Georgia’s tax system is one of the most business-friendly in the world, but only if you follow the rules. Filing late, skipping a declaration, or failing to meet record-keeping standards can trigger fines, audits, or even loss of small business status.

To take advantage of Georgia’s low-tax environment, you must know what’s due and when. This article walks you through the monthly, quarterly, and annual tax filing obligations for businesses in Georgia.

Whether you’re an Individual Entrepreneur, a Virtual Zone company, or an LLC serving local clients, understanding your tax calendar is key to staying compliant and saving money.

Monthly Tax Declarations in Georgia

Most of Georgia’s tax compliance operates every month. Here’s what that means for different types of taxes:

Turnover Tax for Individual Entrepreneurs

If registered as an Individual Entrepreneur with Small Business Status (SBS), you pay a 1% tax on turnover. This is due by the 15th of each month, covering the income from the previous month.

Even if you made zero income, you must still file a declaration. Skipping a declaration, even accidentally, can flag your account for review and affect your eligibility for SBS.

VAT and Reverse VAT

Businesses that are VAT-registered must file monthly declarations. You’ll report:

VAT-able income (usually taxed at 18%)
Non-VATable income (0% services)
Reverse VAT for services received from abroad

If you’re not VAT-registered but receive international services (like paying a foreign contractor), you’re still responsible for submitting a reverse VAT report. This surprises many small companies; it applies even if you don’t charge VAT to your clients.

Salary Taxes and Withholding

If you hire employees, Georgia requires you to:

Withhold 20% income tax from salaries
Pay 2% employer pension contributions
Pay 2% of employee pension contributions

All salary taxes must be filed and paid monthly through the Revenue Service portal.

Even if you’re only hiring contractors, you may still need to file withholding declarations depending on their residency status.

Monthly Compliance Tips

File on time, every month, even if you owe nothing
Use the RS.ge portal to submit all declarations
Keep digital records of income and expense journals

If you need help setting up proper bookkeeping, see our full guide to accounting and bookkeeping in Georgia.

Quarterly Filing in Georgia: When Does It Apply?

Georgia doesn’t operate on a universal quarterly tax cycle like other countries. However, a few exceptions exist, depending on your business structure and activity.

Quarterly Installments for Corporate Income Tax

Companies with significant earnings may be required to pay income tax quarterly. This doesn’t apply to businesses under the Estonian-style “only when distributed” tax model, but it can be used if your company distributes profit or triggers taxation events during the year.

Most SMEs in Georgia don’t deal with quarterly tax obligations. But if your accountant flags it, don’t ignore it.

Quarterly Pension Declarations for Some Employers

If you have a larger team or operate as an international company, you may be required to file quarterly pension contribution summaries. Monthly payments are still required, but these summaries confirm employer compliance over time.

When You Might Trigger Quarterly Requirements

You run a fast-scaling team with 10+ staff
You regularly distribute dividends mid-year
You fall under industry-specific compliance (e.g., banking, pharmaceuticals)

For those handling growing payrolls, our step-by-step payroll guide explains how to set up declarations correctly.

Annual Tax Filing in Georgia: What’s Required

Once a year, every business in Georgia must file several critical declarations. These include:

Annual Personal Income Tax Declaration (for Individual Entrepreneurs)

If registered as an Individual Entrepreneur, you’ll submit a full income tax declaration to the Revenue Service by March 31st of the following year.

This form reconciles your year’s turnover, already-paid tax (like the 1% SBS tax), and any additional liabilities.

If you made income from outside your SBS status (like employment income or capital gains), it’s also declared here.

Corporate Annual Registration

Every LLC must complete an annual registration update with the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) by April 1st. This confirms:

Company address
Directors and shareholders
Legal contact info

This is not a tax return; it’s a legal requirement. But failing to submit it can result in penalties or even company deactivation.

Annual Profit Tax Return (for Companies)

You must submit a profit tax return if your company distributed profits, reinvested earnings, or moved money between related entities. Georgia taxes corporate profits only when distributed, typically at 15%.

If your company didn’t distribute anything, you might not owe tax. But the return still must be filed.

Annual VAT Summary (for VAT-Registered Businesses)

You must submit a yearly VAT reconciliation report if you've submitted VAT monthly. This confirms that all monthly filings match your yearly turnover and cross-border activity.

Common Annual Deadlines

March 31st: Personal income tax declaration
April 1st: Company registration update with NAPR
April 1st: Annual profit and VAT return (if applicable)

You can find a detailed breakdown in our Yearly Tax Timeline infographic.

What Happens If You Miss a Filing Deadline

Penalties in Georgia are not massive, but they stack up fast. Depending on the tax type, late filing fees range from 100 to 500 GEL. However, losing your small business status or triggering an audit is the real risk.

For example, failing to file a zero-income declaration for several months might flag your business as inactive. Revoking your SBS status could result in a jump from 1% turnover tax to 20% personal income tax.

Missing a VAT deadline may freeze your ability to issue VAT invoices.

Failure to complete your annual registration could result in your LLC being delisted from the registry, meaning it’s no longer legally recognized.

Avoiding Mistakes: Where Most Businesses Slip

Before we move into the second half of this article (following 1500+ words), here are the biggest red flags to avoid:

Assuming you only need to file when you owe tax
Submitting declarations in English instead of Georgian
Hiring contractors without verifying their tax residency
Confusing VAT declaration with VAT payment (they’re different)

Want to see the most common reporting mistakes and how to avoid them? Read our blog: Common Tax Reporting Mistakes Companies Make in Georgia.

Monthly Filing Deadlines: Your Most Frequent Commitment

Monthly Tax Filing Requirements in Georgia: Essential declarations for Individual Entrepreneurs include 1% Turnover Tax, Reverse VAT, and Zero-income declarations. LLCs must report Corporate Income Tax, Reverse VAT, VAT, and dividends. Employers handle 20% Salary withholding tax, pension contributions, and employee declarations.

Every business in Georgia, whether an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) or a Limited Liability Company (LLC), must submit monthly declarations, even if no income was earned. This includes:

Income Tax Declarations:

For IEs with Small Business Status (SBS), you're taxed at 1% of turnover and must file by the 15th of every month. Even a zero turnover month requires a “zero declaration.” If you miss it, penalties apply, and your 1% status could be revoked retroactively.

Corporate Profit Tax Declarations:

If you operate as an LLC with Virtual Zone or International Company Status, corporate tax only applies when profits are distributed. However, you must still file monthly, even if no tax is due. This maintains compliance and avoids red flags with the Revenue Service.

Value Added Tax (VAT):

Businesses registered for VAT must submit monthly VAT declarations by the 15th. This includes both local VAT (18%) and reverse VAT if you purchase services abroad. If you're working with international clients, reverse VAT is nearly always triggered, even if you're not registered. This surprises many new businesses.

Payroll & Pension Contributions:

You must file monthly income tax and pension declarations if you have employees. The standard payroll tax is 20%, with an additional 2% employee pension and 2% employer contribution. The deadline is again the 15th, and even one late payroll report can block bank operations.

Quarterly Filing: Rare but Sometimes Required

Quarterly obligations in Georgia are less common. However, some small businesses voluntarily consolidate filings or reporting periods for internal tracking or cash flow management. If you're not VAT registered and don't run payroll, your monthly obligations are mostly zero, making quarterly reviews a helpful practice.

Still, from the government’s perspective, most filings remain monthly. Georgia doesn't formally replace monthly reporting with quarterly reporting except in limited, sector-specific exemptions.

Annual Filings: The High-Stakes Season

Annual Filing Requirements: A comprehensive overview of essential documents to be submitted each year, including income tax return, corporate profit declaration, annual registry update, and applicable VAT and property tax returns.

Once a year, businesses must submit comprehensive filings. These often determine future tax risk, audit flags, and whether you can maintain special statuses like SBS or International Company.

Here’s what you’ll need to handle annually:

Annual Income Declaration (March 31 deadline)

For Individual Entrepreneurs, this is your master tax filing for the year. Even though you've been filing monthly, the annual declaration reconciles total income and expenses (if applicable) and adjusts any over- or under-payments.

Annual Corporate Profit Tax Report (March 31)

LLCs must report on their profits, even if no dividends were distributed. The 15% corporate tax and 5% dividend tax must be reconciled if you distributed. If you reinvested, that still needs to be stated clearly in your annual report to avoid confusion with distributed profit.

Annual Registration with Public Registry (April 1)

Separate from tax filings, all LLCs must confirm their legal information with the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR). This includes the business name, shareholders, address, director, and contact information. It's an easy process, but failure to file can result in business suspension or deregistration.

Annual Property Tax Return (November 1)

You'll owe property tax if you own real estate, office space, or a warehouse. Rates vary by location and property use. Even if you rent your office, your landlord may expect you to provide documentation confirming your use of the space for tax filing.

Financial Statement Submissions (sector-dependent)

While not required for all businesses, specific licensed sectors or companies working with international investors may need to file financial statements. These must be submitted in Georgian; translation from English is not optional if you’re under audit.

Don’t Forget: Filing ≠ Payment

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that no tax is owed, meaning no filing is needed. This is a fast way to trigger penalties and lose your tax benefits. Even "zero" filings are filings.

If your business is seasonal, inactive, or pre-revenue, you’re still expected to show up monthly with a declaration. If you’re a small business owner who’s not fluent in Georgian, ensure your accountant handles this for you. English files or software exports are not accepted by the Georgian Revenue Service unless officially translated.

What Filing Mistakes Trigger Penalties

Georgia’s Revenue Service doesn’t issue warnings. If you miss a deadline, the penalty is automatic, and repeat offenses are taken seriously. Here’s what you need to watch out for.

1. Missed Monthly Declarations

Even if your income is zero, you must file a declaration every single month. Missing just one month, especially as an Individual Entrepreneur with Small Business Status, can result in status suspension. That means you lose your 1% tax rate and get reassessed at 20%.

2. Incorrect Reverse VAT Reporting

If your company pays for services abroad (like cloud software, design, or freelancers), you must likely submit a reverse VAT declaration. This applies whether or not you’re VAT registered. Many small companies miss this completely, which can trigger fines and draw attention to your account.

3. Untranslated Documents

The Georgian Revenue Service accepts only documents in Georgian. If you file annual tax returns or corporate filings with English-only contracts, agreements, or ledgers, your submission might be rejected or delayed. In the case of an audit, this becomes a real problem.

4. Forgetting the Annual Company Update

The National Agency of Public Registry requires every LLC to confirm its company information annually by April 1. This has nothing to do with taxes, but skipping it can mark your business as inactive, making you ineligible for tax benefits and banking services.

5. Confusing Filing with Payment

Many new founders assume there's no need to file if no income or tax was paid earlier. But that’s not how it works in Georgia. You file every month, whether or not you pay. And you file every year, whether or not profit was distributed. Filing and payment are two separate processes.

Common Triggers for Fines or Audits in Georgia: Key Oversights to Avoid in Business Compliance.

Want a complete list of tax mistakes companies make in Georgia? Read this guide: Common Tax Reporting Mistakes Companies Make in Georgia.

How to Stay Compliant Without Stress

Running a business is hard enough. The last thing you need is a tax issue because you forgot a form or missed a minor deadline.

Here’s what works for founders who want to keep their compliance clean.

Build a Tax Calendar From Day One

Map out the 15th of every month as your default filing day. Add March 31 and April 1 to your annual checklist. If you hire anyone, even part-time, expect to file income tax and pension declarations. Mark every relevant deadline in your project management tools, and use reminders.

Use the RS. ge Portal Correctly

All filings in Georgia happen through the RS.ge online portal. It’s in Georgian, and it’s not beginner-friendly. But once your accountant adds your business to their dashboard, you can track what’s filed, due, and what penalties (if any) are on your account.

Get Help With Translations and Filing

Even if you understand the tax concepts, filing in Georgia can trip up even experienced founders. Hire a local accountant or agency (like Gegidze) who handles tax compliance daily. They’ll translate your records into legal formats, flag missing items, and keep your Revenue Service profile clean.

Need help finding the right person? Start here: How to Choose an Accounting & Bookkeeping Service Provider in Georgia.

Choosing the Right Filing Strategy: Solo Founders vs. Growing Companies.

Conclusion: Georgia Is Pro-Business — But Only If You File On Time

Georgia’s low tax rates and legal transparency make it one of the best countries in the world to operate a business. But the system assumes you’ll take responsibility for staying compliant.

There are no automatic reminders, grace periods, or “oops” buttons. Either you file every month or every year, or you risk losing your benefits, your status, and your peace of mind.

At Gegidze, we help businesses stay tax-compliant from day one. Whether you’re a solo founder with a freelance income or a scaling startup with a Georgian team, our accountants, bookkeepers, and legal translators keep your filings on time and point.

Want a monthly checklist made for your business? Contact our team today. We'll set up a plan that saves you time, keeps you compliant, and protects your business from unexpected legal risk.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What taxes do businesses in Georgia have to file monthly?

Most businesses in Georgia must file income tax, VAT, or reverse VAT (if applicable), and salary tax every month, even if no income is earned. These filings are due by the 15th through the RS.ge portal.

Is there a quarterly tax filing in Georgia?

No, Georgia doesn’t require formal quarterly returns. However, internal quarterly reviews are highly recommended to track SBS turnover, VAT thresholds, and potential tax obligations before year-end.

What is due annually for companies in Georgia?

All businesses must file annual income declarations and profit tax reports (if applicable) and renew their company registration with the Public Registry. Deadlines are typically March 31 for tax and April 1 for legal updates.

What happens if I miss a tax filing deadline in Georgia?

Penalties apply immediately, and Small Business Status may be revoked. Missing filings also increases your audit risk with the Georgia Revenue Service.

How can I simplify tax compliance in Georgia?

Set monthly calendar reminders, use a local accountant, and track income and expenses with Georgian-language documents. Filing “zero” is always better than skipping a declaration.