Starting a company in Norway – registration, taxes, accounting

Planning to start a company in Norway? We know how to do it

Norway is one of the most attractive markets in Europe – stable economy, high purchasing power, huge public procurement market worth more than 600 billion kroner a year. More and more Polish entrepreneurs are choosing to register a company in Norway. And rightly so.

But entering the Norwegian market is not only a good idea and courage. It's also dozens of specific legal, tax and administrative obligations – and serious consequences for failing to meet them.

At Aider Poland, we've been through this before. Many times. We provide accounting services for Polish entrepreneurs at every stage of entering the Norwegian market – from choosing a business structure and registering a company in Norway, to HR and payroll services, to ongoing accounting – and we will gladly guide you through it.

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How to start a company in Norway? The most important information before you start

Before starting a business, it's a good idea to determine the business model, the scale of operations and the level of responsibility you want to bear as an entrepreneur. In practice, it is the choice of legal form that affects the way you settle accounts, the extent of administrative responsibilities and the level of risk.

What legal form should you choose?

The most popular options for foreign entrepreneurs are:

Branch Office (NUF) – the simplest way to get started. It is not a separate legal entity – it operates as part of your Polish company. It does not limit your liability, but allows you to quickly establish a presence in the market. Regardless of the form you choose, each branch is required to keep accounts according to Norwegian rules. Aider Polska provides full accounting and tax services for NUF branches operating in Norway.

Company Ltd. (AS) – the equivalent of a Polish limited liability company. Minimum share capital is only NOK 30,000 (about EUR 2,600). Requires a board of directors, articles of incorporation and accounting according to Norwegian standards (GAAP). As a separate legal entity, it protects the owner's assets.

Partnership (ANS, DA, KS) – various variants, different division of liability among partners. Less frequently chosen by foreign entrepreneurs, but very practical in some industries.

The choice of the form of business in Norway depends on your plans, industry and level of risk. We will help you choose the solution best suited to your company's needs – and ensure compliance with Norwegian regulations from day one.

Registration of a company in Norway – step by step

Procedures for setting up a company in Norway mainly include:

Choosing a form of business (NUF, AS or other structure),
Registration with the Brønnøysund Register Centre,
Obtaining a Norwegian organization number (org.nr), necessary for signing contracts, issuing invoices, hiring employees and communicating with authorities,
Registration in the Altinn administrative system, which allows most formalities to be completed electronically,
VAT registration (if required),
Registration of employees and employer responsibilities.

If you are hiring employees in Norway, you will face additional responsibilities such as registration of employees, RF-1198 and RF-1199 reports, HSE cards on construction sites, D numbers for foreigners. Aider Poland takes over the handling of these formalities comprehensively.

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VAT and business taxation in Norway

The Norwegian VAT rate is 25% (15% for food, 12% for transportation and accommodation). VAT registration is mandatory once you exceed the threshold of NOK 50,000 in turnover within 12 months.

Important: Norway is not a member of the EU, which means different rules for importing and exporting goods and services than you are used to in intra-EU trade.

Non-EU/EEA companies without a permanent place of business in Norway must operate through a Norwegian VAT representative. Polish companies are covered by this obligation – Aider Poland can fulfill this role and handle your VAT settlements in Norway comprehensively.

Corporate income tax

The standard CIT rate in Norway is 22%. Tax losses can be carried forward indefinitely.

Will your company be subject to tax in Norway? It depends on whether a so-called permanent establishment is established. Norway has double taxation treaties with about 90 countries, including Poland. The assessment of the tax situation must be carried out individually – and this is what we do. As part of Aider Polska's accounting outsourcing, we calculate taxes, keep an eye on deadlines and submit returns electronically via Altinn.

If you are part of a corporate group – remember that the Norwegian tax authorities look particularly closely at transfer pricing. Documentation must confirm the market nature of intra-group transactions.

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Employment of workers and payroll in Norway

Employees posted to Norway are subject to Norwegian labor laws – in many industries there is a minimum wage set by collective agreements.

As an employer, you are obligated to:

deduct and remit advance payments for the employee's income tax,
pay social security contributions (employee – 7.7%, employer – up to 14.1%),
provide employees with a pension plan (a minimum of 2% of gross salary),
insurance against accidents at work.

Calculating salaries in accordance with Norwegian law is an area where it is easy to make a costly mistake, which is why many entrepreneurs choose to outsource HR and payroll services. Aider Polska assumes full responsibility - for monthly payroll, A-melding reports, contribution settlements, reporting and compliance with local regulations.

Employees from EU/EEA countries can work in Norway without a visa, but must register with the police within 3 months of arrival. Workers from outside the EU/EEA need a work permit before departure.

Accounting in Norway – obligations of the entrepreneur

Every company operating in Norway – regardless of legal form or industry – must keep its books in accordance with Norwegian GAAP. The tax return is filed electronically through Altinn by the end of May of the year following the tax year.

For many entrepreneurs, outsourcing accounting is the safest solution when doing business abroad. Aider Poland provides comprehensive accounting for companies in Norway, including:

bookkeeping,
tax settlements,
VAT reporting,
filing of declarations,
monitoring administrative deadlines.

We serve any type of business – from a one-person NUF branch to larger companies with an extensive structure.

The audit obligation arises when the turnover exceeds NOK 7 million – we will help you prepare for it.

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Consequences of failure to comply with obligations

Norwegian tax authorities actively inspect foreign companies - especially on larger construction projects, where inspections are conducted jointly by the tax authority, labor inspectorate and police.

Failure to comply with administrative obligations or reporting errors can lead to:

high financial penalties (NOK 60,000 per document),
tax adjustments,
accrual of interest,
problems in the execution of public contracts,
loss of credibility with business partners.

That's why companies that opt for Aider Polska's accounting services right from the start save themselves not only time, but also serious money.

Aider Poland - your partner for doing business in Norway

You already know that Norway is a worthwhile market. You also know that it has its own rules.

Aider Polska knows those rules inside out. We help Polish companies enter the Norwegian market safely and efficiently - from choosing a legal form and registration, through payroll and ongoing accounting outsourcing, to tax settlements and audit support. Our accounting services cover any type of business and any legal form.

Are you planning to establish a company in Norway? Contact us - tell us about your plans and we will guide you through the process step by step.

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FAQ – Establishing a company in Norway

- To set up a company in Norway, you need to choose the appropriate form of business (usually NUF or AS), register the entity with the Brønnøysund Register Centre, obtain an organizational number and , depending on the type of business, register VAT and employees.
- The cost depends on the form of business chosen. For an AS company, the minimum share capital is NOK 30,000. In addition, the cost of registration, bookkeeping and possible tax service should be taken into account.
- The most common forms chosen are NUF foreign branch and AS limited liability company. The choice depends on the planned scale of operations, the liability of the owners and the tax model.
- CIT in Norway is 22% as standard. Companies may also be subject to VAT registration once they exceed the NOK 50,000 turnover threshold in a 12-month period.
- Yes. A Polish company can operate in Norway through an NUF branch or the establishment of a local AS company. Tax and accounting responsibilities depend on the business model.
- Yes. Any company doing business in Norway is required to keep its accounts in accordance with local regulations and file the required returns through the Altinn system.