Czech Republic Company Registration | Set Up a Company in the Czech Republic (s.r.o.)
Planning Czech Republic company registration so you can set up a company in the Czech Republic and serve Central European markets? The most common entity is the limited liability company (s.r.o.). A Czech notary draws up the founding document as a notarial deed, and the company comes into existence once it is entered in the Commercial Register kept by the regional courts. Foreign legal entities can do business on the same terms as Czech companies, and foreign founders can hold 100% of the shares.
Each shareholder of a limited liability company must contribute at least CZK 1, and at least 30% of the cash contribution must be paid in before registration. Corporate income tax has been 21% since 2024, the standard VAT rate is 21%, and VAT registration is only required once turnover exceeds CZK 2,000,000. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop service to set up a Czech limited liability company, covering shareholding planning, notarial documents, the capital contribution account, the trade license, Commercial Register entry and beneficial owner registration.
Each shareholder of a limited liability company must contribute at least CZK 1. Once at least 30% of the cash contribution is paid in, the company can be filed for registration.
Foreign legal entities can do business on the same terms as Czech companies. They can found a company on their own or join an existing Czech company.
When a notary enters the company directly in the Commercial Register, the court fee is CZK 2,700, lower than the CZK 6,000 fee when you apply to the court.
The Czech Republic is an EU member state. VAT registration is only required once turnover exceeds CZK 2,000,000, and the standard VAT rate is 21%.
Czech company?
The Czech Republic is an EU member state, and foreign legal entities can do business there on the same terms as Czech companies. Each shareholder of a limited liability company must contribute at least CZK 1, and only at least 30% of the cash contribution has to be paid in before registration. A Czech notary prepares the founding documents and can also enter the company directly in the Commercial Register, for a court fee of CZK 2,700. Corporate income tax has been 21% since 2024, the standard VAT rate is 21%, and VAT registration is only required once turnover exceeds CZK 2,000,000. This makes the Czech Republic a practical base for companies planning a presence in Central Europe.
in 3 steps
In the Czech Republic, the most common entity is the limited liability company. It is managed by one or more executive directors, and a supervisory board is not mandatory. The founding documents must be made as a notarial deed by a Czech notary. After the trade license is obtained and the contribution is paid, the company is registered in the Commercial Register by the notary or through the registry court, and it comes into existence on the date of registration.
To register a Czech company you need criminal record certificates, the consent of the registered office owner and legalized foreign documents. Opening the capital contribution account often requires the person to attend in person or to give a notarized power of attorney. After registration, the company must register its beneficial owners, use its data box and file annual tax returns. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare the documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your Czech company stays clear and compliant from setup through operation.
A Czech notary prepares the founding deed or articles of association as a notarial deed. You appoint a contribution administrator, open a capital contribution account at a bank and pay in at least 30% of the cash contribution before registration. If the total cash contributions do not exceed CZK 20,000, they can be paid in other ways.
Apply to the Trade Licensing Office (živnostenský úřad) for a trade license that matches your planned business. About 80 common activities are unqualified trades that do not require a responsible representative, and tax registration can be handled in the same application.
The notary registers the company directly, or you apply to the registry division of the regional court. The filing includes the founding documents, proof that the capital has been paid, the executive directors’ declarations and criminal record certificates, and the registered office owner’s consent. The company comes into existence on the date of registration and must then report its ultimate beneficial owners.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Czech contribution account and business bank account tips
- 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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- Entity type and shareholding structure assessment
- Preparation of the founding deed or articles of association
- Contribution account opening and capital payment coordination
- Trade license and Commercial Register entry
- Ultimate beneficial owner registration, VAT and annual tax return reminders
Official fees: Commercial Register entry CZK 2,700 (direct registration by a notary) or CZK 6,000 (application to the court), trade license CZK 1,000 (if needed). Notary fees follow the official tariff; other items are quoted. Service fee: free assessment and written quote
Czech Republic company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when setting up a company in the Czech Republic, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Limited liability company (s.r.o.) |
|---|---|
| Registering body | Commercial Register (registry division of the regional court) |
| Foreign ownership | Foreign founders can hold 100% |
| Minimum capital | CZK 1 per shareholder |
| Corporate income tax | 21% (from 2024) |
| VAT | Standard rate 21%, threshold CZK 2,000,000 |
| Setup time | Depends on the review process |
| Annual filing | Income tax return within 3 months, 4 months if filed electronically |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Czech company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government costs of registering a Czech company are mainly the Commercial Register fee, the trade license fee and the notary fee for the founding deed. The fee is lower when the notary registers the company directly than when you apply to the court. The figures we found are listed below so you can check quotes line by line.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Register fee (direct registration by a notary) | CZK 2,700 | Applies when the notary enters the company directly in the Commercial Register. |
| Commercial Register fee (application to the court) | CZK 6,000 | Applies when you apply to the registry division of the regional court. |
| Trade license administrative fee | CZK 1,000 (if needed) | Paid when applying to the Trade Licensing Office for a trade license. |
| Notary fee for incorporation | Per the notary tariff | The founding deed or articles of association must be a notarial deed. The fee depends on the amount of capital. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by transaction volume | The income tax return is due 3 months after the end of the tax period, 4 months if filed electronically, and 6 months if the accounts are audited or the return is filed by a tax advisor. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, how the contribution is paid, document legalization needs and home-country tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Commercial Register and trade license fees follow Doing Business in the Czech Republic 2024 (prepared by Crowe, a secondary source) published on the website of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Notary fees are calculated under the notary tariff as explained on gov.cz. The latest official notices prevail.
Czech company tax and compliance: income tax, VAT and beneficial owner registration
A Czech company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT. Annual filing deadlines depend on whether the return is filed electronically and whether the accounts are audited. The company must also keep its ultimate beneficial owner registration up to date and check its data box.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 21% | Applies from 1 January 2024. Basic investment funds pay 5%. |
| VAT | Standard rate 21% | Reduced rate 12%, books 0%. Registration is required from the following year once turnover in the previous calendar year exceeds CZK 2,000,000. |
| Dividend withholding tax | Generally 15% | 35% for residents of non-EU countries that have no tax treaty or information exchange agreement with the Czech Republic. |
| Income tax return | Within 3 months | Extended to 4 months if filed electronically, and to 6 months if the accounts must be audited or the return is filed by a tax advisor. |
| Ultimate beneficial owner registration | Applies to all companies | Profits cannot be distributed to a beneficial owner who is not registered. Fines go up to CZK 500,000. |
| Foreign investment screening | Prior approval for sensitive sectors | In force since 1 May 2021 and applies to investors from outside the EU. |
Rates and rules follow CzechInvest and gov.cz notices. The dividend withholding rates follow the PwC tax summaries (a secondary source). For your own case, ask an accountant to review your actual structure.
Czech s.r.o., a.s. or branch: which should you choose?
Foreign companies setting up in the Czech Republic usually compare a new limited liability company (s.r.o.), a joint stock company (a.s.), or a branch of the foreign company.
| Item | Limited liability company (s.r.o.) | Joint stock company (a.s.) | Branch of a foreign company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Separate legal entity | Not a Czech legal entity; the foreign company takes on its obligations |
| Minimum capital | CZK 1 per shareholder | CZK 2,000,000 | No capital required |
| How it is formed | Notarial deed | Notarial deed | Entry in the Commercial Register |
| Management | Executive directors; a supervisory board is optional | Board of directors and supervisory board (two-tier) | A branch head must be appointed and registered |
| Shareholder liability | Jointly liable up to the amount of unpaid contributions | Not liable for the company's debts | Borne by the foreign parent company |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know before setting up a company in the Czech Republic
- An executive director who is not an EU citizen must provide a criminal record certificate from their country of nationality, issued within the last 3 months, at registration. Foreign documents usually need to be legalized and come with a Czech translation, so start on them early.
- The contribution administrator usually has to open the capital contribution account at the bank in person, which can be inconvenient for foreigners. Some banks accept a power of attorney with a notarized signature, so confirm the bank's requirements before you incorporate.
- Investors from outside the EU need prior approval if they invest in sectors listed as sensitive under the foreign direct investment screening law, which has been in force since 1 May 2021.
- Dividend withholding tax is generally 15%, and 35% for residents of non-EU countries that have no tax treaty or information exchange agreement with the Czech Republic. Check the treaty between the Czech Republic and the country where your shareholders are based, and your home-country outbound investment and controlled foreign company rules.
- The company must register its beneficial owners correctly in the register of ultimate beneficial owners. Profits cannot be distributed to an unregistered owner, and Czech banks and notaries may also refuse service if the beneficial owner details are incorrect.
Why work with NSS Group on Czech Republic company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a global company registration and business advisory brand based in Taiwan, with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served. We handle company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including the Czech Republic, and can coordinate the Czech notarial incorporation, the capital contribution account and the Commercial Register entry. Our service fee is based on a free assessment and a written quote. Contact us through the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: CzechInvest Fact Sheet No. 19: Setting up a Business (updated December 2023, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs website); gov.cz: The process of incorporation and setting up a business corporation; CzechInvest: Taxation system; gov.cz: What is the corporate income tax rate; gov.cz: Registering for VAT; gov.cz: General rules and VAT rates; gov.cz: Corporate Income Tax Return; Doing Business in the Czech Republic 2024 (prepared by Crowe, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs website); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Czech Republic Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-07-27); Czech Ministry of Justice public register (Veřejný rejstřík). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in the Czech Republic in 2026?
The main government cost is the Commercial Register fee: CZK 2,700 when a notary registers the company directly, or CZK 6,000 when you apply to the registry court. If a trade license is needed, there is also an administrative fee of CZK 1,000. The notary fee for the founding deed follows the notary tariff and depends on the amount of capital. Each shareholder of a limited liability company must contribute at least CZK 1. Translation, legalization and bookkeeping are quoted separately.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Czech company?
Yes. According to CzechInvest, foreign legal entities can do business on the same terms and to the same extent as Czech companies, and can found a company or join an existing Czech company. Investors from outside the EU need prior approval if they invest in sectors listed as sensitive under the foreign direct investment screening law.
Do I need to travel to the Czech Republic to set up a company?
The founding documents must be made as a notarial deed by a Czech notary. Shareholders can sign in person or appoint a representative through a special power of attorney with a legalized signature. When the contribution administrator opens the capital contribution account, banks usually require the person to attend in person, though some banks accept a notarized power of attorney. Check with the bank first.
What documents do I need to set up a Czech limited liability company?
The main documents are the notarial founding deed or articles of association, proof that the capital has been paid (usually a bank statement), the executive directors’ declarations and consent to registration, criminal record certificates for the executive directors issued within the last 3 months, the registered office owner’s consent with a legalized signature, and, for corporate shareholders, an extract from their register and proof of authority to represent issued within the last 3 months.
What taxes and annual filings does a Czech company have?
Corporate income tax is 21%. The standard VAT rate is 21% and the reduced rate is 12%, and VAT registration is required once turnover exceeds CZK 2,000,000. The income tax return is due 3 months after the end of the tax period, 4 months if filed electronically, and 6 months if the accounts are audited or the return is filed by a tax advisor. The company must also keep its ultimate beneficial owner registration up to date and check its data box regularly.
Who can help me register a company in the Czech Republic?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served, NSS Group offers one-stop Czech Republic company registration, including shareholding structure assessment, notarial founding document preparation, the capital contribution account and trade license, and Commercial Register and beneficial owner registration. The service fee is based on a free assessment and a written quote.