Myanmar Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Myanmar
Planning a Myanmar company registration, or want to set up a company in Myanmar to reach the ASEAN market? The most common entity is a private company limited by shares under the Myanmar Companies Law 2017, registered online through the MyCO system of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Foreigners can hold shares, but a company with more than 35% foreign ownership is a foreign company and must follow the list of restricted investment activities.
DICA says there is no minimum capital requirement to set up a company. A company can be formed with 1 shareholder and 1 director, but it must have 1 director who is ordinarily resident in Myanmar. The online registration fee is MMK 300,000, corporate income tax is 22%, commercial tax is generally 5%, and no tax is withheld on after-tax dividends. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop Myanmar company formation service, from assessing foreign ownership and restricted activities, MyCO online registration, and arranging the constitution and a local director to IRD tax registration and annual filing reminders, so foreign companies and individuals can complete their Myanmar private company setup.
The Myanmar Companies Law allows a company with a single shareholder and a single director, but it must have 1 director who is ordinarily resident in Myanmar.
DICA says there is no minimum capital requirement to set up a company, so you can plan capital to match the size of the business, except in certain licensed sectors.
Form the company and file annual returns online through DICA’s MyCO system. The registration fee is MMK 300,000.
Dividends paid out of taxed profits are exempt from withholding tax, and the corporate income tax rate has been 22% since October 2021.
company registration?
Myanmar is an ASEAN member and borders India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Under the Myanmar Companies Law 2017, a company can be formed with a single shareholder and a single director with no minimum capital requirement, and foreign ownership of up to 35% of a local company does not change its status. Company registration and annual returns are both handled online through DICA’s MyCO system. Corporate income tax is 22%, and no tax is withheld on after-tax dividends. Because travel advisories for Myanmar are at a high level and Myanmar remains on the FATF high-risk list, cross-border transfers may face enhanced bank checks, so complete a risk assessment before you plan a setup.
in 3 steps
In Myanmar, the most common entity is a private company limited by shares. It can be formed with 1 shareholder and 1 director, but at least 1 director must hold permanent residence or live in Myanmar for at least 183 days in every 12 months. The company submits Form A-1 and pays the fee on DICA’s MyCO system, and after receiving the certificate of incorporation it registers with the Internal Revenue Department (IRD).
Before you register a Myanmar company, check whether foreign ownership will exceed 35%, and compare your activities with Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No. 15/2017 on restricted investment activities. After setup, the company files an annual return through MyCO every year and files its tax return within 3 months after the financial year ends. NSS Group helps you assess ownership and sector rules, prepare documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your Myanmar company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
First check whether foreign ownership exceeds 35%, which makes the company a foreign company, and compare your activities with Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No. 15/2017 on restricted investment activities to see whether you need a joint venture with Myanmar citizens or approval from the relevant ministry. Also arrange a local director who meets the 183-day residence requirement.
Create an account on DICA’s Myanmar Companies Online (MyCO), complete the Form A-1 private company application, and submit the company name, constitution, director and shareholder details and registered address. Pay MMK 300,000 online to receive the certificate of incorporation.
Register for tax with the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) and apply for business licenses from the relevant ministries for your sector. If you want tax incentives or long-term land use rights, you can also apply to the Myanmar Investment Commission for an MIC permit or endorsement.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Myanmar bank account and cross-border transfer assessment advice
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- Foreign ownership and restricted activity assessment
- MyCO online company registration (Form A-1)
- Constitution and resident local director arrangement
- IRD tax registration and business license advice
- MyCO annual return and tax filing reminders
Official MyCO fees for a private company: online registration MMK 300,000, annual return MMK 50,000; other items quoted, with a free assessment and written quote.
Myanmar company registration at a glance
Below are the points people ask about most when registering a company in Myanmar, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Company type | Private company limited by shares |
|---|---|
| Registration authority | Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA), online registration on MyCO |
| Foreign ownership | Allowed; above 35% the company is a foreign company subject to sector restrictions |
| Minimum capital | No minimum capital (certain licensed sectors have their own rules) |
| Corporate income tax | 22% |
| Commercial tax | Generally 5%; 0% to 15% for certain goods and services |
| Setup time | Depends on review progress |
| Annual filing | Annual return on MyCO within 1 month after the incorporation anniversary |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Myanmar company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government cost of registering a Myanmar company is mainly the MyCO online incorporation fee, plus an annual return fee every year after setup. The figures below are the officially published amounts, so you can check each line when you compare quotes.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private company limited by shares incorporation (Form A-1) | MMK 300,000 | Submitted and paid online on MyCO. The certificate of incorporation is issued after review. |
| Registration of a foreign company branch (Form A-8) | MMK 300,000 | Applies when a foreign company registers a place of business in Myanmar (overseas corporation). |
| Annual return | MMK 50,000 | The first return is due within 2 months after incorporation, and after that every year no later than 1 month after the incorporation anniversary, filed through MyCO. |
| Audit and bookkeeping | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | Small companies with no more than 30 employees and prior-year revenue below MMK 50 million are in principle exempt from the audit requirements of the Companies Law. |
| Income tax filing | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | The financial year runs from April 1 to March 31. Returns are due within 3 months after the year ends, and estimated income tax is paid quarterly. |
| NSS Group service fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, foreign ownership, sector restrictions, local director arrangements and cross-border tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the prescribed forms and fees published on DICA's Myanmar Companies Online (MyCO). The latest official notices prevail.
Myanmar company tax and compliance: income tax, commercial tax and annual filing
Myanmar corporate income tax is 22%, commercial tax is generally 5%, and no tax is withheld on after-tax dividends. The financial year runs from April to March of the following year. Foreign shareholders should also check whether their home country has a tax treaty with Myanmar and whether controlled foreign company (CFC) rules apply.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 22% | Applies to companies formed under the Companies Law, MIC or special economic zone approved businesses, and registered foreign branches (25% before October 1, 2021). Oil and gas exploration and production companies pay 25%, and companies listed on the Yangon Stock Exchange pay 17%. |
| Commercial tax | Generally 5% | Certain goods and services are taxed at 0% to 15%. Businesses with sales or service revenue of MMK 50 million or less in a financial year are exempt. Tobacco, alcohol, certain vehicles and fuel also bear specific goods tax. |
| Dividend withholding | 0% | Dividends paid out of taxed profits are not subject to withholding, for both residents and non-residents. |
| Income tax filing | Within 3 months after the financial year ends | The financial year runs from April 1 to March 31. Estimated income tax is paid quarterly within 10 days after the end of each quarter. |
| MyCO annual return | Once a year | The first return is due within 2 months after incorporation, and after that no later than 1 month after the incorporation anniversary (Section 97 of the Companies Law). |
| Foreign ownership and restricted activities | Above 35% is a foreign company | Check Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No. 15/2017. Some activities are reserved for the state, closed to foreign investment, require a joint venture with Myanmar citizens, or need ministry approval. |
| Resident director | At least 1 | Must hold permanent residence or live in Myanmar for at least 183 days in every 12 months. A public company needs at least 3 directors, 1 of whom must be a Myanmar citizen ordinarily resident in Myanmar. |
Companies Law and restricted activity rules follow DICA, MyCO and Myanmar Investment Commission notices. Corporate income tax, commercial tax, dividend withholding and filing deadlines follow the PwC tax summaries (a secondary source). Ask an accountant to assess your specific structure.
Private company or foreign company branch in Myanmar?
Foreign businesses setting up in Myanmar usually compare a new private company limited by shares with registering the foreign parent as an overseas corporation (branch). Check the legal status, director arrangements and foreign investment restrictions of each before you decide.
| Item | Private company limited by shares | Foreign company branch (overseas corporation) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | A separate legal entity formed under the Myanmar Companies Law 2017 | A registered place of business of a foreign company in Myanmar, not a separate legal entity |
| MyCO fee | Form A-1: MMK 300,000 | Form A-8: MMK 300,000 |
| Shareholders and directors | 1 shareholder and 1 director allowed; must have 1 director ordinarily resident in Myanmar | The foreign parent is responsible and must appoint a local authorized representative (details confirmed case by case) |
| Corporate income tax | 22% | Also 22% for registered foreign organizations |
| Foreign investment restrictions | Above 35% foreign ownership is a foreign company and must follow the restricted activity list | Treated as a foreign company and also subject to the restricted activity list |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Myanmar
- Travel and security: some government travel advisories warn against travel to Myanmar as a whole and urge visitors to leave several areas, including Kachin State, Sagaing Region and Rakhine State. Check your own government's latest advice before any business trip.
- Under the FATF public statement of June 2026, Myanmar remains on the high-risk list subject to a call for action (listed in October 2022). Cross-border transfers may face enhanced checks or be refused by banks, so confirm with your banks at home and in Myanmar before you set up.
- No tax is withheld on after-tax dividends in Myanmar, but dividends may still be taxable in your home country. Check whether your home country has a tax treaty with Myanmar.
- If your home country has controlled foreign company (CFC) rules or outbound investment approval rules, profits of a Myanmar subsidiary you control may need to be reported there. Check with an adviser in your country.
- Every company needs at least 1 director who lives in Myanmar for at least 183 days in every 12 months or holds permanent residence. If foreign directors cannot be based there long term, you need to arrange a qualified local director.
Why work with NSS Group on your Myanmar company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and over 30,000 businesses served. We provide company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Myanmar. We can check your activities against the restricted list and handle MyCO online registration. Fees are based on a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line in Taiwan, 0800-003-191, or contact us through the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: DICA: Register Your Company; Myanmar Companies Online (MyCO); MyCO prescribed forms and fees; Myanmar Companies Law 2017 (English PDF); Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No. 15/2017: list of restricted investment activities (Myanmar Trade Portal); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Myanmar Taxes on corporate income; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Myanmar Other taxes (commercial tax); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Myanmar Withholding taxes; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Myanmar Tax administration; FATF: Myanmar country page; . The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How long does it take to set up a company in Myanmar?
A private company can submit its Form A-1 application and pay the fee online through DICA’s MyCO system. Once the documents are complete, the company registration office reviews them and issues the certificate of incorporation. If foreign ownership exceeds 35%, the activity is on the restricted list, or you need an MIC permit or a ministry business license, the process takes longer and must be assessed case by case.
What documents do I need to set up a company in Myanmar?
You generally need the company name, the constitution, identity details of shareholders and directors (passports for foreigners), a registered address, and share capital and shareholding details. Corporate shareholders need the parent company’s registration certificate and authorization documents. For restricted activities, ministry approval documents or a joint venture agreement are also needed. The latest DICA and MyCO rules prevail.
Do I need to go to Myanmar in person?
Company registration can be submitted online on MyCO, so shareholders do not necessarily need to travel there. But the company must have at least 1 director who is ordinarily resident in Myanmar, and bank account opening and tax registration often need local support. Travel advisories warn against travel to Myanmar, and to some areas in particular, so check your own government’s travel advice and think carefully before you go.
What taxes and annual filings does a Myanmar company have?
Corporate income tax is 22%. Commercial tax is generally 5%, and businesses with annual revenue of MMK 50 million or less are exempt. No tax is withheld on after-tax dividends. The financial year runs from April to March of the following year, the tax return is due within 3 months after the year ends, and tax is prepaid every quarter. Every year, the company must file its annual return through MyCO within 1 month after its incorporation anniversary.
What kinds of businesses should set up a company in Myanmar?
It suits businesses that already have Myanmar customers or supply chains, need to sign contracts, collect payments or hire staff locally, and companies looking at the market where ASEAN meets South Asia. Because travel advisories for Myanmar are at a high level and Myanmar remains on the FATF high-risk list, cross-border transfers may face enhanced bank checks. Check first whether your sector is restricted and whether banking with your home country and local banks is workable.
Who can help me register a company in Myanmar?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and over 30,000 businesses served, NSS Group offers one-stop Myanmar company registration: foreign ownership and restricted investment activity assessment, MyCO online company registration, the constitution and a resident local director, IRD tax registration and business license advice, and MyCO annual return reminders. Fees are based on a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line in Taiwan: 0800-003-191.