Romania at a glance
Romania 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 Romania
- SRL (Societate cu Raspundere Limitata) The default private limited company for foreign founders. Minimum capital RON 500 (about EUR 100) from 2026, 1 to 50 shareholders, a director with no residency requirement, and eligibility for the 1% micro-enterprise tax.
- SA (Societate pe Actiuni) Joint-stock company for larger or investor-backed ventures. Minimum capital RON 90,000 (about EUR 18,000), at least 30% paid at incorporation, with a board structure.
- PFA (authorised natural person) Sole trader for individuals only, with unlimited personal liability and 10% income tax plus social contributions. Not eligible for the micro-enterprise regime.
| Corporate tax | Standard corporate income tax is a flat 16% on profit. Qualifying micro-enterprises pay 1% on gross revenue instead, available up to EUR 100,000 of annual turnover and conditional on having at least one full-time employee. From 1 January 2026 the micro regime was simplified to a single 1% rate, removing the former 3% rate and lowering the threshold from EUR 250,000 to EUR 100,000. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 21%, raised from 19% on 1 August 2025, with a single reduced rate of 11% on items such as food, medicines, water and accommodation. VAT registration is mandatory once annual turnover exceeds RON 395,000 (about EUR 80,000). |
| Dividends & payroll taxes | Dividends carry a 16% tax from 1 January 2026 (10% applied during 2025). Personal income tax is a flat 10%, with the bulk of social contributions (around 35%) borne by the employee and a small employer work-insurance charge on top. Distributions from micro-regime companies still trigger the dividend tax. |
| Minimum share capital | An SRL needs only RON 500 (about EUR 100) from 1 January 2026; if annual net turnover later exceeds RON 400,000, the capital must rise to RON 5,000 (about EUR 1,000). An SA requires RON 90,000 (about EUR 18,000), 30% paid up. |
| Setup time | About 1 to 2 weeks end to end. The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) processes the file in roughly 3 to 5 business days and issues the registration certificate; the rest covers document preparation and bank account setup. |
| Remote setup | Yes. Name reservation, Trade Register filing and tax registration can all be done remotely with a notarised and apostilled power of attorney, with no visit to Romania and no residence permit required. |
| Director / residency | At least one director is required, with no nationality or residency requirement, so a non-resident foreigner can be both sole shareholder and sole director of an SRL. A natural person may be the sole shareholder of only one SRL at a time. |
| Banking options | A Romanian corporate account must be opened within 60 business days of registration. Major banks include Banca Transilvania (which offers online or video account opening), BCR, BRD, ING and Raiffeisen; EU fintechs such as Wise and Revolut are common as interim accounts. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
The headline draw is the 1% micro-enterprise tax on turnover up to EUR 100,000, conditional on employing at least one person. From 1 January 2026 the dividend tax rose from 10% to 16% and minimum SRL capital rose to RON 500. Romania mandates RO e-Factura B2B e-invoicing and has full EU single-market access.
How to register a company in Romania
Step by step, this is how a Romania formation actually runs:
- Reserve the name. The Trade Register checks and reserves the company name online.
- Prepare the incorporation file. Articles of association, registered office proof and specimen signatures; a notarised, apostilled power of attorney lets a local lawyer sign everything.
- File with the Trade Register. Registration is decided usually within a few business days; the certificate and tax registration arrive together.
- Deposit the capital. The symbolic RON 500 minimum is paid into a Romanian corporate account, which must be opened within 60 business days of registration.
- Register for VAT and the micro regime. Confirm eligibility for the 1% or 3% micro-enterprise tax (employee condition applies) and register for VAT if needed.
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 Romania costs
Trade Register incorporation itself carries minimal official fees; with translations, notarisation of the power of attorney and a lawyer, remote founders commonly spend EUR 200 to 500 in total. Share capital is a token RON 500 (about EUR 100). Monthly accounting, which is mandatory, typically costs EUR 60 to 150 for a small SRL.
Form your Romanian 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 Romania, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Romania
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Romanian company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Romania up front, so there are no surprises.
Romania fits service businesses and agencies that can live inside the micro-enterprise rules, where 1% to 3% tax on turnover up to EUR 100,000 is hard to beat in the EU. The catch is ongoing: monthly accounting, the employee condition and regime changes in recent years mean the setup needs an attentive local accountant.
After registration: what Romania expects each year
Accounting is monthly by law even with little activity, with annual financial statements due by the end of May. Micro-enterprises file quarterly turnover-tax declarations and must keep meeting the conditions (including the one-employee rule) to stay in the regime. VAT payers add monthly or quarterly returns.
Romania 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 Romanian 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 Romania against other countries, see company formation in Europe.