# Serbia: taxes, residence and cost of living

Source: https://domicile.wiki/places/serbia/ (domicile.wiki, researched 2026-10-15). Data licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Research, not tax or legal advice.

## At a glance

For an EU-citizen family of five living off a EUR 30M portfolio (the guide's default reader).

- Score for a wealthy family: 64 / 100
- Can EU citizens live here?: Temporary residence on property ownership
- Can US citizens live here?: Temporary residence on property ownership
- Other passports: Temporary residence on property ownership
- Tax on a €30M portfolio: €125,100 a year
- Wealth tax: none
- Children inherit: tax-free
- Living costs, family of five: €209,173 a year
- EU member: no
- Currency: RSD
- Capital: Belgrade

## Tax on investments, inheritance and wealth

Serbia (non-EU) taxes residents' worldwide dividends and capital gains at a flat 15%, with capital gains exempt after 10 years of holding and a step-up to market value on arrival for foreign shares. No wealth tax; no inheritance or gift tax for children, and shares/securities are outside inheritance tax altogether. No special regime for wealthy arrivals.

- **Ordinary tax residence**: Ordinary residence; worldwide income taxed.

## Income tax

Flat 10% salary tax with a monthly non-taxable amount (about RSD 25,000 per CountryTaxCalc; not applied here), plus employee contributions of 19.9% (self-employed entrepreneurs pay 35.05%) (14% pension, 5.15% health, 0.75% unemployment). A supplementary annual personal income tax of 10% above three times the average annual salary and a further rate above six times applies to high earners (thresholds not given in RSD).

## How to get residence

Serbia is not in the EU, so EU citizens need a residence permit too. There is no investor visa and no dedicated digital nomad visa. Permits are issued on grounds such as employment, owning a company, owning residential property (no minimum value), study or family, as a single permit for up to 36 months. Permanent residence comes after 3 years and citizenship 3 years after that.

- **Single permit (residence and work) on employment** (Work; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): A single permit covers residence and work together for up to 36 months, renewable, on the basis of an employment contract.
- **Residence as owner of a company or entrepreneur** (Entrepreneur; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Foreigners can found a company (d.o.o.) or register as an entrepreneur and receive a single permit on that basis; the business must show real activity.
- **Temporary residence on property ownership** (Passive income / retirement; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Owning a residential building or flat in Serbia that the foreigner lives in is a recognised ground for a temporary residence permit. There is no minimum property value.
- **Freelancer / remote worker (self-employment permit, no nomad visa)** (Digital nomad; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Serbia has no dedicated digital nomad visa; remote workers register a sole proprietorship or company and apply for a single permit. Guides disagree on the income needed.

Citizenship: Three years of continuous permanent residence (itself after 3 years of temporary residence), plus release from the previous citizenship; Ministry of Interior has discretion.

## Inheritance law and trusts

Descendants and the spouse are guaranteed half of their intestate share, with a smaller share for parents and other close relatives. Serbia has no trust law and is outside the Hague Trusts Convention. Foundations serve public benefit.

## Daily life (0-100, higher is better)

- Safety and personal security: 66
- Political and institutional stability: 48
- Corruption and government integrity: 35
- Legal system and property rights: 43
- Healthcare quality and access: 64
- Education quality: 38
- Human development and quality of life: 67
- Infrastructure and connectivity: 67
- Cost of living and housing: 79
- Business opportunities and economy: 59
- Cultural fit and lifestyle: 53

## Research notes

### Serbia — family-office tax dossier

Last reviewed: 2026-10-15
Tax year: 2026
Reviewer: research agent (Claude), unreviewed by a tax adviser

#### Summary

Serbia (non-EU) taxes residents' worldwide dividends and capital gains at a flat 15%, with capital gains exempt after 10 years of holding and a step-up to market value on arrival for foreign shares. No wealth tax; no inheritance or gift tax for children, and shares/securities are outside inheritance tax altogether. No special regime for wealthy arrivals.

#### Residence and eligibility

Resident if residence or centre of business and vital interests in Serbia, or present 183+ days (continuously or not) in a 12-month period beginning or ending in the tax year; treaty tie-breakers prevail.

- Temporary residence (single permit): Serbia is not in the EU; all foreigners need a temporary residence permit on a recognised ground (work, business, family, property ownership etc.). Grounds and conditions for 2026 not verified.

#### Capital gains

Capital gains of resident individuals on shares, securities and real estate are taxed at a flat 15%, worldwide, self-assessed. Gains on assets held continuously for at least 10 years are exempt. For shares in non-resident companies acquired before becoming resident, the cost base is the market value on the day the person became resident (step-up on arrival).

Exemptions: Art. 72a: no gain on rights acquired by inheritance in the first order; transfers between spouses and direct-line relatives; assets held continuously 10+ years; government/central bank debt securities. Art. 79: real estate proceeds reinvested in own housing in Serbia within 90 days (refund if within 12 months). Cost is CPI-indexed (art. 74).

Exceptions: Art. 74(9): for shares in non-resident companies, if the taxpayer was not resident at acquisition and for at least six months after, the acquisition cost is the market value on the day residence began. Capital gains are not included in the annual (10%/15%) additional income tax. Digital assets are taxed separately (15%).

Holding period: Exempt if held continuously for at least 10 years (art. 72a).

Foreign assets: Worldwide; foreign tax credit capped at Serbian tax. Step-up to market value on arrival for shares in non-resident companies (art. 74(9)).

Professional trader: Habitual trading could be reclassified as self-employment income; no specific guidance found.

JSON numbers: headline 0.15; all asset-class rates 0.15. Flat 15% (art. 77) on gains held under 10 years; 0% after 10 years of continuous holding. No local surtax.

#### Dividends

Dividends are capital income taxed at a flat 15% on the gross amount: withheld on Serbian dividends, self-assessed on foreign dividends with a credit for foreign tax up to the Serbian tax.

Exemptions: Interest on dinar savings and government bonds is exempt.

Exceptions: Capital income is not included in the annual additional income tax (10%/15% above three times the average salary).

JSON numbers: domestic 0.15, foreign gross 0.15, relief by credit. Art. 64: 'Stopa poreza na prihode od kapitala iznosi 15%'. No surtax.

Outbound withholding: 20% WHT on dividends paid to non-residents (also 20% to tax havens), reducible by treaty.

Treaties: About 68 treaties (PwC list), including most EU states, UK, Switzerland, UAE, China, Russia; no treaty with the United States.

#### Inheritance and gifts to children

Inheritance and gift tax applies to real estate, cash, deposits, claims, digital assets, IP and vehicles, but shares and securities are outside its scope. First-order heirs (children, spouse) and the deceased's parents, and first-order donees, pay no tax. Other heirs pay 1.5% (second order) or 2.5% (others).

Exemptions: Art. 21(1)(1) Law on Property Taxes: exempt for the first-order heir, spouse and parent of the deceased, and first-order donees. Art. 14(4): shares and securities excluded; RSD 100,000 per year per category from the same person excluded.

Exceptions: Since 2022 local governments administer inheritance and gift tax. Inheritance by first-order heirs also gives no capital gain (art. 72a PIT law).

Gifts: Same rules as inheritance: first-order donees exempt; others 1.5%/2.5%. Gifts of shares/securities are outside the tax.

JSON: basis beneficiary, children fully_exempt, exemption 0, brackets none (children untaxed), other transfer cost 0.
- Surviving spouse (`spouse_treatment` `fully_exempt`): Spouse is exempt (Art. 21(1)(1)); securities are outside scope.

#### Wealth tax

Serbia has no net wealth tax and no recurring levy on financial assets.

Property tax (not a wealth tax): Annual local property tax on real estate: for individuals not keeping books, progressive rates capped at 0.40% (base up to RSD 10m) rising to 2.0% for the highest bands; land up to 0.30%; municipalities set rates within the caps (art. 11 Law on Property Taxes).

#### Special regimes

None. No special tax regime for newly arriving wealthy individuals was found; only the standard regime is recorded.

#### Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

CIT rate in JSON: 0.15. CIT 15%, no local income taxes. 20% WHT on dividends to non-residents, reducible by treaty.

#### Cost of living notes

City: Belgrade (Dedinje / Senjak).

- Prime rent (monthly): EUR 4,000 (2026). Median asking rent of 27 houses for rent in Dedinje and Senjak (Savski venac) with 5–7 rooms (Serbian count, about 4–5 bedrooms) and at least 200 m², from the first 12 pages (239 listings) of 4zida.rs Belgrade houses-for-rent on 2026-10-15; range EUR 2,300–8,000. Larger villas (8+ rooms, 550 m²+) ask EUR 6,000–12,000. Asking prices on a listing portal. Source: Izdavanje kuća Beograd: https://www.4zida.rs/izdavanje-kuca/beograd
- International school (annual, per child): USD 28,945 (2026). International School of Belgrade (Dedinje; IB), 2026/27 tuition for Grades 9–12 incl. IB Diploma: USD 28,945 a year, plus a capital fee of EUR 3,000 for new students (EUR 1,500 returning), USD 500 application and USD 1,000 registration fee. Source: ISB Tuition Fees: https://www.isb.rs/admissions/isb-tuition-fees

Health insurance and housekeeper costs not sourced.

#### Open questions

- How the 10-year holding test applies to portfolios with repeated purchases (FIFO lots) was not checked.
- No individual exit tax found; not confirmed against legislation.
- Probate court fees not quantified.
- Residence permit grounds for 2026 not verified.
- PIT law amendments in 2026 appear to concern employment incentives only; not fully reviewed.

#### Sources

- Zakon o porezu na dohodak građana (consolidated), arts. 7, 12, 61, 64, 72, 72a, 74, 75, 77, 79, 87-89: https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_porezu_na_dohodak_gradjana.html
- Serbia – Individual – Income determination: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/individual/income-determination
- Serbia – Corporate – Withholding taxes: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/corporate/withholding-taxes
- Zakon o porezima na imovinu (consolidated to Sl. glasnik RS 94/2024), arts. 11, 14-21, 30: https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon_o_porezima_na_imovinu.html
- Serbia – Corporate – Other taxes: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/corporate/other-taxes
- Poreski informator: Porez na nasleđe i poklon (July 2025): https://www.purs.gov.rs/upload/media/2025/7/28/760050/informator_POREZ_NA_NASLEDJE_I_POKLON.pdf
- Quick charts – Inheritance and gift tax rates: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/quick-charts/inheritance-and-gift-tax-rates
- Serbia – Individual – Residence: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/individual/residence
- Serbia – Corporate – Taxes on corporate income: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income
- Izdavanje kuća Beograd: https://www.4zida.rs/izdavanje-kuca/beograd
- ISB Tuition Fees: https://www.isb.rs/admissions/isb-tuition-fees

#### Change log

- 2026-10-15: initial research.
- 2026-10-15: phase 2 data-quality pass: added Belgrade cost of living (Dedinje/Senjak prime house rent EUR 4,000/month median from 4zida.rs; International School of Belgrade Grades 9-12 USD 28,945 for 2026/27).
- 2026-10-15: family rent re-checked against the upper-middle-class standard: kept.
- 2026-10-16: added surviving-spouse treatment.


## Residence and succession sources

- [Serbia Residence Permit](https://wiki.private.law/en/serbia-residence) — private.law wiki
- [Law on Foreigners Serbia: Key Changes in 2026](https://zuniclaw.com/en/law-on-foreigners-serbia/) — Zunic Law
- [How to Get Serbian Citizenship in 2026?](https://zuniclaw.com/en/how-to-get-serbian-citizenship/) — Zunic Law
- [Serbia - Individual - Residence](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/serbia/individual/residence) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries
- [Residency in Serbia 2026](https://www.libertymundo.com/residency-in-serbia-2/) — Liberty Mundo
- [HCCH status table: Convention of 1 July 1985 on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=59) — Hague Conference on Private International Law
- [Forced heirs in the former Yugoslavia (comparative study)](https://asistent.ceon.rs/index.php/zrpfns/en/article/view/7540) — Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta Novi Sad