Greece at a glance
Greece is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Greece
- IKE (Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia) The most popular form for founders, the Greek equivalent of an LLC. Limited liability, capital from EUR 1, single-member allowed, and fully online formation via the Gov.gr portal with no notary.
- EPE (limited liability company) The older, more formal LLC form. Capital is set freely in the statute since the 2012 reform; a notarial deed is often required.
- AE (societe anonyme) For larger firms or those raising institutional capital. EUR 25,000 minimum capital fully paid up, with a board and a notarised statute.
| Corporate tax | A flat 22% corporate income tax on company profits. Credit institutions are taxed at 29%. Distributed dividends carry a separate 5% withholding tax. There are no municipal or local income taxes. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 24%, with reduced rates of 13% and 6% on items such as food, pharmaceuticals and books. Certain remote Aegean islands receive a 30% reduction. |
| Dividends & payroll taxes | Dividends carry a 5% withholding, one of the lowest in the EU. Personal income tax climbs to 44%, and employer social contributions add about 22% on salaries. Real-time myDATA reporting keeps the whole picture visible to the tax authority. |
| Minimum share capital | IKE: from EUR 1, set freely (single member allowed). EPE: no binding statutory minimum since the 2012 reform. AE: EUR 25,000 minimum, fully paid up before registration. |
| Setup time | An IKE filed digitally through Gov.gr and the GEMI registry can be completed in about 1 to 2 weeks when documents are ready; a realistic end-to-end timeline including a tax number (AFM), bank account and VAT registration is roughly 2 to 4 weeks. |
| Remote setup | Partial. IKE incorporation is fully online via the Gov.gr portal. EU nationals can get the AFM tax number remotely; non-EU founders incorporate by granting a notarised power of attorney to a Greek lawyer. Opening the bank account and depositing capital usually needs in-person verification. |
| Director / residency | No residency requirement and 100% foreign ownership is permitted. Every founder needs a Greek tax number (AFM), and non-EU founders must appoint a local tax representative. A residence permit is only needed to live in Greece, not to own from abroad. |
| Banking options | Corporate accounts are opened at the main Greek banks (National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, Alpha, Eurobank), typically in 1 to 3 weeks with in-person checks. Fintechs such as Wise and Revolut Business are widely used, but the share-capital deposit must go into a Greek account. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
The IKE dominates foreign company formation: EUR 1 capital, single-member option and no-notary online setup via Gov.gr. myDATA e-invoicing with the tax authority is mandatory from day one. Greece offers full EU single-market access and residency routes including the Golden Visa and digital-nomad permits.
How to register a company in Greece
Step by step, this is how a Greece formation actually runs:
- Choose the IKE. The IKE (private company) is the founder vehicle: EUR 1 capital, flexible governance and no notary for the standard form.
- Get Greek tax numbers. Founders need a Greek AFM (tax number); non-residents obtain it through a representative.
- Incorporate via Gov.gr e-YMS. The one-stop digital service registers a standard IKE in about a day once identities are verified; custom articles go through the notarial route instead.
- GEMI registration and activity start. The company enters the GEMI business registry and declares the start of activity with the tax authority.
- Open banking. Corporate accounts at the four systemic banks typically take 1 to 3 weeks with in-person or representative-led KYC.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
What company formation in Greece costs
The e-YMS one-stop fee is small, a few tens of euros for a standard IKE. Budget instead for the AFM process and a local accountant: getting tax numbers and representation for non-resident founders commonly costs EUR 200 to 500, and monthly accounting runs EUR 80 to 200. GEMI charges small annual registry fees.
Form your Greek company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Greece, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Greece
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Greek company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Greece up front, so there are no surprises.
Greece fits founders operating or hiring in Greece and anyone wanting a genuine EUR 1 EU company with online setup. The real-time myDATA reporting and AFM prerequisites add friction for fully remote non-EU founders, so it shines most when there is a real Greek connection.
After registration: what Greece expects each year
Annual financial statements are filed with GEMI and the corporate income tax return is due by roughly mid-year for calendar-year companies. VAT returns are quarterly for most small companies, and myDATA e-books mean invoices are reported to the tax authority in near real time, which makes a Greek accountant essential.
Greece and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Greek company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Greece against other countries, see company formation in Europe.