UK founders · Post-Brexit EU base · Remote PoA
Open a Czech company from the UK
UK-based founders can register a Czech s.r.o. entirely remotely — sign a notarised PoA before a UK notary, get it apostilled, and we handle the rest. Your EU entity, no Czech visit required.
- 100% remote — UK notary public + apostille only
- Genuine EU legal entity post-Brexit
- EU single-market trading rights and EU VAT number
- EU OSS access for Amazon and cross-border e-commerce
- CZK 1 minimum share capital
- English-language process from start to finish
Czech s.r.o. — key facts
- Entity type: Czech s.r.o. (Ltd. equivalent)
- Min. capital: CZK 1 (≈ 0 € indicative)
- Corporate tax: 21% on net profit
- VAT: 21% standard / 12% reduced
- PoA route: UK notary public + FCDO apostille
- Registration time: 5–15 business days
- Double-tax treaty: UK–CZ treaty in force
EUR figures indicative at approx. 1 EUR = 24.8 CZK. Source: Finanční správa · 2026-07-14.
Why Czech Republic after Brexit
Your EU operating base, built remotely
EU single market
Full EU/EEA trading rights, intra-EU VAT, EU payment processors and marketplace access — not available to UK-only entities post-Brexit.
Amazon EU base
A Czech IČO and EU VAT number (DIČ) enables Amazon EU seller verification, EU OSS enrollment and pan-EU FBA — restoring what many UK sellers lost in 2021.
Remote setup
Sign before a UK notary public, get the apostille, and we handle the Czech notarial deed, register filing, IČO and datová schránka — no Czech visit needed.
English process
We communicate and prepare all documents in English. Ongoing accounting, VAT returns and annual statements are provided in English too.
Stable banking
Czech banks are reputable EU institutions regulated by the Czech National Bank. We guide you through account opening that works for UK-based company owners.
21% CIT
Czech corporate income tax is 21% on net profit. The Czech Republic offers EU legal certainty, not a low-tax structure. Dividends: 15% withholding tax.
How it works
Remote registration in 4 steps
1. Consultation
We agree on business structure and confirm the right approach for your post-Brexit setup — new s.r.o. or ready-made.
2. UK PoA
We provide the PoA template. You sign before a UK notary public and obtain an apostille from the FCDO or authorised apostille service.
3. Czech notarial deed
We attend the Czech notary on your behalf and execute the s.r.o. founding deed.
4. IČO + live
Registered in the Commercial Register. Registered office, datová schránka and bank account guidance follow.
Ready-made Czech s.r.o.
A shelf s.r.o. is already registered — you take it over and start trading in days, not weeks. Ideal when you need an EU entity quickly to meet Amazon or partner deadlines.
Ready-made s.r.o. →Czech EU VAT base for Amazon
We handle VAT registration, EU OSS enrollment, monthly returns and Amazon-specific compliance — so you can focus on selling.
E-commerce guide →Post-Brexit: the treaty is now the floor
Why Brexit changed the withholding maths
Before Brexit, a UK parent could receive Czech dividends, interest and royalties at 0% under the EU Parent-Subsidiary and Interest & Royalties Directives. The UK is now a third country, so those directives no longer apply — the UK–Czech double-tax treaty rates govern instead. That is the single most important tax consequence of Brexit for this structure.
| Payment from the Czech s.r.o. | Pre-Brexit (EU directive) | Now (UK–CZ treaty) |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends | 0% (company, ≥10%) | 5% (company, substantial holding) / 15% (individual) |
| Interest | 0% | 0% (unchanged — treaty already exempts) |
| Royalties | 0% | 0% / 10% (0% copyright, 10% industrial) |
So interest still flows at 0% and copyright royalties at 0%, but dividends now carry a treaty withholding (5% to a corporate holder, 15% to an individual) where they used to be zero. A single UK individual owner sees 15% — matching the Czech domestic rate — and credits it against UK tax.
The UK side: Controlled Foreign Company rules
Why a real Czech company usually clears the UK CFC gateway
UK residents controlling an overseas company face HMRC's Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) regime, which apportions "artificially diverted" profits back to UK 25%+ shareholders. The reassuring part for a genuine Czech operating business:
- The tax-level exemption. A CFC is exempt if its local tax is at least 75% of the UK tax it would have paid. With UK corporation tax at 25%, that bar is an effective local rate of about 18.75%. Czech corporate tax is 21% — above 18.75% — so a Czech company taxed at the full rate generally clears this exemption.
- Low-profit exemptions. No CFC charge where accounting profits are under £50,000 in a 12-month period, or under £500,000 with non-trading (e.g. interest) income below £50,000.
- The gateway tests ask whether profits depend on "significant people functions" performed in the UK. A Czech company genuinely run and staffed in Czechia is designed not to pass through the gateway.
On the personal side, the dividend you receive is taxable in the UK at UK dividend rates (after the annual dividend allowance), with credit for the Czech withholding under the treaty so the same income is not taxed twice. The treaty's job is to cap Czech withholding at 15% and unlock that credit — it does not make the income UK-tax-free. For UK Amazon and marketplace sellers, the commercial driver is usually simpler than tax: a Czech IČO and EU VAT number restore the pan-EU FBA and OSS access that a UK-only entity lost in 2021.
The takeaway: an active, properly-substanced Czech s.r.o. is unlikely to trigger a UK CFC charge — but a passive, UK-managed shell can. Confirm with a UK tax adviser before you incorporate.
Worked example — a UK Amazon seller
Your Czech s.r.o. nets €100,000 selling across the EU (the market you lost direct access to in 2021).
- Czech CIT at 21% = €21,000 → €79,000 retained.
- Dividend to you as a UK individual: 15% Czech WHT (€11,850), credited against UK tax under the treaty.
- Because Czech CIT (21%) exceeds ~18.75%, the UK CFC tax-level exemption generally applies — no UK apportionment on active profit.
Illustrative only — confirm the CFC gateway and exemptions with a UK tax adviser.
Disclaimer: general Czech-side information only, not UK tax advice. Source: HMRC — CFC rules overview. Updated: 2026-07-14.
Czech company from UK — FAQ
Can a UK citizen or UK resident open a Czech company after Brexit?
Yes. Brexit does not prevent UK nationals or UK-resident individuals from owning a Czech s.r.o. Czech law allows non-EU/EEA individuals — including UK nationals — to be shareholders and directors of Czech companies. The formation process is fully remote via notarised power of attorney.
Why would a UK-based business want a Czech company?
After Brexit, UK companies no longer benefit from EU single-market membership. A Czech s.r.o. provides a genuine EU legal entity with full EU/EEA trading rights, an EU VAT number, access to EU OSS (One Stop Shop) for e-commerce, and credibility with EU customers and suppliers. It can serve as an EU operating base, a holding vehicle or an EU VAT registration point.
Do the UK and Czech Republic have a double-tax treaty?
Yes. The UK–Czech Republic double taxation agreement (originally the UK–Czechoslovakia treaty, updated by exchange of notes) remains in force. It covers withholding taxes on dividends, interest and royalties between the two countries. We recommend consulting a UK tax adviser on the UK-side implications of owning a Czech company.
How do I notarise documents in the UK for Czech incorporation?
You sign the power of attorney (PoA) before a UK notary public. The UK notarial deed is then apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention (the UK is a signatory), which is accepted by Czech authorities. We provide the PoA template and detailed signing instructions.
What is the minimum share capital?
The statutory minimum is CZK 1 — one Czech crown (≈ 0 € indicative). In practice we recommend a slightly higher figure for bank credibility. There is no equivalent UK GBP minimum requirement.
What Czech taxes will my s.r.o. pay?
Czech corporate income tax is 21% on net annual profit. VAT registration is required above 2 000 000 Kč (≈ 80,650 € indicative) turnover per calendar year; standard VAT rate is 21%. Dividends paid to UK shareholders attract 15% Czech withholding tax (treaty may reduce this — seek UK tax advice). Source: Finanční správa.
Can I use a Czech s.r.o. for Amazon EU selling?
Yes. A Czech s.r.o. with an EU VAT number (DIČ) can register on Amazon EU marketplaces, enrol in EU OSS for cross-border B2C VAT, and operate pan-EU FBA. This is a common use case for UK-based Amazon sellers who lost their EU operating base after Brexit.
How long does Czech registration take?
After the notarial deed is executed and filed, the Czech Commercial Register processes applications in approximately 5–15 business days. A ready-made s.r.o. is available immediately if you need an EU entity quickly.
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