Georgia Company Registration and Taxes: A 2026 Guide

Последнее обновление: май 2026

Georgia (the Republic of Georgia, in the South Caucasus) offers one of the fastest and most affordable company registration processes in the region. Foreign entrepreneurs can register a business in as little as one day, with no minimum capital requirement for an LLC and full foreign ownership permitted across most sectors.

The country’s Estonian-model corporate tax system, where profits are taxed only when distributed, combined with special regimes like the Virtual IT Zone and Free Industrial Zones, has made Georgia a popular destination for international entrepreneurs, digital businesses, and investors.

Corporate forms available in Georgia

Georgian law provides several business structures for foreign investors. The most common options include:

Limited Liability Company (LLC / shps): The most popular structure for foreign entrepreneurs. No minimum share capital. One or more founders (individuals or legal entities). Liability limited to the amount of capital contributed. Managed by a director who does not need to be a Georgian citizen or resident.

Акционерное общество (ОАО): Suitable for larger enterprises planning to raise capital. Subject to stricter governance requirements, including a supervisory board for public companies. Shares can be listed on the Georgian Stock Exchange.

Individual Entrepreneur (IE / sole proprietor): A simpler structure for individual business owners. Lower registration fees (GEL 26 / ~$10 USD standard; GEL 75 / ~$28 USD same-day). The individual is personally liable for all business debts. IEs may qualify for Small Business Status with a preferential 1% tax rate on turnover up to GEL 500,000 (~$185,000 USD).

Филиал: A foreign company can register a branch in Georgia to conduct business directly. The branch is not a separate legal entity and the parent company bears full liability. Useful for companies that want a Georgian presence without incorporating locally.

Представительство: Permitted for marketing, research, and liaison activities only. Cannot conduct commercial activities or generate revenue in Georgia.

Registration process and requirements

Company registration in Georgia is handled by the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR). The process is straightforward and can be completed within one business day for standard applications.

Steps to register an LLC:

1. Reserve a company name at NAPR (optional but recommended).

2. Prepare the charter (articles of association) and founding agreement.

3. Provide a registered legal address in Georgia.

4. Submit the application to NAPR along with founders’ identification documents (passport copies, notarized and apostilled if registering remotely).

5. Receive the registration certificate and unique identification number.

Government fees (NAPR): GEL 200 (~$74 USD) for standard processing (1 business day) or GEL 400 (~$148 USD) for same-day registration for LLC and JSC entities. Individual entrepreneurs pay GEL 26 (~$10 USD) standard or GEL 75 (~$28 USD) same-day.

Дистанционная регистрация: Foreigners who cannot travel to Georgia can register a company through a Power of Attorney (PoA). The PoA must be notarized and apostilled in the founder’s country of residence, then submitted by a local representative. The process typically takes longer due to document shipping and translation requirements.

Post-registration steps: After registration, the company must register with the Revenue Service (RS.ge) for tax purposes, open a bank account, and depending on the activity, obtain any required sector-specific licenses or permits.

Taxation overview

Georgia operates an Estonian-model corporate tax system, introduced in 2017, where profits are taxed only upon distribution rather than when earned. This makes Georgia particularly attractive for businesses that reinvest profits.

Корпоративный подоходный налог (CIT): 15% on distributed profits. This applies when dividends are paid, deemed distributions occur, or non-business/free/over-limit expenses are incurred. Banks, microfinance organizations, and loan providers pay 20% CIT from 2023 onward. Retained and reinvested profits are not taxed.

НДФЛ (НДФЛ): A flat 20% applies to most types of personal income, including salaries.

Налог на добавленную стоимость (НДС): 18%. Registration is mandatory when taxable turnover exceeds GEL 100,000 (~$37,000 USD) over 12 consecutive calendar months.

Withholding tax for non-residents: Dividends 5% (with exemptions for FIZ enterprises and banks distributing post-2023 profits). Interest 5% (0% on certain bonds and FIZ income). Royalties 5%. Services and other Georgian-source income 10%. Wages paid to non-residents 20%. Payments to recipients in preferential-tax jurisdictions 15%.

Налог на имущество: Up to 1% of the average annual balance sheet value of fixed assets. Agricultural land tax rates vary by municipality.

Special tax regimes

Georgia offers several preferential tax regimes that significantly reduce the tax burden for qualifying businesses.

Virtual IT Zone (VIZ)

The VIZ status is available to any Georgian legal entity engaged in genuine IT activities (software development, SaaS, web and mobile development, IT engineering) that serves clients outside Georgia. Key features include 0% CIT on foreign-sourced IT income, 5% withholding tax on dividends, no application fee, and permanent status (no annual renewal required). Applications are submitted electronically through the Revenue Service (RS.ge) or by email to the Financial-Analytical Service of the Ministry of Finance. Approval typically takes around 10 business days if documents are complete.

The VIZ status is revocable only for non-compliance, such as ceasing IT activities or tax evasion. Regular tax reporting obligations still apply.

Свободные индустриальные зоны (СИЗ)

Georgia has four active Free Industrial Zones: Tbilisi Free Zone, Poti FIZ, Kutaisi FIZ, and Kutaisi Hualing FIZ. Companies registered in a FIZ enjoy 0% CIT, 0% VAT, 0% property tax, and 0% import and export duties on goods within the zone. A 4% tax applies on sales from FIZ entities to non-FIZ persons within Georgia. Registration inside a FIZ typically takes 1 to 3 business days once zone administrator consent is obtained.

Статус малого бизнеса

Individual entrepreneurs with annual turnover up to GEL 500,000 (~$185,000 USD) may qualify for Small Business Status, which applies a preferential 1% tax on gross revenue instead of standard income tax.

IT Company status

Qualifying IT companies may benefit from a reduced 5% CIT rate on distributed profits, subject to specific eligibility criteria including a track record of IT operations.

Банковское дело в Грузии

Georgia has 17 licensed commercial banks as of 2026, supervised by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The largest institutions include Bank of Georgia (BoG), TBC Bank, and Liberty Bank, all of which offer multi-currency corporate accounts and digital banking platforms.

Account opening for foreign-owned companies: While Georgian banks advertise fast processing times, the realistic timeline for opening a corporate account for a 100% foreign-owned LLC is 2 to 4 weeks. In-person applications are processed faster (initial approval within 1 to 5 business days), while remote applications via Power of Attorney take longer due to apostille, translation, and shipping requirements. Complex ownership structures or high-risk jurisdictions may extend the process to several weeks.

Deposit rates (2026): Georgian Lari (GEL) deposits offer approximately 9% to 10.5% annually. USD deposits yield up to approximately 5% at some banks. Interest earned in licensed Georgian banks is exempt from withholding tax for residents.

Цифровые платежи: PayPal is available for Georgian businesses in 2026. International services such as Wise, Payoneer, and Paysera also operate in Georgia, providing additional options for receiving international payments.

AML/CFT compliance: Georgia has strengthened its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. The NBG now supervises digital asset platforms, and cryptocurrency exchange operations require an NBG license.

Residency through business registration

Registering a company in Georgia does not automatically grant residency, but it can serve as the basis for a temporary residence permit. Business owners, directors, and major shareholders of Georgian companies may apply for a residence permit tied to their business activity.

Georgia also offers a liberal visa regime: citizens of over 95 countries can stay visa-free for up to one year, which allows many entrepreneurs to start their business without needing a residence permit immediately.

The path to Georgian citizenship requires at least 10 years of legal residence (with some exceptions), Georgian language proficiency, and knowledge of Georgian history and law. Georgia joined the Common Reporting Standard (CRS/AEOI) in 2024, which means automatic exchange of financial information with partner jurisdictions.

If you are considering residency and business formation in the Caucasus, Armenia offers a streamlined process with comparable tax benefits. Learn more about Виды на жительство в Армении, проживание за инвестиции, или виза цифрового кочевника.

Post-registration compliance

After registration, Georgian companies have ongoing compliance obligations. These include filing annual tax returns with the Revenue Service, maintaining accounting records in accordance with Georgian or international accounting standards, and filing monthly or quarterly VAT returns if registered for VAT.

Companies with employees must register with the social security system and withhold personal income tax (20%) from employee salaries. Georgia does not have mandatory employer-paid social contributions beyond the funded pension scheme (2% employee + 2% employer for eligible employees).

VIZ and FIZ companies must maintain their qualifying status by continuing to meet eligibility requirements. Failure to comply with reporting obligations or a change in business activities may result in loss of preferential tax status.

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