Liechtenstein at a glance
Liechtenstein 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 Liechtenstein
- GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung) The most accessible private limited form for founders, closest to a standard EU private limited company. Minimum capital CHF 10,000.
- AG (Aktiengesellschaft) The stock corporation, widely used for trading, holding and asset-protection. Minimum capital CHF 50,000, fully paid in.
| Corporate tax | A flat 12.5% profit tax on worldwide income, one of the lowest headline rates in Europe, with an annual minimum tax of CHF 1,800 credited against it and a notional interest deduction on equity. Large multinational groups face the 15% Pillar Two top-up. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 8.1% (Liechtenstein shares the Swiss VAT system and franc), with reduced rates of 2.6% and 3.8%. Registration is mandatory above CHF 100,000 of turnover. |
| Dividends & payroll taxes | There is no withholding on dividends. Personal income tax stays famously low, with national plus communal rates typically landing in the teens to low twenties, and core employer contributions run under 5%. The corporate side pays at least the CHF 1,800 minimum tax. |
| Minimum share capital | GmbH: CHF 10,000, fully paid in. AG: CHF 50,000, fully paid in. The Anstalt (Establishment) requires CHF 30,000. |
| Setup time | Typically about 1 to 3 weeks; a clean remote incorporation through a licensed fiduciary often completes in 5 to 10 working days once KYC is ready. |
| Remote setup | Yes. Non-residents can incorporate remotely by granting a notarised power of attorney to a licensed Liechtenstein fiduciary, who handles notarisation, the registered office and the Commercial Register filing. |
| Director / residency | At least one director must be resident in Liechtenstein and hold the required professional qualification, in practice a licensed local trustee or fiduciary. Shareholders face no residency requirement. |
| Banking options | Banks include LGT, VP Bank, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) and Bank Frick (notable for fintech and crypto). It is a major private-banking centre, so KYC is rigorous and minimum balances can be high. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Liechtenstein is not an EU member; it is in the EEA (since 1995) and EFTA, with single-market and financial-services passporting access, while using the Swiss franc under a customs and currency union with Switzerland. It is a tiny but AAA-rated financial centre with a flat 12.5% corporate tax.
How to register a company in Liechtenstein
Step by step, this is how a Liechtenstein formation actually runs:
- Engage a licensed fiduciary. A Liechtenstein fiduciary (Treuhänder) prepares the setup, provides the registered office and often the required resident signatory.
- Choose GmbH or AG. The GmbH needs CHF 10,000, the AG CHF 50,000; both are common for operating and holding purposes.
- Deposit capital and notarise. Capital is paid into a local bank and the formation documents are authenticated; a power of attorney covers remote founders.
- Commercial Register entry. The Office of Justice registers the company, typically within 1 to 2 weeks once the file is complete.
- Tax registration. The flat 12.5% corporate tax applies with a CHF 1,800 minimum per year; VAT follows the Swiss system via the customs union.
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 Liechtenstein costs
Fiduciary-led formation commonly costs CHF 2,500 to 5,000, plus register fees in the hundreds. The recurring reality is the fiduciary package: registered office, local representation and administration often total CHF 3,000 to 8,000 a year, and the minimum corporate tax is CHF 1,800 regardless of profit.
Form your Liechtenstein 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 Liechtenstein, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Liechtenstein
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Liechtenstein company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Liechtenstein up front, so there are no surprises.
Liechtenstein fits asset-holding structures, funds and fintechs that want EEA passporting with Swiss-franc stability and its blockchain-friendly TVTG framework. The fiduciary cost base makes it uneconomic for small trading startups; it is a structure jurisdiction, not a budget one.
After registration: what Liechtenstein expects each year
Annual financial statements go to the Office of Justice (small companies file abbreviated versions), the tax return follows with the 12.5% flat rate and CHF 1,800 minimum, and VAT runs on Swiss-style settlements. The fiduciary typically manages the full calendar as part of its mandate.
Liechtenstein 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 Liechtenstein 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 Liechtenstein against other countries, see company formation in Europe.