Business Taxation & Microenterprises β Latvia
Latvia unique in EU with 0% corporate tax on retained profits. Only pay 20% when distributing dividends. Microenterprise Tax regime (MET) offers simplified 25% flat rate for small businesses. Attractive for startups and reinvestment strategies.
Business Taxation & Microenterprises
Latvia unique in EU with 0% corporate tax on retained profits. Only pay 20% when distributing dividends. Microenterprise Tax regime (MET) offers simplified 25% flat rate for small businesses. Attractive for startups and reinvestment strategies.
Corporate Income Tax
Revolutionary system: 0% tax on undistributed profits. Can reinvest indefinitely tax-free. Only pay when distributing dividends or certain transactions. Most competitive in EU for growth companies.
When distributing profits: 20% standard rate (effectively 25% for non-EU shareholders due to calculation method). Tax paid when dividend declared, not when profit earned. Strategic timing possible.
Tax calculated on gross amount before distribution. If distributing β¬80, must pay β¬20 tax, total β¬100. Effectively 20% of distributed amount becomes 25% of net profit. Complex but manageable.
Microenterprise Tax (MET)
Annual revenue must not exceed β¬40,000. Maximum 5 employees. Cannot engage in certain restricted activities (financial services, gambling, etc.). Ideal for freelancers, consultants, small shops.
Flat 25% on gross revenue (not profit). Includes ALL taxes: income tax, social contributions, everything. Extremely simplified - no expense tracking needed. Popular with >30,000 microenterprises.
Minimal bookkeeping - just track revenue. No separate social payments. Quarterly declarations. Can switch to standard regime anytime if growing. Many accountants handle for β¬50-100/month.
25% on revenue means if profit margin 40%, effective tax on profit is 62.5%. Only beneficial if low profit margins or valuing simplicity over optimization. Calculate carefully before choosing.
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