Gr Company Formation

---
name: gr-company-formation
description: "Company formation and entity choice in Greece for 2026. Covers the private company (ΙΚΕ, Law 4072/2012), the limited liability company (ΕΠΕ, Law 3190/1955) and the société anonyme (ΑΕ, Law 4548/2018); capital (an ΙΚΕ's capital is set freely and may be zero; EUR 1 minimum for an ΕΠΕ, EUR 25,000 for an ΑΕ), full payment of ΙΚΕ capital and the one-month certificate; formation through the One-Stop Shop (ΥΜΣ) or the online e-ΥΜΣ and GEMI registration under Law 4919/2022; the 2025 fee schedule (EUR 60, or EUR 18 online, plus the EUR 10 GEMI fee and a 0.1% Competition Commission fee for an ΑΕ); founder conditions (an active Greek tax number); the same-day or next-day check; GEMI fines; and the first tax and payroll steps. Trigger phrases: set up a company in Greece, ΙΚΕ, ΑΕ, ΕΠΕ, ΓΕΜΗ, Υπηρεσία Μιας Στάσης, e-ΥΜΣ, minimum capital Greece. Out of scope: company tax (gr-corporate-income-tax), partnerships on single-entry books (gr-partnerships-single-entry), VAT (greece-vat-return), payroll (gr-"
license: "AGPL-3.0-or-later (code) / OpenAccountants Guide License v1.0 (content)"
metadata:
  source: openaccountants
  openaccountants_url: "https://www.openaccountants.com/skills/gr-company-formation"
  jurisdiction: "GR"
  tax_year: "2026"
  last_updated: "2026-10-30"
---

# Greece Company Formation & Entity Choice

## Common entity types and minimum capital

- **Common entity types overview.** The most common Greek business vehicles are the private company (ΙΚΕ), the limited liability company (ΕΠΕ) and the société anonyme (ΑΕ). The Ministry of Development calls the ΙΚΕ the most widespread company form in Greece and the one most founders choose. Each gains legal personality when it is registered in GEMI, the General Commercial Registry (Γ.Ε.ΜΗ.).  _(Ministry of Development, basic features of companies, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/vasika-xaraktiristika-etaireion/)_
- **Private company (ΙΚΕ, Ιδιωτική Κεφαλαιουχική Εταιρεία).** A commercial company with legal personality. Only the company is liable for its debts, with its own assets (Law 4072/2012 art. 43(1), (2)). One person can form it, or it can become single-member (art. 43(4)). The name must contain "Ιδιωτική Κεφαλαιουχική Εταιρεία" or "Ι.Κ.Ε.", or "Private Company" / "P.C." in international dealings; a single-member company adds "Μονοπρόσωπη" / "Single Member" (art. 44(2), (3)). It does not need its real seat in Greece (art. 45(3)).  _(Law 4072/2012 arts. 43-120, ministry text updated to 28.4.2023, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/δίκαιο-της-ιδιωτικής-κεφαλαιουχικής/)_
- **ΙΚΕ share capital.** The law sets no minimum. The partners set the capital freely and it may be zero (Law 4072/2012 art. 43(3), as replaced by Law 4155/2013 art. 11(1)). Law 4155/2013 art. 11(2) repealed art. 77(5), the rule that at least one share had to stand for a capital contribution. Partners take shares for capital contributions in cash or in kind (art. 77), non-capital contributions such as work or services (art. 78), or guarantee contributions, meaning personal liability to creditors up to an amount set in the articles (art. 79). Every share, of any kind, has the same nominal value of at least EUR 1 (art. 75(3)). The Ministry of Development's company page states a minimum of EUR 1 of capital, and its consolidated text of Law 4072/2012 still prints the repealed art. 77(5); the law in the Government Gazette allows zero capital.  _(Law 4155/2013 art. 11, ΦΕΚ Α' 120/29.5.2013; Law 4072/2012; Ministry of Development, ΙΚΕ basic features)_
- **ΙΚΕ capital paid in full.** The capital must be paid in full at formation or at a capital increase. Within one month the manager certifies full payment by a deed registered in GEMI. Any unpaid part is cancelled by reducing capital (Law 4072/2012 art. 77(4)). A contribution in kind needs no valuation if the articles value it at no more than EUR 5,000 (art. 77(2)).  _(Law 4072/2012)_
- **ΙΚΕ website.** Within one month of formation the company must have a website showing the partners' names and addresses, each partner's type of contribution, the manager, the capital and the GEMI number (Law 4072/2012 art. 47(1), (2)).  _(Law 4072/2012)_
- **Limited liability company (ΕΠΕ, Εταιρεία Περιορισμένης Ευθύνης).** Formed with minimum capital of EUR 1, set freely by the partners, in cash or in kind. Partners have limited liability. Governed by Law 3190/1955. The EUR 4,500 figure in the earlier version of this skill no longer applies.  _(Ministry of Development, ΕΠΕ basic features, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/vasika-xaraktiristika-etaireion/)_
- **Société anonyme (ΑΕ, Ανώνυμη Εταιρεία).** A commercial company for larger ventures, governed by Law 4548/2018. Shareholders have limited liability. It can issue ordinary and preference shares, bonds and other securities.  _(Ministry of Development, ΑΕ basic features, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/vasika-xaraktiristika-etaireion/)_
- **ΑΕ minimum share capital.** EUR 25,000.  _(Ministry of Development, ΑΕ basic features)_
- **Audit.** An ΙΚΕ or ΕΠΕ publishes annual financial statements each year and elects statutory auditors only if it is a medium or large entity. It may choose a voluntary audit.  _(Ministry of Development, ΙΚΕ and ΕΠΕ basic features)_

## Incorporation steps, timeline and cost

Companies are formed through a One-Stop Shop (Υπηρεσία Μιας Στάσης, ΥΜΣ) at a chamber of commerce or a certified notary, or fully online through the e-ΥΜΣ at https://eyms.businessportal.gr (Law 4919/2022 arts. 8, 9 and 12).

- **Registration body.** GEMI (Γενικό Εμπορικό Μητρώο). Registration is compulsory for the ΑΕ, ΕΠΕ, ΙΚΕ and the general and limited partnerships, among others (Law 4919/2022 art. 16(1)). An ΙΚΕ is formed by its registration in GEMI (Law 4072/2012 art. 52(1)).  _(Law 4919/2022, ministry codification after Law 5164/2024, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ΚΩΔΙΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ-ΝΟΜΟΥ-4919.22-μετά-την-τροπ.-με-Ν.-5164.24-1-2.pdf)_
- **Founder tax number (ΑΦΜ) and other founder conditions.** Every individual founder must have, at the time of formation: legal capacity; an active Greek tax number (Α.Φ.Μ.) whose use is not suspended; TAXISnet codes or an eIDAS electronic identity; and, for a non-EU national who lives or will live in Greece, a residence permit or proof of a pending application (Joint Ministerial Decision 38164/2025 art. 6(1)). A foreign legal person that joins as partner or board member and has no Greek ΑΦΜ gets one from the ΥΜΣ through TAXIS (Law 4919/2022 art. 9(2)).  _(ΚΥΑ 38164/2025, ΦΕΚ Β' 2639/29.5.2025, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ΝΕΑ-ΥΜΣ.pdf)_
- **Formation document.** An ΙΚΕ is formed by a document containing its articles. It must be notarial only if a special law requires it, if assets whose transfer needs a notarial deed are contributed, or if the founders choose it (Law 4072/2012 art. 49(2)). Outside those cases an ΙΚΕ is formed only online (Law 4072/2012 art. 51(α); ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 3(6)). Where a special law requires the notarial form, for the activity or for the transfer of a contributed asset, formation goes through a certified notary acting as ΥΜΣ, whatever the company form (ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 3(5)). Template articles are on the GEMI website, and the ministry publishes templates for the ΑΕ, ΕΠΕ, ΙΚΕ, ΟΕ and ΕΕ; a template cannot be used where a notarial deed is required (Law 4919/2022 art. 13(1), (3), (4)).  _(Law 4072/2012; Law 4919/2022; ΚΥΑ 38164/2025; Ministry of Development, legal framework of the ΥΜΣ, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/thesmiko-plaisio-genikes-plirofories/)_
- **What the ΥΜΣ does in one step.** After its checks the ΥΜΣ system issues the EUID and GEMI number, gives the company a tax number (ΑΦΜ) and enters it in the tax register, issues TAXIS codes, registers the company with e-EFKA as an employer where needed, registers it with the competent chamber and issues the digitally signed formation certificate. The company then exists and operates lawfully (Law 4919/2022 art. 9(6), (7)). It may then ask a bank of its choice to open an account through the ΥΜΣ system (art. 9(8)).  _(Law 4919/2022)_
- **Incorporation timeline.** The ΥΜΣ checks the application, the articles, the name and the fee payment on the working day it receives them, or at the latest the next working day (Law 4919/2022 art. 9(4)). If something is missing, the founders have five working days to correct it; otherwise the application is rejected (art. 9(5)). Time to obtain founder tax numbers and residence permits comes on top.  _(Law 4919/2022)_
- **Incorporation cost.** Set by ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5 and its Annex I. Lawyer and notary fees are not included (Law 4919/2022 art. 14(2)(α); ΚΥΑ art. 5(4)). The fee is not refunded if formation fails for reasons on the founders' side (Law 4919/2022 art. 14(3)).

| Item | ΑΕ, ΕΠΕ, ΙΚΕ | ΟΕ, ΕΕ (partnerships) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation fee, ΥΜΣ at a chamber | EUR 60 | EUR 50 | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(2)(α) |
| Formation fee, online e-ΥΜΣ (30% of the chamber fee) | EUR 18 | EUR 15 | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(5) |
| GEMI registration fee | EUR 10 | EUR 10 | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(2)(β) |
| Name and distinctive-title check, where the GEMI office does it | EUR 10 | EUR 10 | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(2)(γ) |
| Each founder above ten (not charged online) | EUR 3 | EUR 3 | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(2)(δ), (5) |
| Competition Commission fee | 0.1% (1‰) of share capital, ΑΕ only | none | ΚΥΑ 38164/2025 art. 5(6); Annex I |

  _(ΚΥΑ 38164/2025; Ministry of Development, Annex I, cost of formation through a chamber ΥΜΣ, https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ-I-ΚΟΣΤΟΣ-ΣΥΣΤΑΣΗΣ-ΜΕΣΩ-ΥΜΣ.docx)_

So an ΑΕ with EUR 25,000 capital, formed at a chamber ΥΜΣ that also checks the name, pays EUR 60 + 10 + 10 = EUR 80, plus EUR 25 (25,000 x 0.1%) to the Competition Commission: EUR 105 in all. An ΙΚΕ, which is formed online, pays the EUR 18 online formation fee in place of the EUR 60.

## Core annual compliance

Greek companies keep statutory accounting records, publish annual financial statements in GEMI, file the corporate income tax return, and meet VAT and payroll obligations.

- **Annual financial statements.** Prepared under the Greek Accounting Standards (Law 4308/2014) and published in GEMI. Failing to file financial statements in GEMI carries a fine of EUR 1,000 to EUR 100,000, set by seriousness, company form and size category (Law 4919/2022 art. 50(1)(ζ)). The fine is halved if it is paid and the breach put right within 30 days of notice (art. 50(4)). It doubles for a repeat breach within three years and triples for further repeats (art. 50(2)).  _(Law 4919/2022 art. 50, as replaced by Law 5164/2024 art. 55)_
- **Other GEMI fines.** Not registering in GEMI: EUR 1,000 to EUR 10,000 (Law 4919/2022 art. 50(1)(β)). Late application for a GEMI entry: EUR 100 to EUR 500 (art. 50(1)(δ)). Missing company details on documents and letters: EUR 100 to EUR 500 (art. 50(1)(γ)).  _(Law 4919/2022)_
- **Annual corporate income tax return.** Form N, filed through myAADE. For a 31 December year end the window is 15 March to 15 July of the next year, so 15 July 2027 for tax year 2026. For other year ends, by the last working day of the sixth month after the year end (Income Tax Code, ν. 4172/2013, art. 68(2)). The rate is 22%. A company also pays the annual trade fee (τέλος επιτηδεύματος) of EUR 800, or EUR 1,000 with its seat in a city of over 200,000 inhabitants (ν. 3986/2011 art. 31(1)). See gr-corporate-income-tax.  _(gr-corporate-income-tax)_
- **VAT compliance.** The company's ΑΦΜ is also its VAT number, used with the prefix EL for intra-EU trade (VAT Code, ν. 5144/2024, art. 41(2), (5)(α)). A company on double-entry books files monthly VAT returns. The small business exemption applies only where Greek turnover is not over EUR 10,000 in the previous and current year (art. 44α(1)). See greece-vat-return.  _(greece-vat-return)_
- **myDATA e-books.** Revenue, expense and classification data go electronically to AADE's myDATA platform. See greece-einvoice.  _(greece-einvoice)_
- **Payroll filings.** An employer hires through ERGANI II, files the monthly APD return with e-EFKA and pays contributions by the last working day of the month after the pay month, and files and pays income tax withheld on pay. See gr-payroll and gr-employee-contributions.  _(gr-payroll)_

## Sources

| Source | URL | Read on |
|---|---|---|
| Law 4155/2013, art. 11 (replaces Law 4072/2012 art. 43(3), repeals art. 77(5)), ΦΕΚ Α' 120/29.5.2013, gazette copy on WIPO Lex | https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/el/gr/gr315el.pdf | 2026-10-30 |
| Law 4072/2012, arts. 43-120 (ΙΚΕ), Ministry of Development text updated to 28.4.2023: arts. 43, 44, 45, 47, 49, 51, 52, 75, 77, 78, 79 | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/δίκαιο-της-ιδιωτικής-κεφαλαιουχικής/ | 2026-10-30 |
| Ministry of Development, basic features of companies: ΙΚΕ, ΕΠΕ, ΑΕ | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/vasika-xaraktiristika-etaireion/ | 2026-10-30 |
| Law 4919/2022 (One-Stop Shops and GEMI), ministry codification after Law 5164/2024: arts. 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 50 | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ΚΩΔΙΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ-ΝΟΜΟΥ-4919.22-μετά-την-τροπ.-με-Ν.-5164.24-1-2.pdf | 2026-10-30 |
| Joint Ministerial Decision 38164/2025, ΦΕΚ Β' 2639/29.5.2025 (formation through ΥΜΣ and e-ΥΜΣ): arts. 3, 5, 6 | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ΝΕΑ-ΥΜΣ.pdf | 2026-10-30 |
| Ministry of Development, Annex I, cost of formation through a chamber ΥΜΣ (June 2025) | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ-I-ΚΟΣΤΟΣ-ΣΥΣΤΑΣΗΣ-ΜΕΣΩ-ΥΜΣ.docx | 2026-10-30 |
| Ministry of Development, legal framework of the ΥΜΣ (template articles) | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/thesmiko-plaisio-genikes-plirofories/ | 2026-10-30 |
| Ministry of Development, services for company formation (e-ΥΜΣ, name check, cost calculator) | https://gge.mindev.gov.gr/tomeas-emporiou/ypiresies-gia-systasi-etaireias-eggrafi-ypokatastimatos-sto-gemh/ | 2026-10-30 |
| e-ΥΜΣ cost calculator (cites ΚΥΑ 38164/2025) | https://eyms.businessportal.gr/cost | 2026-10-30 |
| Pack skills for the tax figures: gr-corporate-income-tax (ITC art. 68, ν. 3986/2011 art. 31), greece-vat-return (VAT Code arts. 41, 44α), gr-payroll | skills/international/greece/ | 2026-10-30 |

Not yet confirmed: the Law 4548/2018 rules on how much ΑΕ capital is paid in at formation and when (the earlier version said fully paid at incorporation; the official text in ΦΕΚ Α' 104/2018 and its amendments up to Law 5317/2026 could not be opened, so only the EUR 25,000 minimum from the ministry page is stated); whether the EUR 10 GEMI registration fee is charged on top of the EUR 18 online formation fee (ΚΥΑ art. 5(5) replaces only the formation fee; the e-ΥΜΣ calculator gives the exact total); amendments to Law 4072/2012 after 28.4.2023; how a non-resident, non-EU founder obtains a Greek ΑΦΜ (the earlier version said in person at the tax office or through a tax representative); the 1 to 4 week and 2 to 3 month practical timelines in the earlier version (no official source); the Law 4308/2014 deadline for approving and publishing annual financial statements; notary and lawyer fees.

## Today's figures and who stands behind this skill

This file is an AI skill (tax rules your AI follows) from OpenAccountants, copied on 2026-10-30. Rates, thresholds and deadlines change. For the current version of this skill, its official sources and the named accountant (if any) who stands behind it, call `get_skill` with slug `gr-company-formation` on the OpenAccountants connector (https://www.openaccountants.com/connect), or read https://www.openaccountants.com/skills/gr-company-formation. If neither is available, confirm every figure against the official source pages cited above before relying on it.