Dmitri Mihhailov
Managing Partner
Founder of Prifinance. 15+ years structuring international companies, banking and licensing for founders worldwide.
Register a company in Uruguay, South America's quiet Switzerland.
Set up a Uruguayan SAS remotely - a stable, whitelisted democracy with territorial taxation: foreign-source income sits at 0% by law, free zones take even that further, and dollar accounts with no exchange controls are the norm. One thing it is not: a same-week, no-paperwork offshore.A Uruguayan SAS registered remotely in 7-15 days - territorial 0% on foreign income, free zones, dollar banking without exchange controls. In short: a real country, not a rubber stamp.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
6,000+
companies servedcompanies served
Updated
Uruguay (SA) · at a glance
Legal formSAS · simplified company
Time to set up7-15 business days
Tax on foreign income0% - territorial
Local income (IRAE)25%
Free zones0% - full exemption
Remote setupYes - fully online
4.7
★★★★★
powered by Google
Chat online with a lawyer - a lawyer answers right now. Free review of your case.
Uruguay in brief
The jurisdiction Latin America trusts with its money.
Uruguay has spent a century being the region's safe: a stable democracy, an investment-grade economy, banks where Argentine and Brazilian wealth traditionally shelters, and no exchange controls - dollars move in and out freely. Taxation is territorial by design: IRAE touches Uruguayan-source income at 25%, while income earned abroad simply sits outside the net. The 2019 SAS form made incorporation modern - one shareholder, no minimum capital, electronic filings - and free zones like Zonamerica push service exporters to a full 0%.
Position it correctly: Uruguay is a real country, not a rubber stamp. Expect a notary, a fiscal address, DGI tax registration, beneficial-owner reporting to the Central Bank (closed to the public), annual accounts and two to three weeks of patience. In exchange you get what no island can sell - a whitelisted, Mercosur-seated flag that banks and counterparties across the Americas treat as first-rate, plus one of the world's friendliest residency-and-tax-holiday paths if you ever want to follow your company south.
The region's safe for a century: stable, investment-grade, whitelisted. IRAE taxes local income at 25%; foreign income sits outside the net. SAS since 2019: one shareholder, no minimum capital.
Expect a notary, fiscal address, closed owner filings with the Central Bank and annual accounts - two to three weeks of patience that buy a flag banks across the Americas treat as first-rate.
Packages & pricing
Uruguayan company - cost & packages.
01 - SAS · SOCIEDAD POR ACCIONES SIMPLIFICADA
Company
from$2,900USD · all-in
Remote registration of a Uruguayan SAS - notarised charter, registry and DGI filings, RUT tax number and the first year of the fiscal address included.
✓Name check & charter drafted✓Notary & registry fees included✓RUT registration with DGI✓Fiscal address - first year✓Central-Bank owner filings handled✓Free pre-incorporation consultation
Optional add-ons: free-zone setup - scoped per project · local director service - from $1,200/year · annual renewal & accounting - from $2,000/year.Add-ons: free-zone setup per project · local director from $1,200/year · renewal & accounting from $2,000/year.
Start with Company →02 - SAS · SOCIEDAD POR ACCIONES SIMPLIFICADA
Most popularCompany + Bank Account
from$4,900USD · all-in
A working SAS with a Uruguayan bank or fintech account - USD and UYU balances, cards and online banking, arranged with our support.
✓Everything in Company✓Account with a Uruguayan bank or EMI - USD-first✓Account application & KYC file preparation✓Introduction to 2-3 suitable institutions✓Compliance onboarding support✓Dedicated account manager
Start with Banking →Starting prices, confirmed before we file. Notarial and registry fees are itemised.Starting prices, confirmed first. Notarial and registry fees itemised.
What you can do
Popular uses for a Uruguayan company.
An SAS may run almost any lawful business. Financial intermediation needs Central Bank authorisation, and free-zone status is granted per contract. We scope both.Almost any lawful business; finance needs BCU authorisation, free-zone status is per contract.
LatAm trading hub
Mercosur seat, first-rate ports and a flag Brazilian and Argentine counterparties respect.
Software & IT exports
The regional tech-export story - free zones and exemptions built for services sold abroad.
Holding & wealth
Foreign dividends and gains outside the territorial net; a century-old private-banking tradition.
Agri & commodities
Beef, grain and timber trade running through the region's most reliable paperwork.
Free-zone operationslicensed
Zonamerica, WTC Free Zone, Aguada Park. 0% IRAE under a free-zone user contract.
Financial serviceslicensed
Payment institutions and intermediaries under Central Bank (BCU) authorisation.
LatAm trading hub
Mercosur seat, trusted paperwork.
Software & IT exports
Free zones built for services.
Holding & wealth
Foreign gains outside the net.
Agri & commodities
Beef, grain, timber flows.
Free-zone operationslicensed
0% under user contract.
Financial serviceslicensed
BCU authorisation.
Why Uruguay (SA)
Key advantages of the jurisdiction.
✓
Territorial 0% by law
Foreign-source income is outside IRAE's scope. A statutory system on the OECD white list, not a loophole.Whitelisted statute, no loophole.
✓
No exchange controls
A fully dollarized banking culture: USD accounts are standard and capital moves freely. Rare on this continent.USD default, capital moves freely.
✓
Whitelisted stability
Investment-grade, OECD-compliant, the region's strongest rule of law. Banks treat the flag as first-rate.The region's strongest rule of law.
✓
Modern SAS form
One shareholder, no minimum capital, electronic incorporation. 2019 law, built for founders.1 shareholder, no minimum capital.
✓
Free zones at 0%
Service exporters in Zonamerica or WTC FZ pay no IRAE at all. With real offices and staff available.Zonamerica, WTC FZ, Aguada Park.
✓
Residency & tax holiday
An easy residency path with a decade-long exemption on foreign income if you relocate. Company and founder can both land softly.A decade of exempt foreign income.
How it compares
Uruguay next to the usual shortlist.
Panama is the territorial classic with a greyer reputation; Paraguay is cheaper but institutionally thinner; Chile and Argentina tax worldwide income. Uruguay charges more patience and buys more trust. Figures current as of 2026.Panama: cheaper, greyer. Paraguay: thinner institutions. Chile, Argentina: worldwide tax. Uruguay: more patience, more trust. Figures as of 2026.
| Country | Tax on foreign income | Reputation | Signature edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 0% - territorial | Whitelisted, stable | Trusted flag · free zones |
| Panama | 0% - territorial | Grey-list history | Cheap, fast, famous |
| Paraguay | 0% - territorial | Improving | 10% local rate |
| Chile | Worldwide | Strong | 27% - no shelter |
| Argentina | Worldwide | Volatile | 35% - capital controls |
UruguayTrusted
Foreign income0% - territorial
Reputationwhitelisted
PanamaClassic
Foreign income0% - territorial
Reputationgrey history
Paraguay10% local
Foreign income0% - territorial
Reputationimproving
ChileOnshore
Foreign incomeworldwide
Reputationstrong
Argentina35%
Foreign incomeworldwide
Reputationvolatile
Requirements
What Uruguayan law actually demands.
01
One shareholder - Individual or company, any nationality. An SAS incorporates with a single founder.
02
Administrator - At least one administrator or director; foreign residents can serve, and we provide local support where useful.
03
Capital - No minimum for an SAS. Capital is declared in the charter and paid flexibly.
04
Fiscal address - A Uruguayan address for DGI and registry - included in our package.
05
Owner reporting - Beneficial owners are reported to the Central Bank under Law 19,484. A closed register, visible to authorities only.
06
Accounts & filings - Annual financial statements and DGI/BPS filings apply. A real accounting jurisdiction, and our renewal service carries it.
How it works
From application to a live company in weeks.
Everything runs through our lawyers, the notary and the registry in Montevideo - you sign by power of attorney, and most companies are operating within two to three weeks.Signed by power of attorney before a Montevideo notary - most companies operate within two to three weeks.
01Same day
Free consultation
We confirm Uruguay fits your case. And say so plainly if Panama, a free zone or another flag serves better.
022-4 days
KYC & POA
Passports, proof of address and an apostilled power of attorney; we draft the SAS charter.
033-7 days
Notary & registry
The charter is notarised and filed with the National Trade Registry.
042-4 days
RUT & registrations
Tax number with DGI, social-security registration with BPS where staff are planned.
051-3 days
Owner filings
Beneficial-owner declarations lodged with the Central Bank.
061-4 weeks
Banking
We introduce the company to Uruguayan banks or EMIs and support onboarding.
Quick facts
Legal formSAS
Shareholders1+, any nationality
Tax on foreign income0% - territorial
Standard timeline7-15 business days
AccountsAnnual - real filings
Owner registerClosed - BCU only
Renewal & accountingFrom $2,000/year
Uruguay rewards patience: slower than an island registry, and worth it every time a bank reads the flag.
On the ground
On the ground in Uruguay.
Prifinance - Uruguay
Montevideo
World Trade Center, Montevideo, Uruguay
01
LatAm-desk specialists
Your setup is run by a team that structures companies across South America every month.
02
Notary & registry handled
Charter, RUT, BPS and Central-Bank filings. Done correctly, in Spanish, on time.
03
Free-zone scoping
We negotiate Zonamerica and WTC FZ user contracts when 0% across the board is the goal.
04
Also in Tallinn, London, Dubai & more
A network of offices across Europe, the Gulf and the Americas. One team for your whole international structure.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
5/F, Yau Lee Centre, 45 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Berlin
Germany
Rankestraße 26
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Türkiye
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Toronto
Canada
1110 Finch Avenue West, suite 406
Singapore
Singapore
3 Church Street, #29-68 Samsung Hub
Bangkok
Thailand
Unit P01, Penthouse, VASU1, 1 Sukhumvit 25 Alley
Foshan
China
A-Tower, Yuneng Digital Plaza, 46 Lishui Avenue South
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Republic Square 13
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
32 Razzakov Street
Taxation 2026
Territorial, whitelisted, real.
Uruguay taxes what happens in Uruguay. IRAE takes 25% of local-source profits; income earned abroad is outside the net for companies. Dividends carry withholding only when they flow from taxed local income. Free-zone users escape IRAE entirely, and VAT at 22% touches only domestic sales.Uruguay taxes what happens in Uruguay: local profits 25%, foreign income 0%, free zones 0% across the board, VAT only on domestic sales.
Foreign income - 0%
Outside IRAE's territorial scope for companies. The core of every international structure here.Outside IRAE's territorial scope.
Local income - 25%
IRAE applies to Uruguayan-source profits; free-zone contracts remove even that.Free-zone contracts remove it.
Dividends
7% withholding on distributions of taxed local profits; foreign-source flows pass untouched.Only on taxed local profits.
VAT - 22%
On domestic supplies only; exports of goods and most services are zero-rated.Domestic only; exports zero-rated.
Levies in 2026
IRAE on foreign income0%
IRAE on local income25%
Free-zone users0%
Dividends (taxed local profits)7%
VAT (domestic only)22%
Renewal & accountingFrom $2,000/year
Owners remain responsible for tax where they live - unless they claim Uruguay's residency tax holiday, which we also arrange.
Your team
The specialists who'll handle your case.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
International Business Consultant
Guides clients from the first consultation to a working setup - companies, accounts and substance in 60+ jurisdictions.
Alex Danila
Corporate Services Specialist
Handles incorporation paperwork, KYC and bank introductions so your Uruguayan company launches without delays.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Watch: opening a company in Uruguay with Prifinance
The trusted flag of Latin America - territorial 0%, dollar banking, free zones. Structured properly, start to finish.
Talk to a specialist →FAQ
Uruguay, the whitelisted south.
Can I open a Uruguayan company without visiting?+
Yes. With an apostilled power of attorney our Montevideo team signs before the notary for you; KYC and filings run remotely. Many clients first visit Uruguay only when they decide to take up residency.
How much does it cost?+
Turnkey registration starts from $2,900 including notary, registry, RUT and the first year of the fiscal address. With a bank or EMI account arranged, packages start from $4,900. Annual renewal with accounting runs from $2,000 - Uruguay is a real filing jurisdiction and we price it as one.
How does 0% on foreign income work?+
Uruguayan corporate tax (IRAE) is territorial by statute: it reaches Uruguayan-source income only. A company trading or holding abroad has no IRAE base - no ruling required. The system is OECD-reviewed and whitelisted, which is exactly why banks accept it. You still owe tax where you personally reside; we map that before you commit.
What is the SAS form?+
The Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada, introduced in 2019 - Uruguay's modern company: one shareholder is enough, no minimum capital, flexible governance, electronic filings. It has replaced the classic SA as the default for new international structures.
What do free zones add?+
A free-zone user contract (Zonamerica, WTC Free Zone, Aguada Park and others) exempts the company from IRAE entirely - 0% even on services delivered from Uruguay - in exchange for a real presence: an office and, depending on the zone, local staff. For software and service exporters it is one of the best regimes in the hemisphere; we negotiate the contract.
Is ownership public?+
No. Beneficial owners are declared to the Central Bank under Law 19,484 - a register closed to the public and visible to authorities. Uruguay exchanges information under CRS like every serious jurisdiction, and we tell clients that plainly rather than selling secrecy that no longer exists anywhere.
How is banking?+
Among the best in Latin America: Itaú, Santander, Scotiabank, BROU and strong local fintechs, with USD accounts the default and no exchange controls. Onboarding is thorough - real KYC, source of funds, a business story - and we prepare exactly that file before introducing you.
Uruguay or Panama?+
Both are territorial. Panama is cheaper, faster and more famous - and carries a greyer history that some banks and counterparties price in. Uruguay costs more patience and money and buys a whitelisted reputation, Mercosur access and real banking. Pure holding on a budget often fits Panama; operating businesses and wealth structures usually justify Uruguay.
What about moving there?+
Uruguay pairs the company with one of the world's friendliest relocation paths: straightforward residency and a tax holiday exempting foreign income for roughly a decade (with options after). Founders who want a real personal base behind their structure ask us to run both projects together.
How long does it take?+
Plan on 7-15 business days from complete KYC to an operating company - notary, registry, RUT and Central-Bank filings included. A bank account adds one to four weeks depending on the institution. An island it is not; a flag banks trust, it is.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
More from Prifinance
Other jurisdictions & licenses.
Free consultation
Start your Uruguayan company today.
Tell us about the business, and a specialist replies within one business day: SAS, free zone or a different flag, with a timeline and a fixed quote.A Uruguay specialist will reply within one business day with a recommendation, a timeline and a fixed quote.
✓No obligation; the first consultation is free✓A clear recommendation, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team