Worldwide
Setting up a company in Serbia
15 percent tax in the middle of Europe, one euro of capital, incorporation in five days. A quiet powerhouse for software and manufacturing.
At a glance
Corporate tax
15%; effective 3% with the IP box
VAT
20%
Minimum capital
RSD 100 for a d.o.o.
Incorporation
About 5 working days, APR
Serbia is one of the rare jurisdictions with duty-free access to two markets at once: EU candidate status and a free trade agreement with the EU, plus an agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Corporate tax is 15 percent, VAT 20 percent. A limited company (d.o.o.) is formed with 100 dinars of capital, under one euro, in about five days at the APR registry.
For software and technology companies there is a double deduction for R&D spending, an IP box with an effective 3 percent rate and payroll incentives for qualified new hires. Belgrade is one of Europe's fastest growing software development hubs.
Why here
When this jurisdiction is the right choice.
- Simultaneous duty-free access to the EU and Eurasian Economic Union markets.
- Low corporate tax, double R&D deduction and an IP box.
- Qualified software and engineering labour at a third of Western European cost.
- Free zones and state incentives for manufacturing investment.
Entity types
Which structure, for whom.
d.o.o. (LLC)
The standard form; limited liability, 100 dinars of capital, flexible management.
a.d. (JSC)
Joint stock company; 3 million dinars of capital, for listings and larger structures.
Branch / representative office
A foreign company's branch or non-revenue representative office.
Entrepreneur (preduzetnik)
Sole trader; unlimited liability, lump-sum tax option.
Process
Formation step by step.
- 01Name check (APR)
- 02Founding decision and articles; notarisation
- 03Director and registered address
- 04APR filing; about five days
- 05Tax number (PIB) and VAT registration where needed
- 06Bank account and capital payment
- 07Social insurance registration for employees
- 08Temporary residence for the foreign founder (optional)
After formation
What has to happen every year.
- Annual financial statements; audit for medium and large companies
- Corporate tax return and monthly advances
- VAT returns (monthly or quarterly)
- Beneficial ownership register kept current
Frequently asked
The in-country registry, licence and agent steps of the formation file run through our licensed formation partners in the relevant jurisdiction. Structure design, contracts, the bank file and the tax and notification effect on the Turkish side are managed by Defensible. Rates and thresholds summarise the headline rules at the time of writing; we check the current text together on your own file.
Is it suitable for building a software team from Türkiye?
Yes; payroll incentives, low tax and Belgrade's talent pool make it attractive. We design the service agreement and transfer pricing with the Turkish company together.
Let's work out which structure fits you in 15 minutes.
Tell us where you sell, who you are and what you are aiming at; we will say in the call which jurisdiction and entity type make sense. Formation itself is a separate engagement, scoped and priced there.
Book a 15-minute call