existing rules, but a later EU Inc conversion would depend on the adopted law and eligibility. 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.
- AB registration fees Checked . Source 1
- Temporary food VAT rate and restaurant distinction Checked . Source 1
- Cash and in-kind capital evidence Checked . Source 1
- Alternate board member requirement Checked . Source 1
Reference links
- verksamt.se/en/setting-up/choose-business-type/limited-company
- taxsummaries.pwc.com/sweden/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income
- bolagsverket.se/sjalvservice/avgifter/avgifterforaktiebolag.4358.html
- skatteverket.se/omoss/pressochmedia/nyheter/2026/nyheter/livsmedelsmomsensankstill6procent.5.70685bee19c85dd5dd0a3f.html
- verksamt.se/en/setting-up/choose-business-type/limited-company/company-board
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a company in Sweden?
A private AB needs at least one ordinary board member. If the board has fewer than three ordinary members, it also needs at least one alternate. At least half of the board, and half of the alternates, must reside in the EEA, and a managing director (if appointed) must also be EEA-resident; Bolagsverket can grant an exemption. A Swedish-resident person to receive service of process is required if no signatory is resident.
How long does company formation in Sweden take?
Typically about 1 to 2 weeks. Filing online via Verksamt.se is fast for founders with a Swedish BankID, but Bolagsverket processing is around 9 to 10 working days in mid-2026. For cash-capital formation, opening an account to obtain the bank certificate can delay non-resident applicants. In-kind formation uses a separate auditor-statement route.
What corporate tax does a company in Sweden pay?
The headline summary is 20.6%, with standard VAT of 25%. 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 Sweden remotely?
Partial. Founders with a Swedish e-identification (BankID) can register fully online. Non-residents who lack a Swedish e-ID generally submit paper forms through a local agent under a power of attorney, and the bank account and KYC often still demand an in-person visit.
What does it cost to form a company in Sweden?
Registration costs SEK 2,400 through the e-service or SEK 2,700 using a form plus the SEK 25,000 (about EUR 2,200) capital that becomes working money. 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.