Having a wide experience in the legal field, our lawyersin Estonia offer a wide range of servicesadapted to any type of client. Our lawyers’ work is a guarantee of reliability, efficiency and professionalism and they are always ready to make efforts to solve each problem in the most suitable manner.
The main legal services offered by our team of attorneys in Estonia are the following:
Our lawyers use all the necessary time, effort and resources in order to best prepare each case so that the client is fully satisfied.
Our membership in international organizations
LawyerEstonia.com is a partner of BridgeWest and is also a proud member of large international web portals, such as the web portal Lowtax.net.
Ourlawyers in Estonia can help you deal with economic and social change due to frequent legislative changes and they can also sustain you to become more competitive in relation to other state authorities or private companies.
Litigation attorneys in Estonia
Our experienced attorneys will offer you advice and representation in case of any type of litigations before any Court of Justice in Estonia. Partnering with a law firm is required even if there is no pending litigation (litigation and enforcement). Professional legal advice is very important for an accurate assessment of interests and also for a guaranteed success of your business. In this sense, our law firm provides qualified advice, assistance and legal representation before the Court and also before public and private institutions in litigation and enforcement procedures.
Part of our activities also focus on services for individuals. We assist foreign nationals who have questions about short- and long-term residency in Estonia, the entry conditions applicable according to nationality, as well as the documents required according to the type of visa or residence permit they are seeking. We also assist investors who wish to relocate to the country.
Open a company with the help of our lawyer in Estonia
When you want to open a company in Estonia you must be informed about all the phases required and for this we strongly advise you to ask a lawyer about the steps which must be followed. Any of our lawyers is able to guide you through the entire process, even though setting up a business in Estonia is an easy procedure. Our lawyer in Estonia will offer you support in drafting, obtaining and putting in order the specific documentation and they will also guide you to perform the registration online. You have to know that you will need the constitutive documents and the receipt from the bank confirming that the minimum share capital was deposited. By working with our lawyers the procedure of registering a company in Estonia should not take more than seven working days. Foreign investors who would like to set up companies in other countries, for example in Vietnam, Lebanon or in the Philippines, can receive assistance from our Asian partners.
A company in Estonia may take several different forms as provided by the Commercial Code:
the private limited company;
the public limited company;
the general partnership;
the limited partnership;
the sole proprietorship.
You should address to our lawyers before registering a company in Estonia since each type of business requires separate actions and documentation. Our lawyer in Estonia can also help you in other business related matters, such as trademark registration in Estonia or VAT registration.
Opening a company in Estonia takes place according to a set of steps, which are listed below by our lawyers in Estonia:
Choosing the company name: the first step is to select an available name for the future business; only Latin letters can be used and the name needs to be a unique one, that does not resemble to a high degree or overlap with one that is already registered in the country; checking the name availability with the Business Register will help you prepare;
Selecting the business activity: the main object of activity is selected from the Estonian classification of economic activities; companies can have a main activity and several secondary ones;
Determine the registered address: all Estonian companies need to have a registered address; a P.O. box cannot serve for this purpose, however, investors have the option to use a virtual office;
Submit the capital: this is a step that can take place during the initial phase or once the company has opened a bank account (following the registration with the authorities);
Register: once every detail is complete, and the documents for the company are drawn up, it is time to register the new business with the Business Register.
Depending on the business activities you have selected, you will need to apply for licenses. These are issued for tourism companies, for businesses involved in providing financial services, for those engaged in educational activities or in construction activities, among others.
Working with our lawyers in Estonia during the set-up phase will make it easier to follow the needed steps and apply for the licenses in due time, so that you can start your business activities as fast as possible.
Company liquidation in Estonia
A company in Estonia ca be closed either by a voluntary decision taken by the general meeting of the shareholders or by compulsory liquidation which is taken by a competent court. Our law firm is able to provide professional advice and consultancy in the liquidation procedure, even when the reasons of closing are of a compulsory nature, for example in cases of lack of organization of general meetings of the company for more than two years, the expiration of the term stated in the Articles of Association, the lack of management board election and others. Let our lawyers take care of this procedure for the best results in optimal time.
We invite you to watch a video about our services:
Assistance in taxation matters in Estonia
Our lawyers maintain professional relations with the best accountants in Estonia in order to provide top services in the tax compliance field. Whether you are interested in tax payments, VAT registration or payroll services, our law firm will offer the best solutions for your business. Our lawyers have good knowledge regarding the legal framework and, if you are a foreign entrepreneur, they can also help you with your eligibility for double taxation avoidance, as provided by the Estonian Double Tax Treaties. In case you want to know the taxes your company has to pay in Estonia and if your country of residence signed a DTT with this country, please use our tax calculator. If you need the assistance of a lawyer in Estonia, you can rely on our legal team.
The main taxes applicable to companies are the following:
20% is the standard corporate income tax rate which also applies to branches in Estonia;
7% is the withholding tax on dividends applicable only in some cases, on dividends paid to residents and nonresidents by certain types of companies; in general, there is no withholding tax on dividends;
10% technical services fees when these types of services are rendered in the country;
20% standard value-added tax, with another, lower rate of 9% applicable to certain types of goods and services and a 0% rate on imports, goods supplies on aircraft and vessels and in a number of other cases.
Estonia has a particular taxation regime in which the tax applies on the company’s distributed profits. The earnings are taxed only after the profit distributions are made.
Our tax lawyers in Estonia can give you more details about the corporate taxation method as it applies to specific profit distributions or to deemed ones.
There is no net wealth or net worth tax. No inheritance or estate taxes apply in Estonia.
Individuals are subject to the taxation regime presented below:
20% individual income tax when the individual is a resident or he/she remains in the country for no less than 183 days in 12 consecutive calendar months;
for individuals, the types of income that are subject to tax include that from employment, business, property transfer gains, dividends, interest and royalties, pensions, benefits, grants, and other sources of income;
nonresidents who derive income from the country are subject to a limited list of taxable sources;
the aforementioned tax rate is a flat one, unless otherwise stated by law (exemptions may apply);
Estonia has an annual tax exempt in case of individuals of up to 6,000 EUR, depending on the total qualifying income.
Our team can help you better understand the tax laws, the filing dates and penalties. With our help, businesses and individuals will be able to observe the current rules so that they can avoid any unwanted penalties due to failure to observe the applicable filing deadlines.
Debt collection services offered by our lawyer in Estonia
When you are involved in a debt collection procedure in Estonia, the best solution is to ask for our lawyers’ advice and representation in order to obtain the best result. We are able to help you in all the phases, starting with the amicable settlement and negotiations, full representation before the court, in the relations with public authorities and, when needed, we also offer our consultancy for the attachment and seizure of assets proceedings. Our lawyersin Estonia offer quality services and customized consultancy in order to hlelp you get to the best possible result.
Our team is also able to provide tailored services to individuals, such as those for foreign nationals interested in immigration to Estonia.
Becoming an e-resident can be a suitable option for foreign nationals who wish to do business in the country or start a business but are not ready to relocate to the country permanently.
For example, this can be a good option for foreign investors who need to register a company, even if they cannot be physically present in the country during the entire incorporation phase.
By using this feature, combined with the assistance provided by one of our attorneys who can act as your legal representative in the country, you can register the business and apply for the needed licenses. Our immigrationlawyers in Estonia can give you more details about this regime, its advantages and limitations, as well as how to prepare the documents and apply.
Contact us for more information about all of our services.
Our team is also able to provide tailored services to individuals, such as those for foreign nationals interested in immigration to Estonia. If you have been living in the country for 5 years, you have the right to apply for permanent residence. This is a natural step for all foreign nationals, EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA citizens, who have a final goal to immigrate to the country. You can register for the right of permanent residence with the help of our lawyers.
Our team also provides services for individuals focusing on Family Law matters and immigration. For those interested in relocating to the country, we can answer questions about visas, temporary and permanent residency. We also assist foreign nationals who have been living here on a permanent basis for five years and are ready to apply for citizenship in Estonia.
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LawyersEstonia.com is one of the best companies we could have asked information on how to start a company in Estonia. We definitely recommend LawyersEstonia.com to those who want to expand their activities in Estonia.