· 4-minute read
The Startup certificate: who gets it and what it saves
A three-year tax relief for small companies building a product from scratch. Who issues it, who can apply and what the relief covers.
The “Startup” certificate is issued by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA). An Expert Council at the agency reviews the applications, and through 2025 and 2026 a new list of companies has been announced every few months. The details are as of July 2026.
Who can apply
- Micro and small businesses.
- Those whose innovative project is still at the development stage.
- The form, the documents and the criteria are on KOBİA’s site, smb.gov.az.
What the relief covers
The certificate frees income from the innovation activity from profit tax (for a company) or income tax (for a sole trader) for 3 years from the day it is issued. It says nothing about other taxes, so budget for VAT (18% if you are registered) and social contributions as usual.
Where we help
The application needs the product’s technical description, architecture and roadmap. During discovery we prepare these in a form that fits the application. Since 2023 we have built the products of four clients who received the certificate. Check the tax side with your accountant: this article is not tax advice.
The details are as of the article’s date.
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