Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 9/30/2019
It is essential for companies planning to operate in Peru to retain reputable legal counsel. Law firms are referred to as “Estudios” and attorneys as “Doctor” or “Doctora,” followed by their last name. An attorney should be proficient in matters concerning taxes on corporate and branch income, corporate residence, value-added taxes, income determination, capital gains, inter-company dividends/pricing, stock dividends, depreciation and depletion, net operating losses (tax losses) and payments to foreign affiliates. Other significant issues to consider include workers’ benefits, payroll and withholding taxes, municipal operating permits, intellectual property and labor laws that will impact the business when it starts operations. Many U.S. companies retain the local representative of their U.S.-based auditor. A partial list of local lawyers and/or tax and audit firms can be found below under “Local Professional Services”. Foreign corporations interested in doing business in Peru on a permanent basis must be formally incorporated and registered in the Peruvian Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil del Perú). There are two main types of business organizations that can be used for these purposes: branch offices and incorporated subsidiaries. Real estate may be acquired by any foreign entity without the need to establish a local office. It is only necessary to vest a local individual with sufficient powers to conduct and close the sale. Office spaces suitable for international companies have substantially increased in the last ten years within several districts of Lima. Rental prices for newly built offices have increased due to the establishment of numerous foreign companies’ operations in Peru. With quality housing built in Lima’s residential areas, as well as in cities outside of the capital, foreign managerial staff can easily relocate to Peru. Industrial space is scarce within and around Lima’s boundaries. As a result, new operations have established bases in areas south and east of Lima.
 
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


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Peru Business Registration