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Most foreign businessmen running an Estonian company find the Estonian accounting rules and tax system very easy to understand. Accounting and bureaucracy costs are generally rather low in Estonia.
Accounting rules in Estonia do not differ much from those in other EU countries, but there are a number of details that need to be taken into account.
Although the corporate income tax levied on company profits is 0% (20% tax is levied on profit distribution), there are some costs that are not eligible as business expenses. All of the company's expenses must be shown to be related to the company's business at some level. If the corporate bank card is used to pay for expenses and an invoice is not presented to show that the expenses are related to a transaction, those expenses are subject to corporation tax. All expenses must be supported by source documents.
Accounting requirements The Accounting Act regulates basic accounting functions in all business entities registered in Estonia. This law does not regulate the accounting for taxes regulated by other laws and regulations. The law is essentially drafted in accordance with International Accounting Standards.
Almost all Estonian companies can choose to prepare their consolidated and annual accounts according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or according to Estonian Accounting Standards (“Estonian GAAP”). Companies and financial institutions are required to prepare their financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Estonian GAAP is prepared by the Estonian Accounting Standards Board.
The length of a financial year in Estonia is twelve months. At the end of each financial year, a company is required to prepare the annual report, which consists of the annual accounts and management report, accompanied by the auditor's report and the proposal for the distribution of profits for the financial year. The auditor's report does not have to be attached to the annual report if there is no audit obligation.
Annual reports must be submitted within six months of the close of the financial year. A penalty may be imposed for late filing of an annual report. There is no penalty for a short delay.
All annual reports must be filed with the register even if the company had no transactions during the financial year.
If the owner's equity falls below EUR 2500 or is less than 50% of the share capital, the owners must either restore the equity or dissolve the company. In order to avoid unnecessary waste of time, it is advisable to make sure that the share capital is sufficiently covered before filing the annual report.
If the company has employees, it is better to pay the salary at the beginning of the months following the month in which the salary was received, which is common in Estonia. There is not enough time for the tax return, since the wage tax is due no later than the 10th of the month following the salary payment.
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On July 1, 2010, amendments to the Law on Immigration of the Republic of Latvia came into force, which expand the possibilities of obtaining a residence permit in Latvia for foreigners who wish to stay and move freely in the Schengen area.
The uniqueness of these changes lies in the introduction of a new method of obtaining a residence permit – investing in real estate. It has attracted a large number of investors as a foreigner investing in real estate (which can be used for profit) has the opportunity to move freely within the Schengen area provided he or she has a passport and sufficient financial means has. Citizens of the Russian Federation are particularly interested in using this opportunity, since Latvia is nearby and is a tourist destination due to its unique cultural monuments, well-known resorts and international festivals.
What is the advantage of a residence permit? A residence permit is a document granting a foreign citizen the right to reside temporarily (a temporary residence permit) or permanently (a permanent residence permit) in the Republic of Latvia.
A temporary residence permit gives a foreigner the right to:
residence in the Republic of Latvia for a period not exceeding five years; to freely cross borders of EU member states and non-EU countries; to relocate and stay up to 90 days within the territory of other EU countries except the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania; to obtain a Latvian or EU permanent residence permit after five years; to obtain a temporary residence permit for the spouse and children. How do I apply for a residence permit? A residence permit is required if you intend to stay in the Republic of Latvia or the Schengen Area for more than 90 days within a six-month period.
This document is issued in the form of a visa and is pasted into the passport, indicating the name, surname and identity number of the person.
You can obtain a temporary residence permit from:
Investments in real estate after July 1, 2010; investments in Latvian credit institutions; Investing in a company's equity. Conditions for investing in real estate:
the total amount of the transaction (for one or more properties) must be at least 143,000 euros in large cities and at least 72,000 euros in other locations; only material resources may be used for the acquisition of real estate; a foreigner has and has never had debts from real estate tax payments in Latvia; the transaction will close after July 1, 2010; a residence permit is issued after the property has been registered in the land register. Conditions for investing in Latvian credit institutions:
the amount of the investments must be at least EUR 286,000; The term of the transaction must be at least five years without the right to cancel before the term of the deposit expires. Requirements for participation in the equity of a company: the investment sum must be at least 36,000 euros; the tax amount for the following year must be at least 28,600 euros.
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Getting a job and working in Germany is one of the reasons why one might want to acquire a residence permit in Europe (an example of this would be a residence permit in Latvia). Working in Germany also allows you to enjoy all the benefits of residing in the EU, such as freedom of moving in the Schengen area, the chance to be employed and do business in the member-states with fewer requirement, as well as travel to European destinations without the need for a visa (with some exceptions).
Vacancies As of now, there are approximately 1 375 110 vacancies available in Germany. That is 3.3% of all the job positions, both occupied and vacant, in the country.
Wages and expenses In Germany the minimum wage is EUR 1599, while the average salary is EUR 3997.
A single person in Germany spends an average of EUR 766 per month, not including rent.
Workweek The standard workweek in Germany is 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
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Documents for submission These are the necessary documents to submit to acquire residence permit:
Filled application form Passport size picture Document issued by competent authority from the home country indicating that the foreigner has no criminal record Prove of sufficient financial means Document indicating place of residence in the Republic of Latvia Prove that payment for the real estate was in non-cash form (bank transfer) Document that indicates that person has paid real estate tax if the real estate in owned for more than a year Document that indicates that State fees for residence permit request are paid Additionally upon arrival Valid health insurance Reference from Latvian medical institution proving that the foreigner does not suffer from tuberculosis in active phase Documents and application can be submitted
At Immigration office in Republic of Latvia At Latvian embassy or consular missions outside the Schengen area Residence permit for the family Along with the main investor his/her family members can apply for a temporary residence permit. Qualified family members are the spouse and children under18 years of age.
Financial means to support living expenses Minimum required financial means for investor – 960 Eur per month Minimum required financial means for spouse - 320 Eur per month Minimum required financial means for child - 192 Eur per month In order to prove possession of sufficient financial means the foreign national should provide a bank statement that indicates amount for one year 12 x 960 = 11520 Eur.
Additionally expected expenses related with buying the real estate State fee for registration the new owner in the Land Register – 2% from the value of the property State fee that must be paid to the government when you recive the permit – 5% of the proparty value Stamp duties, notary fees & other; approximately 80 – 130 EUR Duration of the process The time for obtaining a residence permit in Latvia includes the period necessary to review the submitted documents which is 5 to 30 days depending on the amount of fee paid.
If an additional verification by the foreign national is necessary, the term can be extended for up to 90 days.
A foreigner has to visit Latvia to obtain a residence permit no later than three months after being granted the permit.
State fee 143 Eur – decision by Immigration office is issued in 30 days; State fee 285 Eur – decision by Immigration office is issued in 10 days State fee 427 Eur – decision by Immigration office is issued in 5 days
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By road Driving licence A valid driving licence issued in an EU country is valid throughout the EU. In some countries, in addition to carrying a valid driving licence, you will need to have your vehicle registration document with you.
Motor insurance Wherever you are travelling in the EU your car insurance policy will automatically provide the minimum cover (third party liability) required by law. This also applies to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. If you have comprehensive insurance at home, check that the cover extends to travelling in other countries.
Driving safely In all EU countries seat belts must now be worn in all vehicles, including tourist coaches and minibuses. Children must also have appropriate child restraints in cars and lorries and, where possible, in other vehicles as well.
Using a mobile phone while driving greatly increases the risk of an accident and it is either explicitly or implicitly forbidden in all EU countries.
Tolls There are toll roads in many countries including Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Payment of tolls in some countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia) is by 'vignette' or toll label which has to be affixed to the windscreen.
Bus and coach travel Bus and coach passengers will enjoy new rights wherever they travel within the EU from 1 March 2013. All passengers will have the right to receive adequate information. Passengers travelling 250 km or more will have additional rights such as assistance, reimbursement or rerouting in case of delay and cancellation. Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility will get free assistance at terminals and on board buses or coaches.
By air Creating a single European market for air transport has meant lower fares and a wider choice of routes and services for passengers.
Air passenger rights As an air passenger you have certain rights if your flight is delayed, cancelled or if you are denied boarding. These rights apply to all scheduled and chartered flights, both domestic and international, when departing from an EU airport (or from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). When arriving at an EU airport from a non-EU country, they apply only to flights operated by an airline licensed in the EU (or Iceland, Norway and Switzerland).
Air carriers are liable in the event of accidents or for lost, damaged or mishandled luggage.
Security In order to ensure a high level of security throughout the EU, common rules and standards have been laid down for such things as passenger security controls, hand luggage and checked luggage, when departing from EU airports.
By rail The EU has over 212 000 km of railways with extensive international passenger services. There are over 6 000 km of high-speed lines in several countries with trains reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h and the network is being extended with new links in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Huge financial support is going into trans-European projects such as enhancing the rail links from Rotterdam to Genoa, Lyon to Hungary’s border with the Ukraine, from Stockholm to Palermo, from Dresden to Bucharest and from Warsaw to Tallinn.
By water There are many key sea routes between EU countries offering regular, high-quality services as an alternative to, or in combination with, road, air or rail. There are also 41 000km of navigable inland waterways in 20 of the 27 EU countries. Enjoy a sea or river cruise or use the water as a practical and pleasant way of getting around.
Metro If you plan to use the metro, familiarise yourself with maps of European city metros.
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Gibraltar is one of the British Overseas Territories that we recommend for an offshore company. Gibraltar is located at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar is known for its Rock with a densely populated urban area at the foot of the Rock. The official language of Gibraltar is English, but Spanish and Llanito are also widely spoken.
Company information The nature of the company is non-resident which means that the director of the company does not have to be on site, the board meetings and shareholders' meetings have to be held in Gibraltar. The most important company characteristics in Gibraltar:
Company formation (registration process in Gibraltar takes about 5-8 days Minimum share capital of EUR 1.21 and usual authorized share capital of EUR 2,420 At least one director and one shareholder are required A local qualified company secretary is required. Submitted accounts are not publicly available An office must be maintained within Gibraltar
Company formation In order to entertain a non-resident company in Gibraltar, the following is required:
Submission of annual accounts Create and deposit accounts an annual minimum license fee of 55 EUR
Control system Gibraltar has no double tax treaty with any country and has no corporate tax. Only the annual license fee has to be paid. Also, there is no wealth tax, capital gains tax, gift tax or VAT in Gibraltar.
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Vacancies As of now, there are approximately 1 375 110 vacancies available in Germany. That is 3.3% of all the job positions, both occupied and vacant, in the country.
Wages and expenses In Germany the minimum wage is EUR 1599, while the average salary is EUR 3997.
A single person in Germany spends an average of EUR 766 per month, not including rent.
Workweek The standard workweek in Germany is 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
Useful resources If you are planning to work in Germany, it is useful to know the following information and contacts of organizations.
Work permit services If you are interested in working in Germany, you need to obtain a work permit and a residence permit (which in some cases are obtained simultaneously). For this you can use the help of our legal team - we provide consultations, find the best solutions to your unique case and deliver legal assisstance of all kinds. So contact us by using the form on the upper right side of the page, and start a journey to your dream job in Germany.
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According to the World Bank Group, Latvia ranks 22nd out of 189 countries in terms of ease of doing business. The country ranks among the top 20 for obtaining credit for businesses; in the top 30 starting a business, construction and registration of real estate, easy and efficient tax payment, international trade and enforcement of contracts; and among the top 50 for resolving bankruptcies and protecting minority investors. The weakest point of Latvia's business environment is by far its ease of getting electricity for newly built properties, for which the country ranks 65th.
Overall, Latvia is the most favorable for companies that do not plan to build new infrastructure. Ease of starting a business, paying taxes and getting credit combine well with cheap but skilled and educated labor and low cost of infrastructure and facilities. Because of this, Latvia is a very popular country to start a business, especially for entrepreneurs from outside the EU, as overall it takes a lot less investment to start a business in Latvia than most other EU member states, while the bottom line (in terms of quality) is the same. The entrepreneurial risks for such entrepreneurs are comparatively low as long as they consider the possible competition on the local market.
Legal framework Since Latvia joined the European Union in 2004, it has adopted most of the Union's laws and policies. One of the examples is the Schengen agreement, which allows free international trade with other EU member states (more about Latvian market access from the EU here).
Latvian politics favors the free market and consistency with EU policies. Some analyzes classify Latvian legislation as conservative, meaning that new policies take a long time to be accepted by the government and are generally treated with caution. Legislative initiatives proposed by the EU are excluded from this. Latvia aspires to be an active member of the European Economic Area and tries to align its policies with European standards.
Economic geography Most companies are concentrated in the Latvian capital Riga and the surrounding cities. Other major cities often devote themselves to specific market sectors, e.g. The port cities of Ventspils and Liepāja offer ice-free ports (read more about logistics in Latvia), while Daugavpils is a major rail hub.
Cities of regional importance also play their role in Latvia's economic environment. For example, the Rezekne Free Economic Zone is located in the city of Rezekne. The EPZ contributes to the development of the region and attracts companies with up to 100% real estate tax breaks, corporate tax breaks of 80% and return of investment costs through tax incentives of up to 55%. Rezekne is also an important railway junction.
The most urbanized regions of Latvia are the central, eastern and western regions. However, it must be noted that if the central region is thoroughly urban, the east and west are urban in the sense that the majority of the population lives near large cities, with small rural areas in between. The southern and north-eastern regions are predominantly rural.
Market freedom Latvia is a free market economy, which means that economic policies are aimed at reducing state intervention and preventing the emergence of monopolies. According to the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, Latvia is the 37th freest economy in the world. Latvia's score in this case is supported by high levels of tax, trade, investment and business freedoms, but is dragged down somewhat by corruption and government spending.
In Europe, Latvia ranks 17th in terms of market freedom. This position is getting stronger and stronger every year as Latvia takes steps to integrate into the European Economic Zone and catch up with the main member states.