Self-employed persons have to register themselves in the commercial register during 2009

In the interest of openness of business data all self-employed persons are required to register themselves in an open commercial register during 2009.

According to the system that was effective until now, self-employed persons could register themselves both in the register of taxable persons and the commercial register. Focussing the registration in one register will make the system integral and the data more accessible.

Re-registration is definitely useful for people who buy goods and services from self-employed persons. As the commercial register is a public register, it is now possible to look up whether the person offering goods as a self-employed person has been correspondingly registered or how long the person has operated as a self-employed person.

In order to re-register a self-employed person who is registered in the register of taxable persons an application for entry has to be filed. Unfortunately, it is not possible to automatically re-register self-employed persons because the commercial register requires data on the business name and intended area of activity of a self-employed person. However, such data are not included in the register of taxable persons.

Re-registration into the commercial register for the self-employed persons who are registered in the register of taxable persons is exempt from state fee. The application can be filed free of charge through the company registration portal or sent to the register through a notary. If a self-employed person prepares the application himself/herself, the notary fee for the authentication of signature is only EEK 10. If a self-employed person has the application prepared by a notary, this will cost EEK 60 (VAT is added to the fees).

There are slightly more than 70 000 self-employed persons in Estonia, most of who are registered in the register of taxable persons of the Tax and Customs Board. Less than one third of self-employed persons have been entered in the commercial register.

The company registration portal is at the address: https://ettevotjaportaal.rik.ee/.

Diana Kõmmus

Ministry of Justice
Public Relations Division
Phone 620 8118
Mobile phone 533 15431