Quick facts
| Step | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tax cabinet | Login and password arrive automatically | SMS to the registered number |
| 2. Taxpayer card | Enter activity codes | rs.ge |
| 3. Bank account | Open an account in Georgian lari | A bank |
| 4. VAT registration | Mandatory above 100,000 GEL turnover in 12 months | rs.ge |
| 5. Licenses | Only for specific regulated activities | Relevant authority |
| 6. Reporting | Monthly and annual declarations | rs.ge |
Step 1: the tax cabinet is created automatically
Since 1 July 2022, registering a business with the Public Registry automatically creates an account with the Revenue Service, with no separate application required. The login and password for the personal cabinet on rs.ge arrive by SMS at the phone number provided during registration. If the number was entered incorrectly or access never arrived, it can be recovered at a territorial office of the Revenue Service.
Step 2: fill in the taxpayer card
After the first login, the taxpayer card needs to be partially completed: the company's economic activity codes and other basic information. This is not a formality: the activity codes determine which declarations the system will expect from the company going forward, and affect eligibility for preferential regimes if the company plans to use one.
Step 3: open a bank account
Without a bank account in Georgian lari, a company cannot officially accept payments from clients, pay suppliers, or fulfil tax obligations through bank transfers. Several banks offer remote account opening, but the procedure varies by bank and requires a KYC review that can take about a week. A detailed bank comparison and the remote corporate account opening process are covered in a separate article.
Step 4: determine whether VAT registration applies
VAT registration becomes mandatory once the company's turnover on transactions subject to Georgian VAT exceeds 100,000 GEL in any 12 consecutive months. The application must be filed within two business days of crossing the threshold. A company can also register voluntarily before reaching the threshold, if that suits its billing structure with counterparties.
Step 5: check whether a license applies
Most business activities require no additional licensing. But a number of fields, including healthcare, banking, insurance, and certain financial services, are subject to mandatory licensing by the relevant regulatory authority. This is a separate procedure from company registration itself, and it is worth checking before starting operations if the business potentially falls into one of these categories.
Step 6: build the company into a reporting cycle
From the moment of registration, a company takes on recurring obligations to the Revenue Service:
- Monthly declarations. If the company pays salaries, withheld income tax is declared and paid monthly. If the company is VAT-registered, a VAT return is also filed monthly.
- Annual profit tax declaration. Filed by 31 March of the following year, covering transactions equivalent to profit distribution during the past year. How this declaration works and what it must show is covered in a separate article on filing an LLC's tax declaration.
Missing filing deadlines triggers penalties and interest on the unpaid amount, so it is worth setting up bookkeeping from the start rather than dealing with it after a deadline is missed.
What you don't need to do
Two points deserve a specific mention, since they are sometimes assumed to be mandatory when they are not. Small Business status at 1% of turnover is available only to individual entrepreneurs, not to LLCs: see the Small Business Status article for details. There is no requirement under Georgian law for a company to have an official seal or stamp; whether to use one remains a matter of internal practice and agreements with counterparties, not a legal obligation.
Do I need to register with the tax office separately after registering an LLC?
No. Since 1 July 2022, a tax account is created automatically upon company registration, with access sent by SMS to the registered phone number.
Can I open a bank account remotely right after registration?
Some Georgian banks offer remote account opening, but the procedure requires a KYC review and can take about a week depending on the bank.
When does an LLC have to register for VAT?
When turnover on VAT-taxable transactions exceeds 100,000 GEL over any 12 consecutive months. The application must be filed within two business days of crossing the threshold.
Can an LLC use the 1% Small Business status?
No. This status is available only to individual entrepreneurs registered as physical persons and does not extend to LLCs.
Is a company seal mandatory for an LLC in Georgia?
No, there is no legal requirement for a mandatory company seal.