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Tax System of Montenegro

A concise guide to the main taxes and business conditions

Corporate Income Tax

Montenegro uses a progressive corporate income tax rate that depends on annual profit:

Up to €100,0009%
€100,001 – €1,500,00012%
Above €1,500,00015%

Personal Income Tax

Salary income is taxed on a progressive scale (gross per month):

Up to €7000%
€700 – €1,0009%
Above €1,00015%

For entrepreneurs (annual income): up to €8,400 — 0%, from €8,400 to €12,000 — 9%, above €12,000 — 15%.

Other income — dividends, interest, rent, capital gains — is taxed at a flat rate of 15%.

The tax-free threshold of €700 per month makes Montenegro attractive for remote workers and freelancers with low to medium income.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Standard rate
21%
Intermediate reduced rate (in force since 1 January 2025)
Accommodation services (hotels, apartments, villas, campsites), preparation and serving of food and drinks in catering establishments (except alcohol, sweetened carbonated drinks and coffee — taxed at 21%), and some goods previously taxed at 7%
15%
Reduced rate
Basic foodstuffs, medicines, textbooks and teaching aids, drinking water (non-bottled), daily and periodical press, public transport, funeral services, animal feed, plant protection products, menstrual products and baby diapers
7%
Zero rate
Export of goods
0%

Small businesses with annual turnover below €30,000 may operate without VAT registration.

A second reduced rate of 15% was introduced on 1 January 2025 (Official Gazette of Montenegro 94/24, rulebook 117/24): accommodation services, catering and some goods were moved to it from the 7% rate. At the same time, the zero rate on the construction and furnishing of 5* category facilities was abolished.

Social Contributions

The contribution burden has been reduced substantially: mandatory health insurance contributions were abolished from 1 January 2022, and the October 2024 reform lowered pension contributions further.

Employee contributions (withheld from salary) — around 10.5%:

Pension and disability insurance10%
Unemployment insurance0.5%

The employer's social contribution burden has also been cut significantly (0.5% unemployment insurance).

Exact contribution rates and bases depend on the type of employment and are revised periodically — check the current figures before making calculations.

Real Estate Tax

Real estate tax ranges from 0.25% to 1% depending on the municipality and property type, making Montenegro an attractive destination for property investment.

Advantages of the Tax System

  • Montenegro has double-taxation treaties with more than 40 countries

    Important: key provisions of the Russia–Montenegro treaty have been suspended by Russia since August 2023 (Russian Presidential Decree No. 585). Reduced rates on dividends, interest and royalties do not apply — the tax consequences are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

  • Minimum share capital for a DOO is just €1
  • Company registration takes only a few days
  • Progressive taxation adapted to income level
  • VAT exemption for small businesses with turnover below €30,000

Need help with taxes or company registration?

We'll advise on Montenegro's tax system and assist with opening a DOO.