Accounting in Georgia (the country) is manageable — but it is not optional. Whether you operate as an Individual Entrepreneur (I/E) with Small Business Status or through a Georgian LLC, there is a fixed monthly and annual rhythm of filings; a US LLC adds the US deadlines on top. And as of July 2026, the I/E’s monthly return is mandatory even in months with zero turnover.
The monthly rhythm
I/E with Small Business Status: the turnover return runs via the rs.ge portal, and the 1% is paid on monthly turnover (up to GEL 500,000 annual turnover; above that, 3% on the excess from the month the threshold is crossed). Fundamentals: Georgia’s 1% tax. The routine each month:
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Reconcile documents and bank statements
Match invoices, incoming payments and accounts as you go — not at the deadline.
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File the turnover return by the 15th of the following month
Via rs.ge — since 7 March 2026 mandatory even at zero turnover.
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Pay the 1% on monthly turnover
On time with the return; 3% on the excess once the status threshold is crossed.
Georgian LLC: corporate income tax follows the Estonian model — 15% arises only on profit distribution; retained earnings stay untaxed. The CIT return is filed monthly; tax is due in months with distributions, plus a 5% dividend withholding tax at shareholder level. With employees, monthly payroll tax (20%) and pension declarations come on top.
VAT: registration only becomes mandatory at GEL 100,000 of taxable turnover in 12 months. Export services to foreign clients are generally not taxable in Georgia — for the typical export freelancer, VAT is usually irrelevant (case-by-case review for real-estate-related services or events held in Georgia).
The annual level and the calendar at a glance
Annually, the following are added: financial statements per company size category and the transfer pricing report — Georgia has implemented the OECD transfer pricing rules, and since 2026 an annual report on international transactions with related parties must be filed with the Revenue Service (annex to the corporate income tax return, deadline 15 April). The key point is the high threshold: the reporting obligation only applies once these controlled cross-border transactions exceed GEL 500,000 per year in total — for most smaller structures the topic is simply not relevant yet. It matters mainly for grown holding and director structures, where a local file documentation should be prepared alongside the report. On top of that, a Wyoming LLC files Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 by 15 April (extension via Form 7004; filing only by fax or mail to the IRS Ogden center) plus the Wyoming Annual Report (approx. USD 62–150 per year). Details: US LLC + Georgia.
| Rhythm / date | Obligation | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly, by the 15th of the following month | Turnover return + 1% payment (even at zero turnover!) | I/E with SBS |
| Monthly | CIT return (tax due only on distribution) | Georgian LLC |
| Monthly | Payroll tax and pension declaration | LLC/I/E with employees |
| Monthly | VAT return (only if VAT-registered) | Registered businesses |
| Ongoing | Document filing, bank reconciliation, invoicing | Everyone |
| Annually | Financial statements per company category | Georgian LLC |
| Annually, 15 April | Transfer pricing report (only if controlled cross-border transactions exceed GEL 500,000/year) | Group structures |
| Annually, 15 April | Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 to the IRS | US LLC |
| Annually | Wyoming Annual Report | US LLC |
Typical mistakes in ongoing operations
- The missed zero return. The most common new mistake since March 2026. If you no longer use the business at all, deregister it properly instead of letting it sit: Company liquidation in Georgia.
- Mixed accounts. Running private and business payments through the same account makes bookkeeping expensive and any tax audit unpleasant — a separate business account is non-negotiable.
- Missing documentation. The Revenue Service examines substance — invoices, contracts and payment records must match. Reconstructing records after the fact is always more expensive than filing them as you go.
- Home-country deadline logic. If you think in German or Austrian annual filing rhythms, you will miss Georgia’s 15th-of-the-following-month cycle — the rhythm here is monthly, not yearly.
- Underestimating US compliance. The 5472/1120 round looks like a formality but costs USD 25,000 per form per year if missed — the most expensive “small detail” in the entire calendar.
Accounting with BAUER GROUP Georgia
BGGE handles ongoing accounting as part of the full company lifecycle: the I/E package from GEL 350/month (monthly returns including zero filings, payment monitoring, document management) and the LLC package from GEL 600/month (CIT, payroll and VAT declarations where applicable, annual reporting, distribution resolutions). German-speaking and digital: ERPNext-based, with handling of official correspondence included — letters from the Revenue Service land with us and are answered on time.
FAQ
FAQ
As an I/E, do I really have to file every month even without revenue?
Yes. Since 7 March 2026, the monthly return is mandatory even at zero turnover; failure to file is treated as a tax offence. The deadline is the 15th of the following month.
When does my Georgian LLC actually pay corporate income tax?
Under the Estonian model, only on profit distribution (15%) — retained earnings remain untaxed. Returns are filed monthly; in months without distributions, no CIT arises. Distributions to individuals additionally carry 5% dividend withholding tax.
Do I need VAT registration as an export freelancer?
Generally no. The GEL 100,000 threshold only counts turnover that is taxable in Georgia; services to foreign clients with a place of supply abroad are generally not taxable. Special cases (real-estate-related services, events in Georgia) require individual review.
Which US deadlines apply to my Wyoming LLC?
Annually: Form 5472 with pro-forma 1120 by 15 April (extension possible via Form 7004; filing only by fax or mail to IRS Ogden), plus the Wyoming Annual Report. The penalty for a missed 5472 is USD 25,000 per form per year.
What does ongoing accounting with BGGE cost?
From GEL 350/month for an I/E and from GEL 600/month for an LLC — German-speaking, ERPNext-based, with handling of official correspondence included. The exact price depends on document volume and headcount.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. If you are or remain taxable in your home country, you must declare foreign income and accounts there — always involve a tax adviser in your home country for cross-border structures. Last updated July 2026; subject to changes in law.