Chile Company Registration | Set Up an SpA Company in Chile
Planning a Chile company registration or looking to set up a company in Chile to reach South America’s Pacific coast? The most common company type is the Sociedad por Acciones (SpA), which 1 person can form. You can set it up online through the Registry of Companies and Corporations (Tu Empresa en un Día) of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, or by public deed. InvestChile states that foreign investors can own 100% of a Chilean company with no local partner required.
Corporate income tax (First Category Tax) under the general regime is 27% for the 2026 commercial year. Under the Pro Pyme regime for small and medium-sized businesses it is temporarily reduced to 12.5% for 2025 to 2027, and VAT is 19%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers one-stop Chile company formation, from tax regime assessment, the foreign shareholder RUT application, SpA articles and online registration to the SII start-of-activities filing and annual tax reminders, to help you set up a Chilean SpA.
InvestChile states that foreign investors can own 100% of a Chilean company with no local partner required.
Under Article 424 of the Commercial Code, an SpA can be formed by 1 or more persons, and the articles can freely set shareholder rights and management.
The Ministry of Economy’s Tu Empresa en un Día registry lets you form, amend and dissolve companies online, and links to the SII start of activities and municipal license applications.
Under the Pro Pyme regime, First Category Tax is temporarily reduced to 12.5% for 2025 to 2027 (PwC tax summary).
company registration?
Chile allows foreign investors to own 100% of a local company with no local partner required. Under Article 424 of the Commercial Code, a Sociedad por Acciones (SpA) can be formed by 1 person, and the articles can freely set how it is managed. Small companies can be formed online through the Tu Empresa en un Día Registry of Companies and Corporations of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, and then register their start of activities with the Internal Revenue Service (SII). Corporate income tax under the general regime is 27% in 2026, and 12.5% for 2025 to 2027 under the Pro Pyme regime for small and medium-sized businesses. Chile suits businesses targeting South America’s Pacific coast.
in 3 steps
In Chile, a Sociedad por Acciones (SpA) can be formed by 1 or more persons under Article 424 of the Commercial Code, and the articles can freely set shareholder rights and management. Foreign shareholders first get a RUT tax number from the Internal Revenue Service (SII), then form the company online through the Registry of Companies and Corporations or by public deed, and finally register the start of activities with the SII and obtain a municipal business license.
When you register a company in Chile, its legal representative must be a Chilean or a foreigner with suitable residence status, and the SII tax representative must live in Chile. NSS Group helps you arrange representatives, prepare powers of attorney and plan annual maintenance, so your Chilean company is clear and compliant from setup to operation.
Foreign shareholders first apply to Chile’s Internal Revenue Service (SII) for a RUT tax number using form F-4415 and appoint an adult individual living in Chile as tax representative. The power of attorney can be granted before a Chilean consul, a Chilean notary or a foreign notary, and foreign documents must be legalized.
Small companies can be formed online through the Ministry of Economy’s Tu Empresa en un Día Registry of Companies and Corporations, logging in with ClaveÚnica and signing with an advanced electronic signature or before a notary. Other companies are generally formed by public deed, with signatures authenticated by a notary.
After formation, the company files its start of activities with the SII, sets its tax domicile and has its invoices stamped. Depending on its activities, it then obtains building, health or environmental permits and pays the municipal business license (patente municipal) before it can operate.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Chile bank account documents and process 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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- Company type and tax regime (general or Pro Pyme) assessment
- Foreign shareholder RUT application and representative appointment documents
- SpA articles and online registry or notarial formation
- SII start of activities and municipal business license application
- Reminders for monthly prepayments and the April annual income tax return
Government fees follow the Registry of Companies and Corporations and each municipality; other items as quoted
Chile company registration at a glance
The most common questions about Chile company registration, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Company type | Sociedad por Acciones (SpA); 1 person can form one |
|---|---|
| Registry | Registry of Companies and Corporations (Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism) |
| Foreign ownership | Foreign investors can own 100% |
| Minimum capital | Not stated in official sources |
| Corporate income tax | General regime 27%; Pro Pyme 12.5% (2025 to 2027) |
| VAT | IVA 19% |
| Timeline | Depends on review progress |
| Annual filing | File with the SII by April 30 each year |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
How much does Chile company registration cost? Cost breakdown
The cost to register a company in Chile mainly depends on the foreign shareholder RUT and representative documents, how the formation is signed, and the municipal business license and bookkeeping after formation. The items below help you check quotes line by line.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | Per official notice | The Registry of Companies and Corporations' official pages do not list a formation fee. The latest official notice prevails. |
| Foreign shareholder RUT and representative | Quoted by number of documents | Apply to the SII with form F-4415; the power of attorney can be granted before a Chilean consul, a Chilean notary or a foreign notary. |
| Signing method | Per notary fees | Without an advanced electronic signature, the formation form must be signed before a notary. |
| Municipal business license | Per each municipality | After obtaining building, health or environmental permits, pay the municipal business license (patente municipal). |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by volume | Monthly income tax prepayments (PPM); the annual income tax return is due by April 30 each year. |
| NSS Group service fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on shareholder structure, tax regime, representative arrangements and home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Formation steps follow the official guidance of Chile's Registry of Companies and Corporations and InvestChile. For fees and municipal license amounts, the latest official notices prevail.
Chile company tax and compliance essentials: First Category Tax and dividend additional tax
Chilean companies pay First Category Tax and can choose the general regime or the Pro Pyme regime for small and medium-sized businesses, depending on size. Dividends paid to non-residents are subject to additional tax, with a credit for First Category Tax. Foreign shareholders should also check their home country's controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First Category Tax (general regime) | 27% for the 2026 commercial year | Applies to companies under the partially integrated system. |
| First Category Tax (Pro Pyme) | 12.5% for 2025 to 2027 | Temporary reduction for small and medium-sized businesses; 15% in 2028. |
| VAT (IVA) | 19% | Applies to sales of goods and provision of services. |
| Dividend additional tax | 35%, with a credit for First Category Tax | Fully creditable for Pro Pyme companies or treaty-country recipients, for a total burden of 35%; under the general regime with a non-treaty recipient, the total burden is 44.45% in 2026. |
| Stamp tax | 0.066% per month, capped at 0.8% | 0.332% for sight documents or documents with no maturity date. |
| Annual filing | By April 30 each year | The tax year is the calendar year, and taxpayers generally make monthly income tax prepayments (PPM). |
Some tax rates are based on PwC tax summaries (secondary source, reviewed October 2026). Formation and start-of-activities steps follow official guidance from InvestChile and Chile's Registry of Companies and Corporations. Have an accountant assess your specific case.
Chile SpA, Ltda. or SA: which should you choose?
When setting up a company in Chile, foreign founders usually compare the SpA, the limited liability company (Ltda.) and the corporation (SA). An SpA can be formed by 1 person and its articles are highly flexible.
| Item | SpA | Limited liability company (Ltda.) | Corporation (SA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of founders | 1 or more | Ask our consultants | Ask our consultants |
| Legal features | Articles can freely set shareholder rights and management | Listed by InvestChile as a common type | Listed by InvestChile as a common type (open or closed) |
| Formation | Online registry or public deed | Online registry or public deed | Assessed by size and structure |
| Company representative | A Chilean, or a foreigner with permanent residence or a temporary visa that allows any lawful activity | Same as SpA | Same as SpA |
| First Category Tax | General regime 27% / Pro Pyme 12.5% | General regime 27% / Pro Pyme 12.5% | General regime 27% / Pro Pyme 12.5% |
These are general principles. Base your choice on shareholder background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Chile
- Tax treaties: check whether your home country has a comprehensive income tax treaty with Chile. According to PwC, when a general-regime company pays dividends to a shareholder in a non-treaty country, the total tax burden can reach 44.45% for the 2026 commercial year. Have an accountant run the numbers before you choose a tax regime.
- To represent a Chilean company as administrator, manager or director, you must be a Chilean or a foreigner with permanent residence or a temporary visa that allows any lawful activity. Foreign shareholders without a suitable visa must appoint a qualified local representative.
- Foreign shareholders must first get a RUT from the SII and appoint an individual living in Chile as tax representative. A power of attorney granted abroad must be legalized as required.
- Check your home country's controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. If a Chilean company is controlled from a country with CFC rules and lacks real operations, its profits may be taxed in that home country. Have an accountant assess your case.
- Check whether your home country requires approval or reporting for outbound investment before you invest in Chile.
Why choose NSS Group for Chile company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and business advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served. We provide company formation, bank account opening, accounting, tax and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Chile, and can arrange an SII tax representative and online SpA registration. Fees follow a free assessment and written quote. Call toll-free 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Chile Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism: Registry of Companies and Corporations (Tu Empresa en un Día); Chile Commercial Code (BCN LeyChile, Article 424, SpA); InvestChile: Setting up a company and starting activities; InvestChile: How to Invest in Chile: Setting up a Company in Chile (2025-02-07); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Chile Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-10-30); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Chile Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-10-30); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Chile Other taxes; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Chile Tax administration. 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 Chile in 2026?
The official registry pages do not list a formation fee, so this page gives no amount. The main costs are notarization and legalization of the foreign shareholder’s power of attorney, a local representative, notary signing (if you do not use an advanced electronic signature), bookkeeping and the municipal business license (patente municipal). Actual costs depend on the company type and business activities.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Chilean company?
Yes. InvestChile states that foreign investors can own 100% of a Chilean company with no local partner required, and a Sociedad por Acciones (SpA) can be formed by 1 person under Article 424 of the Commercial Code. Foreign shareholders must first get a RUT tax number from the Internal Revenue Service (SII) and appoint an individual living in Chile as tax representative.
Do I need to go to Chile in person to set up a company?
Not necessarily. Foreign investors can apply for a RUT with the SII through a representative living in Chile, and the power of attorney can be notarized abroad and then legalized. However, the company’s legal representative must be a Chilean or a foreigner with permanent residence or a temporary visa that allows any lawful activity. Foreign shareholders who are not in Chile must arrange a qualified representative.
What is Chile's corporate tax rate in 2026?
According to the PwC tax summary, First Category Tax under the general regime is 27% for the 2026 commercial year, and under the Pro Pyme regime for small and medium-sized businesses it is temporarily reduced to 12.5% for 2025 to 2027. VAT is 19%. Dividends paid to non-residents are subject to a 35% additional tax, with a credit for First Category Tax. The annual income tax return is due by April 30 each year.
Which businesses should set up a company in Chile?
Chile suits businesses planning for Chile and South America’s Pacific coast that need a local sales or service base. A single shareholder can choose a Sociedad por Acciones (SpA), which has flexible articles, and small and medium-sized businesses can consider the Pro Pyme tax regime. InvestChile reports that 184,088 companies were formed electronically in Chile in 2024.
Who can help me register a company in Chile?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served more than 30,000 businesses. We offer one-stop Chile company registration, including company type and tax regime assessment, the foreign shareholder RUT application and representative appointment documents, SpA articles with online registration or notarial formation, the SII start-of-activities filing and municipal business license application, and reminders for monthly prepayments and the annual income tax return. Our fees follow a free assessment and written quote. Call toll-free 0800-003-191 for details.