All three countries are actively competing for IT businesses, each with its own special tax regime, and each with nuances worth knowing before you sign anything. Let’s go through it properly.
Virtual Zone Person (VZP) status gives an IT company 0% corporate income tax on revenue from foreign clients and 0% VAT on exported services. When distributing dividends, 5% withholding tax applies. Reinvested profits are not taxed.
The regime only covers income from foreign clients — if any revenue comes from Georgian customers, that portion is taxed at standard rates (15% corporate income tax, 18% VAT).
An important change that came into force in 2026: foreign entrepreneurs in Georgia now need a mandatory work permit from the Ministry of Labour. Without it, running a business is considered illegal. The permit takes 30–60 days to process and is valid for one year. Georgia has effectively closed the door on operating remotely without physical presence in the country.
The tax authority is also increasingly scrutinising real economic substance: you need employees with Georgian residency or demonstrable activity actually taking place in Georgia.
LLC registration takes 1 day, VZP status takes around 10 days. No minimum capital required.
Georgia works for those who are prepared to physically be there, obtain a work permit, and maintain a team in the country.
For IT companies with annual turnover up to around $300,000, a reduced turnover tax rate of 1% applies. This tax replaces both corporate income tax (18%) and VAT (20%) simultaneously — making the overall tax burden minimal.
Since 2025, a high-tech sector support programme has been in place: companies receive a 60% reimbursement on income tax paid for foreign specialists. From 2026 onwards, this reimbursement is paid directly to employees — making Armenia more attractive for hiring international talent.
Physical presence requirements are softer than in Georgia. LLC registration takes up to 5 working days and can be done fully online. 100% foreign ownership is permitted. CIS country citizens do not need apostille or document legalisation.
One thing to factor in: as of January 2026, a Social Number is mandatory for company registration — an additional preliminary step for foreigners that’s worth planning for in advance.
Armenia works well for small IT teams and startups looking for a low tax burden without strict physical presence requirements.
The Hi-Tech Park (HTP) has been operating since 2005. Its residents include Wargaming, EPAM and Viber. The regime is locked in by law until 2049 — an important detail for anyone planning long-term.
— 0% corporate income tax — Reduced personal income tax for employees — Simplified currency controls — Legal framework for crypto business — Elements of English law applicable in commercial contracts — Visa-free entry for foreign employees for up to 180 days
The HTP operates on an extraterritorial principle — a company can be located anywhere in Belarus and still receive all resident benefits.
A word on banking infrastructure: Belarusian banks — Priorbank, Belgazprombank, MTBank, Bank BelVEB — are well set up for international business. Accounts open quickly, multicurrency accounts in euros, dollars and other currencies are available, and internet banking supports English. For an IT company handling international payments, this is a practical point that tends to get overlooked in jurisdiction comparisons.
To obtain HTP resident status, you need to register a company, prepare a business plan and get approval from the HTP Supervisory Board. The process takes around one month. More detail in our separate guide on IT company registration in Belarus.
From our practice: a company from the Netherlands came to us having initially looked at Georgia. After reviewing the situation, it turned out that the majority of the team was already based in Belarus and the clients were primarily European. Registering in the HTP gave them 0% corporate tax and simplified conditions for hiring foreign developers — without having to relocate the team to another country.
Corporate income tax: Belarus (HTP) — 0%. Georgia (VZP) — 0% on revenue from foreign clients. Armenia — 1% turnover tax replacing both corporate income tax and VAT.
Dividends: Belarus — taxed at standard rate. Georgia — 5%. Armenia — 5%.
Physical presence: Belarus — real company activity in the country is important, physical presence for management not required. Georgia — since 2026, mandatory work permit for foreign entrepreneurs, strict substance checks. Armenia — requirements are softer.
Registration speed: Georgia — 1 day (LLC) + ~10 days (VZP status) + 30–60 days (work permit). Armenia — up to 5 days. Belarus — 1 day (LLC) + ~1 month (HTP status).
Regime stability: Belarus — HTP locked in until 2049. Georgia — regime being adjusted, new requirements introduced in 2026. Armenia — regimes subject to periodic revision.
Banking infrastructure: Belarus — well-developed, multicurrency accounts, English-language internet banking, convenient for international business. Georgia — well-developed, popular with international businesses. Armenia — sufficient for most needs, limited access to Stripe and PayPal.
Who should choose what
If your team is in Belarus or you plan to hire there — HTP is the logical choice: 0% corporate tax, solid banking infrastructure, and stable conditions for decades ahead.
If you are prepared to physically be in Georgia, obtain a work permit and maintain a team there — Virtual Zone still offers strong tax conditions.
If you are a small IT company with international clients looking for a straightforward entry without strict presence requirements — Armenia’s 1% turnover tax deserves serious consideration.
What is the corporate income tax rate for HTP residents in Belarus?
0% — and this regime is legally locked in until 2049.
What is the Virtual Zone in Georgia and how do you get it?
Virtual Zone Person (VZP) is a special status for IT companies providing 0% corporate income tax on revenue from foreign clients. It’s obtained after registering an LLC and takes around 10 days. Since 2026, a work permit from the Ministry of Labour is additionally required for foreign entrepreneurs.
Armenia or Belarus — which is better for an IT company?
It depends on team size, location and revenue structure. If the team is already in Belarus, HTP is the better choice in most cases. If the team is small and distributed, the specific numbers are worth calculating. Get in touch — we’ll work through your situation.
Can a Belarus IT company be managed remotely? Yes. Registration is handled through a representative under a power of attorney, and day-to-day management works through an electronic digital signature. For bank account opening, check requirements with the specific bank in advance.
The picture across these three jurisdictions shifted in 2026. Georgia tightened requirements for foreign entrepreneurs — without a work permit and real presence in the country, operating there is increasingly difficult. Armenia remains attractive for smaller teams with a low barrier to entry. Belarus with its HTP regime offers 0% corporate income tax, solid banking infrastructure and conditions that are stable for decades ahead.
If you want to work out what makes sense for your specific situation — write to us or get in touch directly:
📧 [email protected] 📞 +375 29 142 27 19
We respond within 2 hours on business days.
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