Sweden Company Registration | Set Up an AB Company in Sweden
Planning Sweden company registration, or want to set up a company in Sweden to reach the Nordic and EU markets? The most common entity is the private limited company AB (Aktiebolag). You register it with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket), then apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for F-tax and VAT. There are no nationality limits on shareholders, so foreigners can own 100%, but at least half of the directors and the managing director must live in the European Economic Area or obtain an exemption.
An AB needs share capital of at least SEK 25,000, and online registration costs SEK 2,400. Corporate income tax is 20.6% and the standard VAT rate is 25%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) provides a one-stop Sweden company formation service, from director residence requirement assessment, founding documents and articles of association, and company registration to tax registration and annual report and tax filing reminders, to help you set up a Swedish AB.
For tax years starting from 2021, the Swedish corporate income tax rate is 20.6%.
An AB needs share capital of at least SEK 25,000, paid in cash or in property that is useful to the business.
Registering with the Swedish Companies Registration Office through the online service costs SEK 2,400, and all registrations with the Swedish Tax Agency are free.
Swedish dividend withholding tax is 30%, but it can be reduced at payment or refunded later under a tax treaty.
company registration?
Sweden is an EU member state. A private limited company (AB) needs share capital of at least SEK 25,000, online registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office costs SEK 2,400, and F-tax and VAT registration with the Swedish Tax Agency are free. Corporate income tax is 20.6% and the standard VAT rate is 25%. There are no nationality limits on shareholders, but at least half of the directors and the managing director must live in the European Economic Area, and you can apply to the registration office for an exemption. Dividend withholding tax can be reduced under tax treaties, which makes Sweden a practical Nordic base.
in 3 steps
In Sweden, the most common entity is the private limited company AB, where shareholders’ liability is limited to their investment. The board needs at least 1 director and 1 deputy director, and a managing director is optional. Once the founders sign the founding documents, pay in the share capital and get a bank certificate, they apply for registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, then register for F-tax, VAT and as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency.
When you register a Swedish company, the points to plan in advance are the EEA residence requirement for directors and the managing director, the exemption application and a person authorized to receive service. After you start trading, there are annual report and income tax filing obligations. NSS Group plans your shareholding and board structure, prepares the documents and arranges annual maintenance, so your Swedish company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
Draft the memorandum of association (stiftelseurkund) and the articles of association (bolagsordning), and confirm the directors, deputy directors and managing director and their residence. Deposit at least SEK 25,000 of share capital in a bank account and get a bank certificate. Contributions in kind must be assessed by an approved or authorized public accountant.
Within 6 months of signing the memorandum of association, apply for registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket). The fee is SEK 2,400 online or SEK 2,700 by post, and beneficial owners are registered for SEK 250. If no representative lives in Sweden, you must also register a person authorized to receive service.
Apply to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) for F-tax (F-skatt), VAT and employer registration. All applications to the Tax Agency are free. Also check whether your business activity needs a license, and once this is done you can start operating.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Sweden bank account and share capital certificate 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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- Assessment of company type and director residence requirements
- Preparation of the founding documents and articles of association
- Companies Registration Office and beneficial ownership registration
- F-tax, VAT and employer registration
- Annual report and income tax filing reminders
Official fees: AB online registration SEK 2,400 (SEK 2,700 by post), beneficial ownership registration SEK 250, Tax Agency registration free; the minimum share capital of SEK 25,000 is paid in separately. Other items as quoted
Sweden company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in Sweden, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Private limited company AB (Aktiebolag) |
|---|---|
| Registrar | Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) |
| Foreign ownership | 100% allowed; half of the directors and the managing director must live in the EEA or obtain an exemption |
| Minimum capital | SEK 25,000 |
| Corporate income tax | 20.6% |
| VAT | Standard rate 25%; exemption possible for annual turnover up to SEK 120,000 |
| Timeline | Depends on the review; apply within 6 months of signing the memorandum of association |
| Annual compliance | Annual report filed within 7 months after the financial year ends |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Sweden company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government cost of registering a Swedish company is mainly the Swedish Companies Registration Office's registration fee and the beneficial ownership registration fee. Tax registrations with the Swedish Tax Agency are free. You also need the share capital to pay in, plus bookkeeping, annual report and tax filing costs after you start trading. Below are the official figures, so you can check quotes line by line.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AB registration | SEK 2,400 (online) / SEK 2,700 (by post) | Filed with the Swedish Companies Registration Office within 6 months of signing the memorandum of association. |
| Beneficial ownership registration | SEK 250 | Paid by invoice. |
| Tax Agency registration | Free | F-tax, VAT and employer registration with the Swedish Tax Agency are free of charge. |
| Minimum share capital | SEK 25,000 | Not a fee but company capital; a bank certificate is required, and contributions in kind must be assessed by an accountant. |
| Annual report | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | Must reach the Swedish Companies Registration Office within 7 months after the financial year ends; late fees start at SEK 7,500. |
| Income tax return | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | The deadline depends on the financial year; for years ending between September and December 2026, it is August 2, 2027. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on your shareholder structure, board arrangements, whether you need bank account opening and home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow verksamt.se "Fees for cases" and Swedish Companies Registration Office notices. The latest official notice prevails.
Sweden company tax and compliance: corporate tax, VAT and annual report
A Swedish company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT. Each year it files an annual report with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and an income tax return with the Swedish Tax Agency, and dividends paid to foreign shareholders are subject to withholding tax. Shareholders should also check their home country's controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 20.6% | Applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2021. |
| VAT (moms) | Standard rate 25% | Reduced rates of 12% and 6%; food is taxed at 6% from April 1, 2026. Exemption is possible for annual turnover of no more than SEK 120,000. |
| Dividend withholding tax | 30% | Can be reduced at payment or refunded later under a tax treaty. |
| Annual report | Within 7 months after the financial year ends | Late fees are charged in steps of SEK 7,500, 7,500 and 15,000, and a company that has not filed after 11 months may be forced into liquidation. |
| Income tax return | Depends on the financial year | For financial years ending between September and December 2026, the deadline is August 2, 2027. |
| Director residence requirement | Half of the directors and the managing director | Must live in the European Economic Area; a case-by-case exemption can be requested from the Swedish Companies Registration Office. |
Tax rates and rules follow the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Companies Act. Treaty dividend rates follow the PwC tax summary (secondary source). Ask an accountant to assess your actual structure.
Swedish AB or branch: which should you choose?
Foreign businesses setting up in Sweden usually compare a new private limited company AB with a branch (filial) of their parent company.
| Item | Private limited company AB | Branch (filial) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Not a separate legal entity; a branch of the foreign parent company |
| Minimum capital | SEK 25,000 | Not stated in official setup guidance |
| Directors and management | At least half of the directors and the managing director must live in the EEA (exemption available) | Based on the parent company's authorization; not stated in official guidance |
| Shareholder liability | Limited to the investment | Borne by the parent company |
| Online registration fee | SEK 2,400 | SEK 3,000 |
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 Sweden
- Check the Schengen entry rules for your nationality. Visa-free stays cover tourism and business visits only, and working in Sweden requires a residence and work permit applied for in advance.
- Sweden's dividend withholding tax is 30%. If your home country has a tax treaty with Sweden, the rate can be reduced at payment or refunded later on application.
- If your home country has controlled foreign company (CFC) rules, a Swedish company you control that has no real operations may have its profits taxed at home.
- Some countries require approval or a filing before residents or companies invest abroad. Confirm your home-country rules before you remit capital.
- At least half of the directors and the managing director must live in the European Economic Area. If all your directors live outside the EEA, apply to the Swedish Companies Registration Office for an exemption in advance or appoint EEA residents, and name a person living in Sweden who is authorized to receive service.
Why work with NSS Group on Sweden company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory group with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. We provide company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in Sweden and many other countries and regions. We can apply for an exemption from the director residence requirement and arrange a person authorized to receive service. Our fee is a written quote after a free assessment. Call the toll-free number 0800-003-191 (Taiwan) or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: verksamt.se: Starting and registering a limited company; verksamt.se: Fees for cases; Swedish Parliament: Aktiebolagslag (2005:551); Skatteverket: Aktiebolag; Skatteverket: In certain cases, you do not need to register your business for VAT; Skatteverket: VAT rates and VAT exemption; Skatteverket: Kupongskatt för aktiebolag som lämnat utdelning; Skatteverket: Deklarera åt ett aktiebolag; Bolagsverket: Annual reports and financial years for limited companies; Bolagsverket: Late filing penalties for limited companies; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Sweden Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-09-22). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Sweden in 2026?
For a private limited company (AB), online registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office costs SEK 2,400, or SEK 2,700 by post, and beneficial ownership registration costs SEK 250. F-tax, VAT and employer registration with the Swedish Tax Agency are free. The minimum share capital of SEK 25,000 is paid in separately, and you should also budget for bookkeeping, the annual report and tax filing. Advisory fees are quoted separately.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Swedish company?
Yes. The Swedish Companies Act sets no nationality limits on shareholders, so foreign individuals or companies can own 100% of an AB. However, at least half of the directors and the managing director must live in the European Economic Area (EEA), and you can apply to the Swedish Companies Registration Office for a case-by-case exemption if there are special reasons. If the company has no representative living in Sweden, it must appoint a person living in Sweden who is authorized to receive service.
Do I need to travel to Sweden to set up a company?
Official guidance does not require you to go to Sweden in person. You can apply to the Swedish Companies Registration Office through the online service or by post. In practice, you need to arrange the share capital remittance and bank certificate, the director residence requirement or an exemption application, and a person authorized to receive service in advance. If you cannot use the online service, you can apply by post.
What taxes and annual filings does a Swedish company have?
The corporate income tax rate is 20.6%, and the standard VAT rate is 25%. The annual report must reach the Swedish Companies Registration Office within 7 months after the financial year ends, and late filing fees start at SEK 7,500. The income tax return deadline depends on the financial year; for financial years ending between September and December 2026, the deadline is August 2, 2027. Dividends to foreign shareholders are generally subject to 30% withholding tax.
How long does it take to set up a Swedish AB, and what documents are needed?
You need the memorandum of association (stiftelseurkund), the articles of association (bolagsordning), the bank certificate for the paid-in share capital, details of the directors and deputy directors, beneficial ownership details and, where needed, an application for exemption from the residence requirement. Under the Companies Act, you must apply for registration within 6 months of signing the memorandum of association. No fixed processing time is published, and the actual time depends on the Swedish Companies Registration Office’s review.
Who can help me register a company in Sweden?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served more than 30,000 companies. Our one-stop Sweden company registration service covers company type and director residence requirement assessment, founding documents and articles of association, registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and beneficial ownership registration, F-tax and VAT registration, and annual report and tax filing reminders. Our fee is a written quote after a free assessment. Toll-free (Taiwan): 0800-003-191.