--- canonical: "https://euincnow.com/company-formation-finland" dateModified: "2026-10-11" --- # Company Formation in Finland: Types, Taxes and Costs Forming a company in Finland takes roughly one to three business days when filed online through the YTJ and PRH service using Finnish e-identification. The standard vehicle is the osakeyhtio (Oy), a private limited company that since 2019 needs no minimum capital and can be founded with EUR 0, and it pays a flat 20% corporate tax. Finland's standard VAT (ALV) is 25.5%, raised from 24% in September 2024, and the PRH assesses EEA residence separately for ordinary and deputy board members. The managing director and any deputy managing director also need EEA residence or a PRH permit. ## Finland at a glance - Finland is an EU member state with its own national company forms and registration rules. Compare company types, capital, tax, timing and signing requirements before you choose. The proposed 28th Regime (EU Inc) is a separate option that is not available yet. ### Company types in Finland - Osakeyhtio (Oy) The private limited company and default vehicle for startups and SMEs. No minimum share capital since 1 July 2019, so it can be founded with EUR 0. - Julkinen osakeyhtio (Oyj) The public limited company for larger firms or a listing. Minimum capital EUR 80,000. * Company formation in Finland: key facts (last reviewed July 2026) - Corporate tax Flat 20% corporate income tax, with no separate municipal corporate tax. A small public-broadcasting (YLE) tax also applies. A cut to 18% is proposed from 2027, but 20% is in force for 2026. - VAT rate Standard VAT (ALV) is 25.5%, raised from 24% on 1 September 2024 and one of the highest in the EU. Reduced rates are 13.5% and 10%. The small-business threshold is EUR 20,000 of turnover. - Dividends & payroll taxes Dividends from unlisted companies get partial relief tied to the company's net assets, with the taxable slice treated as 30% or 34% capital income. Top personal rates land in the low 50s, and employer contributions add roughly 20% on salaries. - Minimum share capital None for a private limited company (Oy): the former EUR 2,500 minimum was abolished on 1 July 2019, so an Oy can be founded with EUR 0. A public company (Oyj) requires EUR 80,000. - Setup time Filed online via the YTJ and PRH service, an Oy is usually registered in about 1 to 3 business days. Founders without a Finnish identity code should allow extra time to obtain one. - Remote setup Partial. File electronically through the YTJ service, which runs in Finnish and Swedish. The guided zero-capital package requires all shareholders and the relevant company officers to meet the Finnish identity-code and authentication conditions. If those conditions are not met, use the electronic start-up notification with separately prepared documents and arrange an authorised filer where needed. Paper start-up notifications are not accepted from 1 January 2026. - Director / residency The PRH assesses EEA residence separately for ordinary board members and deputy board members. At least one person in each appointed category must reside in the EEA to avoid a permit for that category. A managing director and any deputy managing director must also reside in the EEA unless the PRH grants a permit. Citizenship is not the test. Confirm the required board composition and any Finnish service-of-process representative before filing. - Banking options Banks include Nordea, OP, Danske Bank and Aktia, though non-resident onboarding can be slow. Fintech options popular with founders include Holvi (a Finnish provider), Wise and Narvi. Because an Oy needs no share capital, no paid-in deposit is required to incorporate. * Finland abolished the minimum share capital for an Oy in 2019, so a company can be incorporated with EUR 0. The one-stop YTJ notification registers the company with both the Trade Register and the Tax Administration at once. Corporate tax is a flat 20%, and the 25.5% VAT (since September 2024) is one of the EU's highest. ## How to register a company in Finland - Step by step, this is how a Finland formation actually runs: 1. **Draft the Oy documents.** Articles plus the memorandum of association; no minimum capital since 2019. 2. **Choose the electronic filing route.** Use the guided zero-capital package only if its Finnish identity-code, authentication and standard-document conditions are met. Otherwise use the YTJ electronic start-up notification with separately prepared documents. An authorised filer may be needed; paper start-up notifications are not accepted from 1 January 2026. 3. **Register with the PRH.** Submit the complete electronic notification and pay the applicable EUR 300 or EUR 400 fee. Check EEA residence separately for ordinary board members, deputies and any managing director, and obtain any required PRH permits before relying on the planned composition. 4. **Tax registrations.** Join the prepayment register, VAT register (threshold EUR 20,000) and employer register as needed, all through the same filing. 5. **Banking.** Finnish banks onboard non-residents slowly; fintech accounts are the common bridge. ## What company formation in Finland costs - The PRH fee in 2026 is EUR 300 for the guided zero-capital setup package or EUR 400 for a start-up notification with documents you prepare. The guided package requires eligible individual shareholders, Finnish identity codes for the listed persons and standard articles. Other cases use the document-based electronic route. Paper start-up filing ended on 1 January 2026. A local agent for foreign founders adds a few hundred euros. Accounting for a small Oy typically runs EUR 100 to 250 a month. ## Who can form a company in Finland - Check ownership eligibility separately from director, local-address and licensing requirements. Permission to own shares does not automatically give you permission to live or work in Finland. The director and residency information above identifies the main formation conditions to review. - Finland fits founders with Nordic-Baltic business, hardware and deep-tech teams tapping Finnish ecosystems, and EEA founders who can use the e-ID route. Fully remote non-EEA founders face language and identification friction that Estonia solves next door. ## After registration: what Finland expects each year - Financial statements are filed with the Trade Register (via the tax return process) and the corporate tax return is due four months after year end. VAT reporting is monthly, quarterly or yearly by size. Small companies skip audit below thresholds; board and shareholder records must be kept current. ## Finland and the 28th Regime (EU Inc) - EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would add a harmonised company form in EU member states. Registration is not open and no launch date is confirmed. A national company in Finland is available under existing rules, but a later EU Inc conversion would depend on the adopted law and eligibility. Read how to prepare an EU Inc company, or compare current options in company formation in Europe. ## Sources and review scope - Use the linked registries, authorities and specialist references to check the requirements for your company. A review of formation costs and filings does not replace a review of your tax position. ### Topics checked - These dates apply to the named topics. Other figures and indicative service prices have separate review needs. * **Oy registration fees and electronic filing routes** Checked 11 October 2026. [Source 1][1] * **EEA residence tests for board and management roles** Checked 11 October 2026. [Source 1][2] ### Reference links - [prh.fi][1] - [taxsummaries.pwc.com][3] - [prh.fi][2] ## Frequently asked questions ### Can a foreigner open a company in Finland? - The PRH assesses EEA residence separately for ordinary board members and deputy board members. At least one person in each appointed category must reside in the EEA to avoid a permit for that category. A managing director and any deputy managing director must also reside in the EEA unless the PRH grants a permit. Citizenship is not the test. Confirm the required board composition and any Finnish service-of-process representative before filing. ### How long does company formation in Finland take? - Filed online via the YTJ and PRH service, an Oy is usually registered in about 1 to 3 business days. Founders without a Finnish identity code should allow extra time to obtain one. ### What corporate tax does a company in Finland pay? - The headline summary is 20%, with standard VAT of 25.5%. Company form, activity, size and where the business operates can change the treatment. Read the detailed tax information and confirm the rules for your case. ### Can I form a company in Finland remotely? - Partial. File electronically through the YTJ service, which runs in Finnish and Swedish. The guided zero-capital package requires all shareholders and the relevant company officers to meet the Finnish identity-code and authentication conditions. If those conditions are not met, use the electronic start-up notification with separately prepared documents and arrange an authorised filer where needed. Paper start-up notifications are not accepted from 1 January 2026. ## Source URLs [1]: https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/yrityksen_perustaminen/osakeyhtio.html [2]: https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/ulkomaalaisluvat.html [3]: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/finland/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income