Montenegro: Witholding tax on dividends and its methodology

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Montenegro: Witholding tax on dividends and its methodology

zivkovic.jpg

Jelena Zivkovic

March 31 was the deadline in Montenegro for a number of statutory filings, particularly in the area of taxation and annual financial statements. This includes the annual balance sheets, income statements and annual tax reports after which the distribution of dividends is possible. As a first step in the process, companies are obligated to settle their liabilites for corporate income tax at the rate of 9%. After tax liabilities are settled, joint stock companies as well as limited liability companies are able to distribute dividends in line with the Law on Business Entitites and per the nominal value of the shares or percentage of ownership in the LLC.

Shareholders or owners of LLCs can be legal or physical entitites. Taxation of the distribution of dividends is done in line with the Law on Corporate Income Tax (for legal entities) or the Law on Personal Income Tax (for physical persons).

In cases when the shareholders or owners of an LLC are legal entitites, a withholding tax of 9% has to be calculated and paid against dividends according to Article 29 of Law on CIT.

In the other situation, when the shareholder or owner of an LLC is a physical person, the base for taxaton is the gross amount of the distributed dividend, on which a 9% tax should be calculated, witheld and paid by the company on behalf of the shareholder or owner per Article 50 of the Law on Peronsal Income tax. In addition to this, the dividend-distributing company should pay sur-tax (15% or 13% depending on the municipality where the company has a seat).

Jelena Zivkovic (jelena.zivkovic@eurofast.eu)

Eurofast Global, Podgorica Office

Tel: +382 20 228 490

Website: www.eurofast.eu

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

If Trump continues to poke the world’s ‘middle powers’ with a stick, he shouldn’t be surprised when they retaliate
The Netherlands-based bank was described as an ‘exemplar of total transparency’; in other news, Kirkland & Ellis made a senior tax hire in Dallas
Zion Adeoye, a tax specialist, had been suspended from the African law firm since October over misconduct allegations
The deal establishes Ryan’s property tax presence in Scotland and expands its ability to serve clients with complex commercial property portfolios across the UK, the firm said
Trump announced he will cut tariffs after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil; in other news, more than 300 delegates gathered at the OECD to discuss VAT fraud prevention
Taxpayers should support the MAP process by sharing accurate information early on and maintaining open communication with the competent authorities, the OECD also said
The Fortune 150 energy multinational is among more than 12 companies participating in the initiative, which ‘helps tax teams put generative AI to work’
The ruling excludes vacation and business development days from service PE calculations and confirms virtual services from abroad don’t count, potentially reshaping compliance for multinationals
User-friendly digital tax filing systems, transformative AI deployment, and the continued proliferation of DSTs will define 2026, writes Ascoria’s Neil Kelley
Case workers are ‘still not great’ but are making fewer enquiries, making the right decision more often and are more open to calls, ITR has heard
Gift this article