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Latvia offers international entrepreneurs a Estonian-style; 0% retained, 2026 SME 15%+6% option-driven entry point. The Latvian SIA (sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību) is the dominant corporate form for SMEs, holdings, and trading entities — and we hold a stock of pre-formed, never-traded SIAs ready for immediate ownership transfer through the Latvijas Republikas Uzņēmumu reģistrs (UR).
ShelfCompanies24 has been arranging company formation and the transfer of pre-registered Latvian entities since 1995. We work with a network of Latvian corporate-service providers, accountants, and banks to deliver a consolidated service, start-to-finish service — whether you need your Latvia company ready in 48 hours or a brand-new one built from scratch in 5 days.
Ready-Made Shelf Companies in Latvia — buy a pre-registered Latvian SIA with clean history and UR entry. Transfer in 48 hours.
Company Formation in Latvia — register a new Latvian SIA, AS or other Latvian corporate vehicle. End-to-end service: UR filing, tax registration, banking. 5 days timeline.
Bank Accounts for Latvian Companies — corporate account introduction with banks active in Latvia. Multi-currency and online banking included.
| Legal form | Typical use | Liability |
|---|---|---|
| SIA | SME, default | Limited to share capital |
| AS | Public/listed | Limited to share capital |
Most Latvia clients choose the SIA (sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību) for the combination of limited liability, ownership flexibility, and predictable UR treatment.
The 2026 headline corporate tax position in Latvia is 20% nominal / 25% effective on distributed.
0% on retained / 20% nominal (25% effective via taxable-base divided by 0.8) on distributed – Estonian model since 2018. New 2026 alternative: 15% CIT + 6% PIT for individual-shareholder companies.
VAT, withholding-tax, and treaty-network specifics are jurisdiction-dependent and best discussed in a free first call — your consultant will map your operational profile to the correct Latvian tax treatment before you commit to a structure.
A Latvian corporate bank account is critical to operating the company — and one of the practical bottlenecks foreign owners hit when they apply directly. Our consultant introduces you to the right banking partner for your profile (high-volume international transfers, EUR/USD/GBP multi-currency, e-commerce processing, custodial, or simple operating-account-only).
A pre-formed Latvian SIA with clean UR entry typically passes bank KYC more smoothly than a newly formed entity, which is why operators in a hurry to begin trading specifically request a shelf company.
Operators looking at Latvia often also evaluate similar jurisdictions:
With a pre-formed Latvian SIA the share transfer is documented and the UR update filed within 48 hours; you can sign contracts in the company’s name from day one. A newly formed SIA takes 5 days end-to-end because the Latvijas Republikas Uzņēmumu reģistrs and the tax authority each add their own processing time.
Both are Latvian corporate vehicles registered with the UR. The SIA is the standard SME limited-liability form chosen by most operators. The AS is typically used for larger, capital-raising or listed structures. Most foreign owners arriving in Latvia pick the SIA unless they have a specific reason — listing plans, multiple investor classes, or a partner-structure preference — to choose otherwise.
No. Latvia corporate procedures are remote-friendly through our consultant network. Documents are couriered, apostilled and sworn-translated where needed; signatures use either qualified electronic signature or notarisation in your home jurisdiction. We handle the UR interface end-to-end — most foreign clients never set foot in Latvia.
The 2026 headline rate in Latvia is 20% nominal / 25% effective on distributed. 0% on retained / 20% nominal (25% effective via taxable-base divided by 0.8) on distributed – Estonian model since 2018. New 2026 alternative: 15% CIT + 6% PIT for individual-shareholder companies. VAT/sales-tax, withholding-tax on dividends, and treaty-network impact depend on your operating profile — a free first call with our consultant maps your business model to the correct Latvian tax treatment.
In most cases yes — there is generally no Latvia residency, citizenship, or work-permit requirement for shareholders or directors. Some jurisdictions require a local-resident director, a registered local agent, or a substance test for tax purposes. Your consultant will confirm which requirements apply to your specific operating model and source-of-income profile.
All ShelfCompanies24 shelf entities in Latvia were incorporated solely to be held in reserve. They have never traded, never opened a customer-facing bank account, never invoiced a third party, and never accumulated tax losses — so the UR record shows pure dormancy. This avoids the loss-utilisation and beneficial-owner-disclosure complications that a real ex-trading company would carry.
Choose a shelf SIA when you need to be trading immediately, when banking onboarding speed matters, or when a counterparty insists on dealing with an established legal entity. Choose new formation when you want to design the constitution, share classes, or registered name from scratch and you can wait 5 days for the UR entry. Both options come with the same service, banking introduction, and post-formation support.
Yes — like every modern jurisdiction, Latvia maintains a beneficial-ownership register that records every natural person controlling more than 25% of shares, voting rights, or profit distribution rights of a Latvian SIA. Filings are made at the same time as UR registration; updates are required when ownership changes. We handle the filing and ongoing maintenance as part of standard service so the register record remains accurate and penalty-free.
Ready to discuss your Latvia corporate setup? Contact our Latvian desk — we reply within one working day with a service tailored to your needs. Specify whether you want a pre-formed SIA ready in 48 hours or a fresh formation taking 5 days.