Corporate Income Tax in Serbia 2026: the 15% Rate Explained for a d.o.o.
If you own or plan to open a Serbian d.o.o. (the local LLC), corporate income tax is the tax on the company’s profit — and Serbia keeps it simple and low. The rate is a flat 15% in 2026, with no municipal surcharge and no minimum tax. This guide explains how the taxable base is set, how the monthly advance-payment system works, when the annual return is due, and what a foreign-owned company actually files through the year.
The rate: a flat 15%
Serbia taxes corporate profit at 15%, applied evenly regardless of how large the profit is. There are no progressive brackets, no local/municipal add-on, and no alternative minimum tax. That single flat rate is one of the reasons founders choose Serbia over higher-tax jurisdictions — for the trade-off against operating as a sole trader, see d.o.o. vs paušal for foreign founders.
The 15% applies to Serbian resident companies on their worldwide profit. A company is tax-resident if it is incorporated in Serbia or effectively managed there — which is the normal case for a d.o.o., even one owned by non-residents. You can own and run that company from abroad; see opening a Serbian company remotely.
How the taxable base is set
The 15% is not charged on revenue — it is charged on taxable profit. In outline:
- Start from the accounting profit in your financial statements (income minus expenses).
- Adjust it in the tax balance (poreski bilans) — some book expenses are not fully deductible for tax (for example, part of entertainment costs, certain provisions, over-limit write-offs), so they are added back.
- Apply available tax depreciation, loss carry-forwards and any incentives.
- The result is the taxable base; 15% of it is the tax.
Because book profit and tax profit differ, the effective calculation is done by an accountant at year-end. Keeping clean books through the year is what makes this painless — that is the core of our accounting service for companies.
Monthly advance payments (akontacija)
Serbia does not wait until year-end to collect the tax. Companies pay monthly advances (akontacija) based on the previous year’s return:
- Each month you pay one-twelfth of the prior year’s assessed tax, by the 15th of the month for the previous month.
- A newly registered company files an initial advance-payment return within 15 days of its APR registration, estimating profit for the first year, and pays advances on that estimate.
- If your profit changes materially during the year, the advance can be adjusted up or down by filing an amended estimate — useful if a new company overestimated its first-year profit.
At year-end, the advances are reconciled against the actual liability: if you paid too little you top up, if you paid too much you have a credit or refund.
The annual return: PDP within 180 days
The annual corporate income tax return (PDP), together with the tax balance and financial statements, is due within 180 days of the end of the financial year. For a company on the calendar year, that means the deadline is 30 June of the following year. This is separate from the statutory financial statements filed with APR — we cover those in annual financial statements in Serbia.
So the yearly rhythm of a d.o.o. looks like this: monthly CIT advances by the 15th, monthly payroll filings if you have staff, VAT filings if you are registered, and then the annual PDP and statements after the year closes.
What about profit you take out?
The 15% is the tax inside the company. Taking the profit out to yourself as an owner is a second, separate step: distributed dividends are taxed again at the shareholder level. That two-layer picture — corporate tax then dividend tax, versus paying yourself a salary — is exactly what determines your real take-home, and we work it through in dividends vs salary in Serbia. Plan the distribution strategy early; it changes the total tax meaningfully.
VAT is a different tax — don’t confuse the two
Corporate income tax (on profit) and VAT (on turnover) are separate systems with separate thresholds and filings. A company can owe CIT while not being VAT-registered, or be in VAT with little taxable profit. If you sell into Serbia or cross the registration threshold, read VAT in Serbia for foreign companies.
What a foreign owner should budget for
- 15% on taxable profit — the tax itself, paid partly through monthly advances.
- Accounting — a local accountant to keep books, build the tax balance and file the PDP. Non-optional in practice; the tax balance adjustments are technical.
- Timing — monthly advances by the 15th, annual PDP by 30 June (calendar-year companies).
- A distribution plan — how you take profit out (dividends vs salary) affects total tax as much as the 15% itself.
For a full cost picture of setting up and running the company, see our pricing and company formation service.
Frequently asked questions
Is Serbia’s corporate tax really only 15%? Yes — a flat 15% on taxable profit in 2026, with no municipal surcharge and no minimum tax.
Do I pay tax monthly or once a year? Both, in effect: monthly advances based on last year’s return, then an annual reconciliation via the PDP return within 180 days of year-end (30 June for calendar-year companies).
My company is brand new — how do advances work? You file an initial advance return within 15 days of APR registration, estimate first-year profit, and pay advances on that estimate. You can amend it if reality differs.
Does the 15% apply to a non-resident owner’s company? The tax is on the Serbian company’s profit, not on the owner’s nationality. A d.o.o. owned by non-residents is a Serbian tax resident and pays the same 15%.
Is dividend tax included in the 15%? No. The 15% is corporate tax inside the company. Dividends paid to owners are taxed separately at the shareholder level.
How we can help
We keep the books, prepare the tax balance, calculate and file your monthly advances, and submit the annual PDP return and financial statements on time — so the only number you need to remember is 15%. If you run or plan a Serbian d.o.o., get in touch or start with our accounting service.
Note: this article is informational and reflects rules in force as of July 2026. Confirm rates, deadlines and your company’s specific position with the Tax Administration (purs.gov.rs) or a qualified accountant before filing.