We help you launch an Estonian OÜ remotely: an EU company that works with SEPA payments and keeps reinvested profit exempt from the corporate levy. You keep building the product; we prepare the paperwork and guide you through compliance.
Inter Lawyers is an independent private legal services provider, not a government body. We advise you and prepare your documents; what each package includes is listed under Packages and prices.
An EU member state known for its digital public services. For a product company selling across borders, that means less admin, a fiscal model that rewards growth and a legal entity your clients recognise.
Signatures, filings and paperwork can all be handled online. You never need to travel to Tallinn.
Profit that stays in the company or goes back into the product is exempt. The corporate levy applies only when dividends are distributed.
A single founder can be both the shareholder and the board member, and the director isn’t required to draw a salary.
Shareholders and directors can live outside Estonia and outside the EU. Non-residents get exactly the same company as locals.
Estonia has treaties with more than 50 countries that help prevent the same income from being charged twice.
With no employees and no turnover levy number, there are no monthly returns to file. Just one annual report.
Fixed fees for our legal services, agreed before we start. Pick a package, or tell us what you need and we’ll put together a custom quote.
Structuring advice and notary coordination for founders who handle the rest themselves.
Everything a new company needs to stay compliant in its first year.
For founders abroad who want every step coordinated for them remotely.
Full legal support plus guidance on how your company will receive and send payments.
Discounted prices are valid until 30 November 2026. Your final quote is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
There are no citizenship or residence restrictions, and an OÜ can carry out almost any lawful activity. One company can cover several of these at once.
Product companies, web and mobile development studios, IT outsourcing and consulting.
Marketing, design, content and training sold to clients across the world.
Online stores and cross-border sales inside the EU single market.
Management, engineering, HR and product advisory for international clients.
Holding stakes in other companies and reinvesting dividends without an immediate levy.
Some business models need a licence or regulatory approval before launch. We assess this with you during the consultation.
Many EU countries charge a levy on company profit every year, whether or not you take it out. Estonia charges it only when profit is distributed, and lets non-residents complete the whole launch online with a digital ID.
| Country | Profit kept in the company | Corporate profit levy | Remote launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEEstonia | Exempt | 22% (22/78), on distributions only | Yes, with a digital ID |
| LVLatvia | Exempt | 20%, on distributions only | Limited |
| LTLithuania | Charged every year | 17% | Limited |
| IEIreland | Charged every year | 12.5% on trading income | Local presence usually expected |
| DEGermany | Charged every year | About 30% including the municipal trade levy | No |
Rates and conditions as of 2026, based on general public information. Rules change, so we confirm current figures during your consultation.
The requirements under the Estonian Commercial Code are short. Here’s what we’ll prepare together.
One or more individuals or companies, of any nationality and with no residence requirement. Liability is limited to the company’s assets.
At least one board member, who can live in any country. A sole founder signs a single founding resolution.
The legal minimum is €0.01 per shareholder. If capital stays below €2,500, shareholders can be personally liable for the gap if the company becomes insolvent.
The company needs a legal address in Estonia. If the board is based abroad, a licensed contact person must be appointed to receive formal correspondence.
A unique company name ending in “OÜ” and your main activity, declared using the Estonian EMTAK classification code.
When filing online, the articles of association can be based on a standard template. A notary route is available if not all founders have a digital ID.
The company is formed through an online filing in Estonia. Most applications are approved quickly, and we keep track of every step for you.
You apply for Estonian e-Residency yourself and pick up the card at an Estonian embassy or pickup point. We explain what to expect.
We check that the name you want is free and fits the naming rules.
Articles of association, share capital, shareholders, board members and activity code.
All founders sign with a qualified digital signature, and the application is filed online. Official fees are paid separately.
Expedited applications are usually reviewed by the next working day; standard ones within five.
Open a business account, arrange bookkeeping, and enrol for turnover levy once sales are set to exceed €40,000 a year.
The key difference: the corporate levy is due only when profit leaves the company. Whatever you reinvest stays exempt for as long as it stays in the business.
Retained profit is exempt. When you pay dividends, the levy is calculated as 22/78 of the net payout: from €100 of profit, €78 goes to the shareholder and €22 is paid as the levy.
No municipal income levy and no advance corporate payments. Distributions are declared on the monthly TSD return, only in months when they happen.
Dividends to residents and non-residents carry no withholding. Royalties paid to non-residents are charged at 10% unless a treaty sets a lower rate.
Enrolment for turnover levy becomes mandatory above €40,000 of sales a year. Salaries carry 22% personal income levy and 33% social contributions paid by the employer.
No. With e-Residency, every step from signing founding documents to filing the annual report can be done online. The only in-person step is collecting the ID card, which you can do at an Estonian embassy in your country.
No. Both the owners and the director can be non-residents. You do need a licensed contact person if the company’s legal address is outside Estonia; this service is included in our Start, Business and Pro packages.
The legal minimum is one euro cent per shareholder. While capital stays below €2,500, shareholders can be personally liable for the difference if the company fails, so many founders contribute more.
No. Retained and reinvested earnings are exempt from the corporate levy. It is due only on distributions, such as dividends, share buy-backs or expenses with no business purpose.
Once sales exceed €40,000 in a calendar year. Many B2B companies enrol voluntarily earlier so they can reclaim input levy and look more established to EU clients.
Yes. An Estonian company can invoice clients anywhere. Hiring employees in another country may create obligations there, so we review that before your first hire.
No. It’s a digital identity, not citizenship or a residence permit, and it doesn’t move your personal fiscal residence. Where the company is actually managed can matter too. We’ll help you plan for that.
Tell us about your product and target markets. A lawyer will reply within one business day with a suggested structure, timeline and fixed quote.
Pick a time in our calendar for a 30-minute video call with a lawyer. If none of the slots suit you, write to office@interlawyers.legal.
Inter Lawyers is an independent private legal services provider. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government authority or official company registry. Our services are provided for a fee and are separate from any official government registration fees, which are payable additionally.