Montenegro’s favorable tax regime is definitely one of the pros of living here. Choosing this small Balkan country doesn’t mean a total holiday from taxes, but it does usually mean a reduced tax load compared to the rest of Europe.
Death and taxes are said to be the two certainties of life. We’re still working on a solution to the former, but easy immigration to Montenegro means that you can influence the latter.
How much is income tax in Montenegro?
Generally, the answer to the question “how much income tax does Montenegro charge on X?”, is between 9%-15%. It goes without saying that that’s less than almost anywhere else in the emerging or developed world.
There are some nuances to the Montenegrin tax system — from real estate taxes to VAT. This guide will walk you through all of the important points and help prepare you to keep your tax bill as favorable as possible.
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Important Sources and Useful Information
– Montenegro Law on Personal Income Tax – Download the PDF
– Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare of Montenegro, Department of Public Revenues
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Agreements on Double Taxation Avoidance treaties
– https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/montenegro/individual/taxes-on-personal-income
Is Montenegro a Tax Haven?
Montenegro is not a tax haven. The taxes are fair and very competitive, so this will probably be a big part of your decision to relocate here.
However, like many tax havens, Montenegro has a small economy and a government very keen on making it bigger through foreign-direct investment.
Montenegro has previously faced criticism from groups like Oxfam for behaving like a tax haven.
That said, Montenegro is definitely not on the same level as the Cayman Islands, Singapore or the Isle of Man. As discussed here, Montenegro has a fair and transparent tax system with a low rate.
Also, all indications are that EU membership is Montenegro’s top policy goal for the next decade. That almost definitely means that Montenegro will continue to move away from tax-haven-type policies.
Montenegro’s Income Tax System
How much income tax do people pay? What about companies? On dividends? Capital gains?
In Montenegro, the answer to these questions is almost always “between 9%-15%.”
As part of opening their economy and creating a business-friendly atmosphere, the government has set this as the rate on most income.
Recent, small increases in the personal income tax rate (on income above a certain threshold) and the VAT do raise some questions about the permanence of Montenegro’s low-tax status.
Personal Income Tax in Montenegro
In 2022 things became a bit more complicated. The government announced that residents will pay 15% income tax on salaries that is above €1,001/month. The 9% still applies to income up to €1,000/month.
As these things so often are, this was presented as a temporary move but it appears to be open-ended.
Montenegro municipalities also charge a surtax on your income at 13%, with the exception of Podgorica and Cetinje, where the rate is 15% of what you paid in taxes to the federal government.
Another exception to the flat rate is that non-residents pay 5% tax on interest income. (Similar to other moves by the Montenegrin government, this is probably to encourage loan capital to flow into the country.)
There are no joint income tax returns for married residents of Montenegro. The government also doesn’t offer deductions or tax credits on personal income tax returns.
If you receive dividends from foreign or Montenegrin companies and are a resident of Montenegro, you are taxed at a flat rate of 15%. Montenegrin companies paying dividends withhold 15% of the payable dividends. If the dividends are received from foreign companies, these need to be declared on your individual tax return.
Montenegro’s Competitive Corporate Income Tax Rate
Companies in Montenegro are subject to progressive company income tax (CIT), which is between 9%-15%. This applies to things like capital gains and interest income as well as standard operating income.
Lloyds Bank calculated that in 2018 the average Montenegrin company turned over 22.2% of profit to the government taxes. That compares to 44% in the US and 48.9% in Germany.
(The same report did note that Montenegrin companies have to make more frequent installment payments and spend more time on red tape.)
Because the CIT is so low and it is relatively easy to establish a company in Montenegro, many expats choose to go this route rather than seeking out a traditional job here.
Payroll Tax
Municipal governments have the power to levy a payroll tax of up to 15% on employee salaries. As well, a labor fund is supported by fees of 0.2% on gross salaries. Outside of Podgorica and Cetinje the payroll tax is only 13%.
Important Montenegro Tax Incentives for Companies
It’s worth noting that a newly established company is exempt from CIT if they are exclusively operating in the underdeveloped northern areas of Montenegro. This tax holiday lasts for the first eight years of operation and only covers the first €200,000 in company income taxes.
Montenegro’s Double Taxation Treaties
These treaties establish a system where it’s clear which country receives the tax from a particular income. They’re relevant for people or business activities that often cross borders.
- Notably, Montenegro has double tax treaties with most major EU governments including France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and the Czech Republic.
- Other important economies whose governments have these treaties with Montenegro include the UK, China, Russia and Switzerland.
- At this point, no treaty is in place with Australia, Canada, India, Spain, the US and many other countries.
If you do business in a country without a double tax treaty you may have a tougher time avoiding paying tax there as well as in Montenegro.
On the other hand, if your home country does have an agreement with Montenegro you are likely to pay a different withholding tax (WHT) on certain types of income.
For instance, Chinese nationals pay 5% WHT on dividends, but 10% on royalties. For Sweden, it’s 5% (or sometimes 15%) on dividends and nothing on interest or royalties.
Real Estate Taxes in Montenegro
Montenegro’s real estate taxes work the same way as most of the developed world. You should expect to pay:
- A transfer tax on land you buy – 3% to 6%
- A VAT on new buildings (if they have not been previously transferred) or a transfer tax on previously transferred buildings
- Capital gains tax (see below) on real property you sell
- Taxes on rental income
Annual Property Tax
Annual property taxes range between 0.25% and 1% in Montenegro. The individual who has use of the property (not necessarily the owner) is liable for this tax bill.
The property tax calculation is based on the market value of a particular property.
This is another area of taxation where Montenegro compares favorably to larger Western European economies where the property taxes can be twice as high.
Transfer Tax on Land and Buildings in Montenegro
Updated January 2024
As of 1st of January 2024 buyers of real estate in Montenegro must pay title transfer tax on the property value as follows:
- 3% on property values up to 150k Euros
- 5% on property values from 150k to 500k Euros
- 6% on property values above 500k Euros
A 3 to 6% is charged as a transfer tax to the buyer of property in Montenegro. If a building (house, hotel, factory, etc.) has not been sold before then a 21% VAT will be tacked onto the sale price.
That transfer tax compares very favorably to many other parts of Europe. For instance, the rate is 6.5% in Portugal and up to 10% in Spain.
This lowers the cost of selling real estate in Montenegro and helps add liquidity to the market.
Taxes on Rental Income in Montenegro
Like other types of income, the Montenegrin government charges a flat 15% tax rate on rental income. Before calculating the tax you owe on a property you rent out to someone else, you may either deduct your actual expenses related to renting it or a flat 30% of gross rental income.
This tax rate is especially relevant in Montenegro where many people rent their seaside vacation properties for part of the year.
Montenegro’s Capital Gains Taxes
Both companies and individuals pay 15% of capital gains in taxes to the Montenegrin government. Corporations can carry capital losses forward for up to five years, but they can only be used to offset capital gains (versus other income).
If a non-resident sells a property to a resident, they pay a 15% withholding tax on the capital gains. You can eliminate or reduce withholding tax if Montenegro shares a double tax treaty with your country of residence.
Value-Added Tax in Montenegro
Montenegrin companies collect a 21% VAT on goods and services. The sales tax rate was recently increased from 19%.
That compares favorably to many European jurisdictions, including neighboring Croatia (25%). But it is higher than Germany, France or the UK.
Particulars of the VAT in Montenegro include:
- The rate is reduced to 7% for necessities like milk, bread, medications, books and computers.
- Only companies with annual revenue of €30,000 or more need to register for VAT.
- You pay VAT in Montenegro when buying a new home but not on previously taxed buildings.
Montenegro’s Tax System in Summary
The Montenegrin government clearly sees a low tax rate as the key to accomplishing one of its main policy goals: Attract expats to move to Montenegro.
Once you’re here, it’s fairly easy to get a handle on Montenegro’s tax system. Things you should know include:
- You’ll pay at least 9% in personal income tax. This goes up to 15% on salaries that are above €1,001/month.
- New goods and services have a 21% VAT levied on them. (And this includes new homes.)
- Land transfer, interest and capital gains taxes are also lower than the average.
Montenegro has a fair and very competitive income tax, which is a big part of what makes it so attractive for people to relocate here.
If you still have any questions about the tax system, please feel free to reach out and I’ll be happy to help.
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