Business in Bolivia

Bolivia’s business system is functionally covered but distributed among several authorities; there is no single national office for all business matters. Small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as some informal microenterprises, shape everyday practice. The appropriate procedure depends on the legal form, activity, turnover, employment, imports or exports, and the specific municipio. Possible legal forms include an empresa unipersonal, also known as a comerciante individual, a Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), a Sociedad Anónima (SA), a sociedad colectiva, a comandita simple, or, for foreign companies, a sucursal or representación permanente. An empresa unipersonal is operated by a natural person, who may have at most one registrable unit of this type. In an SRL, liability is generally limited to the contributions. In a sociedad colectiva, the partners are jointly and unlimitedly liable; in a comandita simple, the gestor has unlimited liability, while the comanditario’s liability relates to its contribution. In an SA, shareholders bear risk up to their subscribed contributions, and the capital is divided into tradable shares. SEPREC maintains the commercial register and, with the commercial registration certificate (Matrícula de Comercio), grants trader status or registers the company. Name reservation takes three business days for an empresa unipersonal, ten business days for an SRL, sociedad colectiva, or comandita, and twenty business days for an SA. The application is submitted through ciudadanía digital. Companies generally also need an Escritura Pública, a power of attorney where applicable, and publication in the Gaceta. Foreign companies may additionally need evidence of representation, residence authorization, and immigration status. The fees and deadlines published by SEPREC should be checked again in the portal before payment. For an empresa unipersonal, SEPREC states Bs 130 and processing within 24 hours starting on the day after payment. For an SRL, sociedad colectiva, or comandita, SEPREC states Bs 455 plus Bs 192 for the Gaceta; processing takes place within 24 hours after physical submission or through the online form. Taxable natural and legal persons, empresas unipersonales, and foreign companies resident in Bolivia generally require registration with the National Tax Service (SIN) or in the Registro Nacional de Contribuyentes (RNC), and a Número de Identificación Tributaria (NIT). For an in-person application, the NIT may be issued immediately under RND 102600000002. An online application may nevertheless require a visit to the platform for biometric registration and document verification. Under the Régimen General (RG), typical cases involve a 13 percent IVA rate, a 3 percent IT rate, and a 25 percent IUE on profits. IVA is value-added tax, IT is the transactions tax, and IUE is the corporate income tax. The specific activity and applicable tax regime determine which forms, returns, and payments are due through SIAT. Businesses under the RG issue invoices for taxable sales and services. Assigned RG groups 9 to 12 must invoice online under the extended rule starting October 1, 2026. The Régimen Tributario Simplificado (RTS) is intended for certain natural persons engaged in small-scale trade, handicrafts, and street vending. The payment is made every two months and depends on capital; invoices are not issued under this regime. Certain activities, such as trading in household appliances, goods subject to the excise tax (ICE), or activities under STI or RAU, are excluded and do not automatically fall under the RTS. SIETE-RG may be relevant for an empresa unipersonal or self-employed professional if projected turnover or turnover is no more than Bs 250,000 and there are no more than two establishments. The regime requires acceptance of electronic instruments and uses a Monotributo, meaning a flat payment every two months of 5 percent instead of IVA, IT, and IUE. The invoice issued does not provide an input-tax credit or tax deduction. Above Bs 250,000 or after three years, automatic migration to the RG may occur; current reform announcements must not be confused with the rule already in force. The Matrícula de Comercio does not replace a municipal license or patente, nor permits for health, environmental, safety, or regulated-sector requirements. Depending on the location, the responsible authority is the Autonomous Municipal Government (Gobierno Autónomo Municipal); fees, inspections, and deadlines differ between municipios and cannot be stated uniformly without a specific city. Therefore, an activity may require additional local or sectoral approvals despite SEPREC registration and an NIT. During operation, the business must renew the Matrícula annually. SEPREC states Bs 260 for an empresa unipersonal, Bs 455 for an SRL, sociedad colectiva, or comandita, and Bs 584.50 for an SA, SAM, comandita por acciones, E.F.V., or foreign company. If the NIT is active, renewal is immediate; otherwise, a deadline of up to 48 hours applies starting on the day after payment. The address, contact details, financial year, and beneficial-owner information should remain current. A beneficial owner is initially a natural person with at least 20 percent direct or indirect participation, otherwise a person exercising control by other means, and only thereafter the highest management level. Changes are reported through SEPREC Trámite 46; failure to report may be referred to the AEMP. The National Intellectual Property Service (SENAPI) is responsible for trademarks. A trademark application is not mandatory in every case, but it may be practically decisive for protecting the sign. National and foreign natural or legal persons may submit an application using PI-100, the Nice Classification, and, where applicable, a power of attorney. Protection lasts ten years and may be renewed for additional ten-year periods. The official SENAPI website states Bs 750 for SENAPI and Bs 255 for the Gaceta; differing fee information should be checked before payment. A nombre comercial may already be protected through first use and can be registered for ten years. The PRO-BOLIVIA production-support program (PRO-BOLIVIA) offers registration or accreditation for producing and processing businesses with value creation, from MYPEs to larger businesses and producer associations. Recognition may enable a 20 percent preference in government procurement as well as training and technical support. Pure buying and selling, imports, and mere commercialization do not fall within this support area. PRO-BOLIVIA replaces neither the Matrícula de Comercio nor the NIT or municipal and sectoral permits. For exports, the Unified Export Registry (RUEX) is mandatory with the National Foreign Trade Verification Service (SENAVEX) for a unidad productiva or comercializadora. A digital signature is required; according to the research, the fee is Bs 182 for a company and Bs 142 for an empresa unipersonal or natural person. SENAVEX may issue the RUEX within no more than two hours after complete submission to the responsible RRCO. Validity is three years, or five years for an OEA. Imports additionally require registration in the OCE-Padrón of the National Customs Authority (Aduana Nacional). Natural persons may act as non-regular importers under certain conditions without an in-person procedure using an NIT or identity document; legal persons and empresas unipersonales that import regularly generally require in-person registration with an NIT, identity document, power of attorney, and Matrícula. OEA status is voluntary and free of charge. When ending an empresa unipersonal, SEPREC provides for Trámite 40 with a form, final balance sheet, and renewed Matrícula; SEPREC states 24 hours and Bs 272. A company, by contrast, goes through dissolution, liquidation, and cancellation. This may require an inventory, final balance sheet, distribution plan, Escritura, shareholder resolutions, and information about the liquidator. For SRLs and comparable company forms, SEPREC states Bs 680.50 plus Bs 192 for the Gaceta; for SAs and certain other company forms, Bs 875 plus Bs 192. Afterwards, the tax data must be suspended, inactivated, or deleted with the SIN, depending on the status. Outstanding tax obligations are not automatically settled by termination; temporary suspension is also not the same as final closure. Formal operation may require, depending on the case, records or accounting, tax returns and payments, invoicing, renewal of the Matrícula, beneficial-owner reports, and municipal and sectoral permits. Employees also introduce adjacent employment-law matters; bank accounts and financing primarily belong to the banking area. These topics may be necessary for operation but do not constitute a separate business registration.