Lithuania free zones in 2024
Healy Consultants assists its Clients with setting up businesses in Lithuania’s seven free economic zones, where they benefit from generous tax holidays. Furthermore, the Lithuanian Government has designated five Science and Technology Valleys that boast multiple tax deductions for R&D expenses.
The Lithuanian free economic zones
- The Lithuanian free economic zones (FEZ) are large estates offering industrial, logistics and warehousing facilities to foreign investors in Lithuania. FEZs are an ideal location for manufacturing companies to register their business in Lithuania and begin exporting their products abroad, thanks to i) close proximity to Lithuania’s business centers and ii) their ready-to-build industrial sites with modern infrastructure;
- The Lithuanian authorities currently operate seven free trade zones, including: i) Klaipeda FEZ; ii) Akmene FEZ; iii) Siauliai FEZ; iv) Panevezys FEZ; v) Kaunas FEZ; vi); Marijampole FEZ and vii) Kedainiai FEZ;
- These free zones offer competitive advantages, including i) complete corporate tax exemption for the first 6 years; ii) reduced corporate tax of 7.5% for up to 10 years and iii) no real estate taxation. The most developed FEZ in Lithuania – Kaunas FEZ – additionally offers i) 100% tax exemption on dividends and ii) convenient 99-year land leases;
- In order to conduct operations in a Free Economic Zone, a company must comply with the Lithuanian Law on Free Economic Zones. Healy Consultants will be happy to help our Clients to i) determine the optimum FEZ in Lithuania for their business ii) evaluate the eligibility of their project iii) draft a detailed business plan fulfilling the Lithuanian registration requirements and iv) register their company with the relevant government body.
The Lithuanian Science and Technology Valleys
- The Lithuanian authorities currently operate five Science and Technology Valleys (STV), which are R&D centers located in close proximity to Lithuania’s main cities. These STVs are: i) Marine Valley; ii) Nemunas Valley; iii) Santaka Valley; iv) Sauletekis Valley and v) Santara Valley;
- All 5 STVs aim to offer the following services and incentives to investors:
- Promotion and development of specific activities, with each valley having a different specialism;
- Multiple corporate tax deductions for research and development expenses;
- Provision of conditions for cooperation between business and academic institutions and;
- Creation of advanced infrastructure for R&D.
Table of comparison between Lithuanian free zones
Free zone comparison | Klaipeda FEZ | Akmene FEZ | Kaunas FEZ | Other FEZ | STVs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTZs used mostly by which industry? | Manufacturing | Agriculture | Logistics | Manufacturing and Logistics | R&D |
Average annual warehousing space rent per 1000 sq. m.? | € 5,000 | € 4,500 | € 6,000 | € 4,500 - €6,000 | € 3,000 - €6,000 |
How long to set the company up? | 3-4 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
Registration with which government agency? | POK Authority | Akmene Region Municipality | Kuanas FEZ Authority | FEZ specific | Centre of Registers |
How long to open company bank account? | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
Quality of utilities? | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
Allowed to sign sales contracts with Lithuanian Clients? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Allowed to invoice Lithuanian Clients? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Agent required to conduct business outside of FTZs? | No | No | No | No | No |
Benefits for operations outside of FTZs? | No | No | No | No | No |
Corporate tax payable in Lithuania? | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 15% |
Corporate bank account options? | Unicredit Bank | SEB bank | Nordea Bank | SEB bank | FINASTA |
Physical office space required? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Subsidies for land purchases? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Allowed to import raw materials? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Allowed to export goods? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No duties on imports and exports? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
VAT exemption on imports? | No | No | No | No | No |
VAT exemption on products sold in Lithuania? | No | No | No | No | No |
Can be wholly foreign owned? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Can the entity hire expatriate staff in Lithuania? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Foreign employee quota of? | Case by Case | Case by Case | Case by Case | Case by Case | Case by Case |
Payroll tax exemption for foreign employees? | No | No | No | No | No |
Social security contributions exemptions for foreign employees? | No | No | No | No | No |
Minimum number of directors? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Minimum number of shareholders? | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Tax and VAT registration certificate required? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Individual shareholders allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corporate shareholders allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corporate director(s) allowed? | No | No | No | No | No |
LLC company allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Annual financial statements? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |