Company Formation and Business Registration in Ukraine

We provide comprehensive legal and consulting services for business registration in Ukraine. We are company formation attorneys and lawyers and an officially registered law firm in Ukraine. Registration of a company in Ukraine is one of the first steps to establishing a business in this country. We will be happy to provide you with services on company formation in Ukraine.  

What do we do during official business registration?

  • consultation on the process and procedure of company registration and on important aspects of business law in Ukraine;
  • translation and legalization of documents;
  • obtaining an individual identification number (if necessary);
  • drafting of all needed documents for company set-up (incl. charter, articles of association, minutes of general meeting, protocol, power of attorney);
  • company registration in the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice;
  • obtaining a business registration number;
  • business registration for tax and social security authorities;
  • corporate seal (stamp) obtaining and banking account opening;
  • tax advisory;
  • value-added tax (VAT) or single (fixed) tax registration (if needed).

Regardless of the scope of your business, we will find you the most appropriate solution. From the very beginning, we will provide you with all the necessary information about taxation, corporate rights and duties, required permits, and licenses. It is quite easy to set up a company in Ukraine. But certain professional skills and expertise are required to do it in the right way. In our company, we also have a department providing accounting services in Ukraine.

How much time is needed to set up a company in Ukraine?

Ukraine company registration process takes from 2 days up to 12 days (if VAT registration is needed). After our initial consultation, we will tell you the exact time it will take to finalize all the procedures necessary for your specific business. In most cases, it takes more time to receive the required documents than the company registration procedure.

The time needed to complete this process depends on many factors, such as corporate and tax structure, required licenses, shareholders, beneficiaries, etc. Usually, it takes up to 2 days to open a bank account in Ukraine. But if one of the beneficiaries of the company is a foreign legal entity, it can take up to 5 days for the bank to check and to prove beneficiary owners.

In case if the company in Ukraine is founded by a natural person (not a corporation) that has a Ukrainian tax ID, we can process the registration of the company in Kyiv and open a bank account within 2 business days. Anyway, we always inform our clients about the time required to complete all the stages.

What is the cost of company registration in Ukraine?

LLC, LTD formation $390 (incl. all expenses)
Personal (individual) identification number $90 (Power of Attorney needed)
Nominal or interim director (CEO) service $50/month
Virtual office address $200/year (incl. secretary services)

So the final cost of opening a company in Ukraine depends on many factors, such as the number of founders, the need for a nominal director and legal address, etc. 

After the company formation process in Ukraine is completed, we will be able to provide you with the following company formation documents:

  • charter or articles of association;
  • minutes of a general meeting;
  • business registration certificate;
  • confirmation statement from the Ukraine Company Register;
  • corporate seal (stamp);
  • company bank account details (in case if the account is opened);
  • VAT registration number or fixed-rate tax registration certificate (in case if the company has chosen a certain tax structure).

Our fee includes opening a multi-currency account in a Ukrainian bank (if needed).

It is possible to register a company in Ukraine with or without your presence. You needn’t be present in Ukraine to form your company. But consider that it is not possible to open a bank account remotely or under a power of attorney. So, to be able to open a bank account after the Ukrainian company is registered, the CEO shall visit the branch of the bank personally (with our assistance). 
We also provide a nominal/interim director (CEO) service because non-citizens cannot become directors of Ukrainian companies without a work permit. We can obtain a work permit for you within 2 weeks upon request. We also provide physical office services (nominal legal address) if needed.

How to set up a company in Ukraine?

If you have decided to open a business in Ukraine, this chapter will be very useful for you. To begin the company formation process, the following documents shall be prepared and submitted to the state registrar:

  • application for company registration;
  • articles of association (must be signed by each shareholder and certified by Ukrainian notary);
  • minutes declaring the decision to establish a company (protocol)
  • power of attorney (this is required from every shareholder);
  • information about ultimate beneficiary owners (UBO);

The company registration procedure is carried out by the Department of State Registration of Ukraine. All companies and sole proprietors during the legal procedure for business set-up are signed into the State register of legal entities and companies of Ukraine. Details about every change and amendment to company information are also stored and saved in the register. Your company’s registration number is also assigned during the registration process. Information and all data from the Business Register of Ukraine are available on the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine’s website. Bank account opening is the final stage of the Ukraine company incorporation process.

All individuals (regardless of citizenship) to be registered as a company director, shareholder, or founder must obtain an identification number. But a Tax ID is not required to name a beneficiary of a corporation.

Using an offshore company or corporation as a company owner is legal in Ukraine. There is a list of offshore jurisdictions approved by the Ukrainian government. Virtually every country is permissible except those under international sanctions, such as North Korea and Iran. Since 2022 Russian Federation and Belarus have been added to this list. Ukrainian legislation requires all legal entities to reveal their beneficiaries (a natural person who has more than 25% entitlement to income and capital). However, some Ukrainian banks may refuse to open corporate bank accounts if a company lists offshore companies among its shareholders.  

As of 2023 Ukraine has double taxation avoidance agreements with the following countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Syria, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

By 2025, Ukraine’s corporate law will probably correspond with EU company law, considering that Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022. The company formation process and business registration procedure in Ukraine have been significantly simplified lately. Minimum documents and actions are needed for limited company formation.

What are the types of companies in Ukraine?

There are many legal types of companies. You can choose the ideal one for you depending on corporate structure, the number of partners, the scope of a business, the complexity of management, etc. Some businesses require a higher level of bureaucracy in order to control all the main processes and delegate responsibility. 

Limited liability company (LLC or LC, or LTD) 

LLC Ukraine is the most common form of legal entity. More than 90% of legal entities in Ukraine are LLCs. The authorized (or so-called share) capital of LLC is divided into shares (parts or stakes), the amount of which is determined by the charter. LLC is responsible in front of the creditors only with the assets. In case of bankruptcy, LLC shareholders are not obligated to pay the company’s debt.

Beginning from June 2018 it is possible to make a corporate agreement, between owners. This document is confidential. A corporate contract is made in order to regulate relations, duties, and rights between the shareholders. So company law in Ukraine now is more flexible and that is good.

Legal entities (foreign or Ukrainian companies) and individuals, regardless of their country of citizenship or residency, can be the founders (participants) of LLC.

Limited liability company Ukraine can be incorporated either by one person or by several individuals or legal entities (corporations). The maximum number of participants (founders) of an LLC in Ukraine is unlimited. LLC can be formed as a sole proprietorship, so the enterprise can be owned and operated by one person. The Director of such a company type can be the only owner of the company at the same time. Also, consider that one individual or one company can establish and own an unlimited quantity of LTD. 
The rights and obligations of a Limited liability company Director (CEO) are imposed by articles of association (charter). The correct legal form of the company, a clear distribution of rights and obligations between founders and the board, and the right choice of the tax rate are important components of a stable and successful activity of the company. Articles of association is a very important document as it determines procedure and management rights and obligations for owners and executives. 

LLC can be registered:

  • corporate/profit tax (18 % rate) with or without VAT (up to 20 % rate, depending on product or service) taxpayer;
  • fixed-rate (5 % revenue) taxpayer with or without VAT registration.

Documents required for LLC formation in Ukraine:
From individuals:

  • a copy of shareholder’s (founder’s) passport;
  • Ukrainian tax (identification number) code;
  • physical presence in Kyiv or a Power of Attorney.

From foreign legal entities (companies and corporations):

  • power of attorney;
  • copy of articles (or memorandum) of association;
  • registry extract (or an extract from the register of companies);
  • certificate of incorporation (preferably).

Registration time: – up to 7 working days.

By Ukrainian law, the LLC foundation process is much simpler and cheaper than Joint-Stock company formation.

Sole proprietorship.

There are two types of sole proprietorship in Ukraine:

  • Fizichna osoba-pidpriyemets (or FOP), translated as “Natural person entrepreneur,” – is a type of enterprise that is constituted without forming a legal entity. The profit tax rate is 15 %.
  • Privatne pidpriyemstvo (or PP), translated as “Private enterprise,” – is a type of sole proprietorship that is registered as a legal entity. The profit tax rate is 18 %.

Both types have unlimited responsibility for their obligations. Sole proprietors have the right to make any kind of business activity (incl. commerce, production, services, construction, information technologies, research, and others) that is not directly prohibited by the law. VAT registration for sole proprietors is allowed. See more information about sole proprietor registration in Ukraine.

Joint-stock company.

Joint-stock company status, formation process, and corporate management rules are regulated by the Civil code of Ukraine, by Ukrainian laws “On stock companies” and “On business companies”. The Public Joint-stock company incorporation procedure in Ukraine is much more expensive and difficult than any other company type.  The minimum amount of share capital is 1250 minimum wages (4 000 000 UAH, as of 01.01.2017). There are two types of JSC in Ukraine:

Public Joint-stock company characteristics:

  • a stockholder can sell their stocks without consent from other stockholders or/and the company;
  • company may conduct both public and private placement;
  • during SPO shareholders do not have preferential right to purchase shares additionally placed;
  • the company must be listed and remain in the stock register on at least one stock exchange;
  • requires company annual financial statement, prepared by an independent auditor;
  • cumulative voting needed for Supervisory Board and the Audit Commission member’s election;

Private Joint-stock company characteristics:

  • maximum number of shareholders is 100 persons;
  • only a private share offering is allowed;
  • the preferential shareholder’s right to purchase shares (which are offered for sale by another) of the company can be determined by articles of association (or charter);
  • shareholders always have a preferential right to purchase additional shares;
  • shares can not be acquired and/or sold on the stock exchange;
  • securities depository service is a must;
  • no requirement to disclose financial statements in the stock market;

JSC formation must be approved by the Ukrainian financial authority (NATIONAL SECURITIES AND STOCK MARKET COMMISSION).

What is the minimum tax per year to keep the Ukrainian company active?

One of the significant advantages of starting a business in Ukraine is the relatively relaxed tax regime. If your Ukrainian company does not conduct any official business in a given year, there is no need to file or pay taxes unless the company doesn’t have any special permits, for which it is compulsory to pay certain fees and submit reports. 

Additionally, unlike in many other countries, there are no minimum taxes or fees that a company must pay to avoid dissolution by the Ministry of Justice. This policy has removed the financial pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to focus on growth and expansion.

However, it’s essential to note that even though there are no minimum taxes or fees, companies still need to adhere to the reporting and compliance requirements of the Ukrainian tax code. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in penalties and fines, which can be detrimental to a company’s financial health.

According to the World Bank Doing business report, in 2020 Ukraine was ranked №61 on ease of starting a business.

We hope that this information was useful for you, and we hope that your business in this country will be successful, prosperous, and pleasant.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (votes: 24, average: 4,00 из 5)

Загрузка...

Our Clients