Montenegro: Tax treatment of purchase of antivirus software licenses from foreign companies

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: Tax treatment of purchase of antivirus software licenses from foreign companies

zivkovic.jpg

Jelena Zivkovic

Production of antivirus software systems and other services related to software products are defined as special way of providing intellectual services in areas of complex science projects, especially programming, projecting and realisation. The Montenegrin VAT Law prescribes for the purchase of antivirus system software and other products related to software products that are produced in a foreign country for a Montenegrin company being subject to VAT at the rate of 17% in Montenegro (country of origin of customer). The tax base is the purchase price.

In addition, according to the Corporate Income Tax Law, the taxpayer is obliged to calculate, withhold and pay withholding tax (WHT) at the rate of 9% on payments made to non-residents in respect of interest, royalties and other intellectual property rights, capital gains, lease of immovable and movable property, the fees based on consulting services, market research services and audit services.

Since the local legislation recognises computer software as special way of intellectual services, WHT is payable in the case of the transfer of antivirus software copyrights for using antivirus systems for resale or in case of its further development.

In case of the procurement of an antivirus system for a company's internal usage, there is no obligation of WHT payment.

Jelena Zivkovic (jelena.zivkovic@eurofast.eu)

Eurofast Global, Podgorica Office, Montenegro

Tel: +382 20 228 490

Website: www.eurofast.eu

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The case sits within a context of Brazil signalling that it is replacing informal discretion and ambiguity with structures that reward analytical rigour, one expert tells ITR
Jeff Soar lifts the lid on WTS UK’s ambitious recruitment plans, the firm's positioning against the big four, and why tax is the perfect profession for AI
The move reinforces Milan’s role as a key European hub for international business, the firm said
Australia’s government has also announced that it will implement the pillar two side-by-side agreement
Sara Morgan is due to join Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen as a partner in London, ITR understands
The newly combined tax team has already worked on thousands of joint client matters, leaders from McDermott Will & Schulte tell ITR
As AI becomes increasingly intuitive and idiot-proof, its tax applicability is becoming impossible to overstate
New data on public CbCR showed uneven adoption, as Singapore advanced pillar two compliance and firms expanded their tax capabilities
Nearly two years after its publication, the Corporate Tax Roadmap is reshaping the UK’s TP framework through incremental reforms focused on scope, transparency and earlier HMRC intervention
With a stark divergence between MNEs that prepared early and those rushing to catch up, advisers must remain agile with all manner of compliance risks
Gift this article