taxes in estonia

Discover convenient features of Estonia's tax system, the most competitive in the world. Discover Estonia's low tax rates, simple regulations, and easy digital filing procedures.

#1 in Tax Competitiveness in the OECD

Estonia has been #1 on the Tax Competitiveness Index for the last 9 years
Tax Competitiveness Index

0% tax on reinvested profits

Estonia's tax system supports growth of small businesses, with 0% taxes on annual income and reinvested profits.

No need to register for payroll

No need to register employees/directors for payroll in Estonia until your company can pay dividends/salaries.

Declare and pay taxes completely online

Declare and pay any payroll, corporate or sales taxes you may owe in Estonia 100% online on the e-MTA portal.
How it works

Disclaimer: e-Residency is not a tax residency for you or your company. Consider whether you have foreign tax liabilities in another country (e.g. where you live) due to permanent establishment or dual tax residency.

Corporate Income Taxes in Estonia

The Standard Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate is 20% (20/80 of taxable net payment). A reduced CIT rate of 14% (14/86 of taxable net payment) is applied if dividend payments are regular. CIT is payable on distributed profits (e.g. dividends, fringe benefits, gifts, donations) and taxable expenses. Assess and declare monthly at the online tax portal e-MTA.

Payroll Taxes in Estonia

Once you do decide to distribute profits, your role in the company (active employee/director vs passive shareholder), should be analyzed to make sure that each role you carry out is compensated and taxed appropriately:

  • directors’ fee
  • employee salary
  • dividend to shareholder

Tax rates payable in Estonia by a person receiving income from an Estonian company

Director’s fee

Salary

Dividends

Resident of Estonia
  • 20% Personal Income Tax (PIT)
  • 33% Social Tax (ST)
  • 20% PIT
  • 33% ST
  • Unemployment Contribution (UC): 1.6% withheld by company, 0.8% applied to gross salary
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST
Resident of EEA or Switzerland *
  • 20% PIT
  • Obtain A1 certificate to avoid Estonian ST
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there
Resident of treaty countries **
  • 20% PIT
  • Present certificate from home tax authority to avoid Estonian ST
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there
Resident of a third country ***
  • 20% PIT
  • 33% ST (declare on TSD Annex 2)
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there

Director’s fee

Resident of Estonia
  • 20% Personal Income Tax (PIT)
  • 33% Social Tax (ST)
Resident of EEA or Switzerland *
  • 20% PIT
  • Obtain A1 certificate to avoid Estonian ST
Resident of treaty countries **
  • 20% PIT
  • Present certificate from home tax authority to avoid Estonian ST
Resident of a third country ***
  • 20% PIT
  • 33% ST (declare on TSD Annex 2)

Salary

Resident of Estonia
  • 20% PIT
  • 33% ST
  • Unemployment Contribution (UC): 1.6% withheld by company, 0.8% applied to gross salary
Resident of EEA or Switzerland *
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country
Resident of treaty countries **
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country
Resident of a third country ***
  • No PIT and ST payable in Estonia
  • PIT and ST payable in home country

Dividends

Resident of Estonia
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST
Resident of EEA or Switzerland *
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there
Resident of treaty countries **
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there
Resident of a third country ***
  • 7% PIT (if CIT paid at 14% reduced rate)
  • Otherwise no PIT or ST on dividends in Estonia
  • Declare in home country and also pay PIT or withholding tax there

* Resident of EEA or Switzerland: Applies only to persons insured for social benefits in their country of residence.

** Resident of treaty countries: Applies only to persons insured for social benefits in countries with a treaty for social security with Estonia (e.g. Australia, Ukraine, Canada).

*** Resident of a third country: Applies to persons who are resident in third countries, or uninsured for social benefits in EEA, Switzerland or treaty countries.

Example: How to calculate taxes when paying out dividends

Say an Estonian company pays a dividend of 10,000 € to a shareholder.

2,500 € (10,000 x 20/80) in taxes must be declared and paid by the Estonian company to the Estonian Tax & Customs Board.

If the Estonian company pays regular dividends to the shareholder, taxes will be 1,627.91 € (10,000 x 14/86).

If the shareholder is a natural person (either resident or non-resident) and receives a dividend taxed at the reduced rate, additional personal income tax of 7% (700 €) is withheld.

See more examples

Example: How to calculate salary costs

Say you’re employing an Estonian tax resident with a gross salary of 1000 €.

Employee’s unemployment insurance contribution: -16 € (1,6%)
Mandatory funded pension contribution: -20 € (2%)
Monthly tax-free income: 500 €
Personal income tax: -92,8 (20%)

Employee’s net salary: 871,2 €
----
Social tax on top of the gross salary payable by employer: 330 €
Employer’s unemployment insurance contribution: 8 €

Total cost for the employer: 1338 €

Try the salary calculator

Understanding cross-border taxes

Wondering where to pay corporate taxes? Or how to take advantage of Estonia’s competitive tax system? Read our overview.
About cross-border taxes

Business presence in Estonia

E-⁠residents should consider how to increase their business presence here for tax residency and other advantages.
About relocating

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