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Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

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Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#11

Post by [deleted] »

techsupporter wrote: post #8
xchaotic wrote: post #7

In most cases that setup does not absolve you from tax obligations where you live. I can see a benefit in setting up a business or branch in EU in general, if you have customers in EU. Otherwise why Estonia specifically?

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#12

Post by phragomax »

techsupporter wrote: post #8
xchaotic wrote: post #7

In most cases that setup does not absolve you from tax obligations where you live. I can see a benefit in setting up a business or branch in EU in general, if you have customers in EU. Otherwise why Estonia specifically?

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Sovereignty as a service.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#13

Post by pellefant »

phragomax wrote: post #12
techsupporter wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Sovereignty as a service.

Slavery as a service

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#15

Post by closeparen »

techsupporter wrote: post #8
xchaotic wrote: post #7

In most cases that setup does not absolve you from tax obligations where you live. I can see a benefit in setting up a business or branch in EU in general, if you have customers in EU. Otherwise why Estonia specifically?

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Ok, but if you don’t physically live in Estonia, who accepts your ID card or permits you to do business using only an Estonian corporation?

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#16

Post by closeparen »

samright wrote: post #4

You can register a company with it in 1 hour. Then open a bank account with Revolut Business and run it from anywhere in the world. It really depends on what you want to use it for.

How long did it take you figure out taxes/permits/liability for the Estonian entity in countries where you and your customers live?

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#17

Post by tuukkah »

closeparen wrote: post #15
techsupporter wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Ok, but if you don’t physically live in Estonia, who accepts your ID card or permits you to do business using only an Estonian corporation?

With an Estonian (electronic) ID card, you can incorporate and run the business online. An Estonian corporation is permitted to do business anywhere in the EU.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#18

Post by techsupporter »

closeparen wrote: post #15
techsupporter wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Ok, but if you don’t physically live in Estonia, who accepts your ID card or permits you to do business using only an Estonian corporation?

Anyone who wants to can accept the card (technically, the certificate stored on the smart card). For example, I use a domain registrar who registers .ee domains--thus requiring a digital signature from an Estonian ID--and can also use the card as a login mechanism. To be clear, the card isn't an ID in the sense of "here's my ID in person" (the card doesn't have a picture); it is a smart card with two digital certificates stored on it.

More to the point, though, is that Estonia provides a digital identity and signing system that, among other purposes, allows you to access Estonian government services like forming a company. Since you can form a business under Estonian law, you operate as part of the European Union single market.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#19

Post by techsupporter »

phragomax wrote: post #12
techsupporter wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Otherwise why Estonia specifically? Because the Estonian government is fairly unique in that it will issue an electronic identification card to anyone who requests it and passes a background check, permitting that person--regardless of nationality--to use most Estonian government services, like business registration and tax filing, from anywhere. https://e-resident.gov.ee/

Sovereignty as a service.

I suppose, but only in the same sense as governments around the world tend to have mechanisms for non-residents and non-citizens to transact business or own property. An Estonian identity certificate doesn't, on its own, allow someone to enter Estonia or live or work there. That still requires citizenship of Estonia, the European Union, or meeting other requirements.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone doing business using Estonian e-residency?

#20

Post by dbanisimov »

I am an e-resident and I used it to establish a business entity for my startup. It works really well for my particular use case.

I am a Canadian resident, my co-founder is an Estonian resident (physical). Both of these may change in the future and the intended market for our startup is global. Estonia was chosen as a common ground with a minimal overhead - it's easy and costs almost nothing.

Using government services with an ID-card was a breeze. For banking we use a "physical" Estonian bank, once set up I have no problem accessing it online either.

We didn't have any revenue the previous year, so cannot say much about taxation story here. It gets more or less complicated depending on your country of residence, but I don't think that having a business entity in Estonia is fundamentally different from other EU countries here.

Slightly more personal and readable story, written by me: https://medium.com/e-residency-blog/how-to-launch-an-estonia...

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