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Essential 4 Actions to Follow After Establishing a New APS Enterprise

1st STEP: APPLY FOR NEMID

A NemID is an electronic signature that enables access to various online services such as government websites and online banking systems. To obtain a new NemID, you can visit https://www.medarbejdersignatur.dk/, although please note that this website is only available in Danish.

2nd STEP: CREATE A MAILBOX ON „E-BOXES”

Government institutions send emails to LLC in Denmark via digital mailboxes called "e-boxes." Some private companies also offer to use e-boxes for their mail delivery. An e-box functions similar to an online mailbox, which can be accessed through a login process using a NemID. If your company has a NemID, you will need to create a company e-box to use this service.

3rd STEP: ASSIGN „NEMKONTO”

When opening a new bank account for your company, it's important to ensure that the bank designates it as a "NemKonto." A NemKonto is a regular company bank account that has been granted permission to function as a designated account for receiving reimbursements from the government, such as VAT and tax refunds. Without a registered NemKonto, tax refunds cannot be processed. To confirm if your company's bank account has NemKonto status, visit https://www.nemkonto.dk/or contact your bank for confirmation. If your Ltd in Denmark doesn't have a bank account in Denmark, you can apply to use a foreign account as a NemKonto by submitting a special form.

4th STEP: TRANSFER THE COMPANY’S EQUITY FROM THE LAWYER

After creating a new bank account for your company, it's possible for your lawyer to transfer the minimum required initial capital of DKK 20,000 to your company. This capital was deposited during the registration process into the lawyer's client account. To initiate the transfer, you can request it from your lawyer. In case of any issues during the registration process with a traditional Danish bank, using Revolut is recommended.

Register the company for VAT (MOMS) and employer obligations with SKAT

Once your new ApS is registered, one of the first legal obligations in Denmark is to register the company for VAT (MOMS) and, where relevant, as an employer with the Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen, formerly SKAT). Proper registration ensures that you can issue valid invoices, reclaim input VAT and pay payroll taxes correctly.

When your ApS must register for VAT (MOMS)

In Denmark, a company must register for VAT if its taxable turnover exceeds, or is expected to exceed, DKK 50,000 within a 12‑month period. For most ApS companies that plan to trade actively from the start, it is advisable to register for VAT immediately, even if you have not yet reached this threshold.

Some activities are exempt from VAT (for example certain financial services, health care and education). If your company operates in a VAT‑exempt sector, the rules for registration and deduction of input VAT will differ, and you should obtain tailored advice before registering.

How to register your ApS for VAT

VAT registration is done digitally via the Danish Business Authority’s self‑service system, which is connected to the tax authorities. In practice, you log in with the company’s NemID/MitID and complete the registration form for “Momsregistrering”. You will be asked to provide:

After approval, your company will receive confirmation of VAT registration and information about your VAT reporting period. Small and newly established companies are usually assigned quarterly VAT reporting, while larger businesses may report monthly. In some cases, very small businesses may be allowed half‑yearly reporting.

Key Danish VAT rates and obligations

Denmark applies a standard VAT rate of 25% to most goods and services. There are no reduced VAT rates for specific product categories. As a VAT‑registered ApS, you must:

If your company trades with customers in other EU countries or outside the EU, additional rules apply for cross‑border VAT, distance sales and reporting (for example EU sales listings and One Stop Shop schemes). These should be considered when setting up your invoicing and accounting routines.

Registering as an employer in Denmark

If your ApS plans to hire employees, you must register as an employer with the Danish Tax Agency before you pay any salary. This registration is done through the same online self‑service environment, by selecting “Registrering som arbejdsgiver”. You will need to indicate:

Once registered as an employer, your company is obliged to:

Labour market contribution (AM‑bidrag) and employee taxation

In Denmark, employees pay an 8% labour market contribution (AM‑bidrag) on their gross salary before income tax is calculated. As an employer, your ApS must calculate and withhold this 8% together with the employee’s income tax (A‑tax) each pay period. The exact A‑tax rate depends on the employee’s individual tax card, municipal tax and any church tax.

Your company must obtain each employee’s electronic tax card from Skattestyrelsen before the first salary payment. If you do not have a valid tax card, you are required to withhold tax at a high provisional rate, which can create cash‑flow and administrative issues for both the company and the employee.

Deadlines and practical compliance tips

For a newly established ApS, missing VAT or employer registration can lead to penalties, interest and unnecessary scrutiny from the tax authorities. To stay compliant:

By handling VAT and employer registration correctly from the beginning, your ApS builds a solid compliance foundation and avoids costly corrections later. A Danish accountant or payroll specialist can help you configure your systems, choose the right reporting periods and ensure that your tax registrations match your actual business activities.

Set up mandatory digital reporting in “TastSelv Erhverv” for tax and VAT

Once your ApS is registered, you must activate digital access to the Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen) through the self-service system TastSelv Erhverv. All communication about corporate tax, VAT (MOMS), payroll taxes and many other obligations is handled digitally, so setting this up correctly from the start is essential.

Access to TastSelv Erhverv is based on your company’s CVR number and the digital ID system MitID Erhverv (which replaces the former NemID for businesses). Typically, the company’s director or a board member is created as the first administrator and can then grant access to your accountant or other employees.

How to get access to TastSelv Erhverv

  1. Activate MitID Erhverv for the company
    After the ApS is formed and registered in the CVR register, you must create a MitID Erhverv profile for the company. This is usually done by the legal representative (director or owner) who confirms their identity and links it to the company’s CVR number.

  2. Log in to TastSelv Erhverv
    Go to the Danish Tax Agency’s website and choose login for businesses. Use MitID Erhverv to log in for the first time. The system will automatically connect your user to the correct CVR number.

  3. Set up roles and authorisations
    Inside TastSelv Erhverv you can grant rights to your accountant or bookkeeper. You can give full access or limit it to specific areas such as VAT, payroll taxes or corporate tax. It is good practice to grant your accounting firm direct access so they can submit reports and handle correspondence with SKAT on your behalf.

What you use TastSelv Erhverv for

TastSelv Erhverv is the central platform for almost all tax-related tasks for your ApS. Among other things, you will use it to:

VAT (MOMS) reporting deadlines for ApS

Most newly established ApS companies are registered for VAT from the date they start taxable activities. In TastSelv Erhverv you will see your assigned VAT period and deadlines. As a rule:

The exact deadlines for each period are shown in TastSelv Erhverv under your VAT overview. It is crucial to submit the VAT return and pay any VAT due no later than the deadline, otherwise SKAT can charge interest and surcharges.

Practical tips for a new ApS

Correct setup and ongoing use of TastSelv Erhverv ensures that your ApS meets all Danish tax and VAT obligations, avoids unnecessary penalties and maintains a clean compliance record with the Danish Tax Agency.

Establish a corporate bank account and configure online banking access for APS

Opening a dedicated corporate bank account is one of the first practical steps after registering your ApS in Denmark. A separate account is required to keep company funds clearly separated from personal finances, to document the paid-in share capital and to meet Danish bookkeeping and tax requirements. Properly configured online banking will also make it easier to handle VAT (MOMS), payroll and supplier payments on time.

Choose a Danish bank that accepts new ApS companies

Not every bank in Denmark has the same risk policy for new limited liability companies, especially if the owners are non-residents. Before applying, check the bank’s requirements for ApS clients, minimum fees and whether they offer English-language online banking and support. Compare:

For most small and medium ApS companies, a standard business account in DKK with access to online banking and a corporate payment card is sufficient at the start.

Prepare documents required by Danish banks

Due to strict Danish and EU anti–money laundering (AML) rules, banks must perform detailed KYC checks before opening an account. Typically, you should be ready to provide:

If the company has foreign owners, expect additional questions and documentation. Providing clear and consistent information from the beginning usually speeds up the approval process.

Open the corporate account and document the share capital

For an ApS, the minimum share capital is 40,000 DKK. This amount must be fully paid in and documented. In practice, the process often looks as follows:

  1. The founders transfer the share capital to a temporary client account (for example, at a lawyer or directly to the bank, depending on the chosen procedure).
  2. The lawyer or bank issues a confirmation that the capital has been paid in accordance with the Danish Companies Act.
  3. After the company is registered and approved, the funds are released to the new corporate bank account of the ApS.

Keep all confirmations and bank statements. They are important for your first financial statements and for any future tax or audit checks.

Configure online banking access for daily operations

Once the account is active, set up secure online banking access for the company. In Denmark, access is usually linked to the personal MitID of the persons who are authorised to sign on behalf of the company. Make sure that:

Proper configuration at the start helps avoid delays in payments to SKAT, suppliers and employees and supports a clear internal control structure.

Connect the bank account with your accounting and payment routines

To keep your ApS compliant with Danish bookkeeping rules, bank transactions must be reconciled regularly with your accounting records. When choosing a bank and configuring online access, check whether you can:

Automated bank reconciliation reduces errors, saves time and helps you submit accurate VAT returns and annual financial statements.

Ensure security, compliance and internal controls

The corporate bank account is central to your company’s financial control. Establish clear internal procedures that define who can approve payments, who can initiate them and who performs monthly reconciliations. For many ApS companies, it is good practice to:

These measures support compliance with Danish corporate governance expectations and reduce the risk of internal fraud or errors.

Register the company for employee insurance and ATP contributions

In Denmark, registering your company for employee insurance and ATP contributions is a mandatory step as soon as you hire staff. Proper registration protects your employees, ensures compliance with Danish labour law and avoids penalties from the authorities.

Understand your obligations as an employer

Once your APS becomes an employer, you must:

ATP contributions for employees

ATP is a compulsory pension scheme for most employees working in Denmark. As an APS, you are responsible for withholding the employee’s share and paying both the employer and employee contributions to ATP.

For a full-time employee (37 hours per week), the ATP contribution is a fixed amount per month, split between employer and employee. The employer pays the majority of the contribution, while the employee pays a smaller part that you deduct from their salary. For part-time employees, ATP is calculated according to the number of hours worked in the contribution period.

You must report and pay ATP contributions regularly, typically together with your payroll reporting. This is usually handled via your payroll system, which should be configured to calculate ATP automatically based on hours worked and employment type.

Registering with ATP Livslang Pension

To register your APS for ATP:

  1. Create or log in to your company profile on the ATP self-service portal using your business NemID/MitID
  2. Register the company as an employer and provide your CVR number and contact details
  3. Specify the types of employees you will have (full-time, part-time, hourly, temporary)
  4. Connect your payroll solution so that ATP contributions can be reported and paid electronically

After registration, ATP will confirm your employer number and provide guidance on reporting deadlines and payment methods. Keep this information with your corporate records and share it with your accountant or payroll provider.

Mandatory industrial injury insurance

All Danish employers must take out industrial injury insurance for their employees with a private insurance company authorised in Denmark. This insurance covers work-related accidents and occupational diseases.

To arrange this insurance:

Premiums depend on your industry, risk level and payroll volume. Keep the policy and insurance certificates accessible, as the Danish Working Environment Authority may request documentation during inspections.

Supplementary employee insurances

In addition to mandatory industrial injury insurance and ATP, many Danish companies choose to offer:

While not always legally required, these benefits are common on the Danish labour market and can be important for attracting and retaining qualified employees.

Integrate insurance and ATP with your payroll and accounting

To keep your APS compliant and your bookkeeping accurate:

By registering promptly for employee insurance and ATP contributions and integrating them into your payroll and accounting routines, you ensure that your APS meets Danish legal requirements and provides a secure framework for your employees.

Prepare a basic accounting system and choose bookkeeping software compliant with Danish rules

A well-organised accounting system is essential for every new ApS in Denmark. From the first issued invoice you are required to keep complete, traceable records that meet Danish bookkeeping and tax rules. Investing a bit of time at the start will save you from penalties, missed deadlines and costly clean‑up work later.

Begin by deciding how you will structure your bookkeeping. At minimum, your system should allow you to:

Danish law requires that accounting records and vouchers are stored securely and in an orderly way for at least 5 years, either electronically or on paper. Your system must make it possible to trace every posted entry back to the original documentation, such as invoices, receipts, bank statements and contracts. For VAT purposes, you must be able to show the VAT amount, VAT rate and counterpart (customer or supplier) for each relevant transaction.

When choosing bookkeeping software, focus on solutions that are designed for the Danish market. They should support:

Most modern systems are cloud‑based and offer direct export of figures needed for corporate tax, VAT and annual report preparation. For small ApS companies, it is usually best to select a user‑friendly platform that your accountant already works with, so that you can easily share access and avoid manual file transfers.

Before you start posting entries, define a simple chart of accounts that reflects your business model. Separate revenue streams, major cost categories, salaries, employer contributions and financial items. This structure will make it easier to follow your cash flow, prepare budgets and comply with Danish reporting requirements for annual financial statements.

Finally, set internal routines from day one: how often you issue invoices, how quickly you register supplier bills, who approves payments and how frequently you reconcile the bank account. Consistent, timely bookkeeping is the key to staying compliant with Danish rules and having reliable figures for decisions about your new ApS.

Define the company’s financial year and internal deadlines for statutory filings

When you establish a new ApS in Denmark, one of the first strategic decisions is to define the company’s financial year and set clear internal deadlines for all statutory filings. A well-planned financial year makes your tax planning, VAT reporting and annual accounts much easier to manage and reduces the risk of penalties for late submissions.

In Denmark, the financial year for an ApS normally covers 12 months. Many companies choose a financial year that follows the calendar year (1 January – 31 December), but you can also choose a different 12‑month period if it better matches your business cycle. The first financial year can be shorter or longer than 12 months, but it may not exceed 18 months from the date of incorporation. Your chosen financial year must be registered with the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) and will appear in the company’s official data.

Once the financial year is defined, you must align all statutory deadlines with this period. The annual report (årsrapport) for an ApS must be filed electronically with Erhvervsstyrelsen no later than 5 months after the end of the financial year. If the company is subject to audit, your auditor will also work within this timeframe, so you should plan internal cut‑off dates for closing the books, stock counts and management approval well before the official deadline.

Corporate income tax is administered by the Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen). The standard corporate tax rate is 22% on taxable profits. During the financial year, most companies pay tax in two on‑account instalments based on expected profit, followed by a final settlement once the tax return is filed. The corporate tax return (typically form for selskabsskat) must be filed digitally via TastSelv Erhverv no later than 6 months after the end of the income year, and never later than the deadline stated in your company’s tax calendar in TastSelv. To avoid interest and surcharges, it is important to set internal deadlines for preparing the tax calculation and approving any adjustments well in advance of the official filing date.

If your ApS is VAT‑registered, you must also coordinate your VAT periods with the financial year. In Denmark, the VAT reporting frequency depends on your annual turnover:

Each VAT period has a fixed deadline for reporting and payment, typically one month and 10 days after the end of the period for monthly and quarterly filers, and a longer deadline for annual filers. These deadlines are visible in TastSelv Erhverv. To keep control, define internal cut‑off dates for issuing invoices, collecting purchase documentation and reconciling VAT accounts before each statutory deadline.

In addition to annual accounts, corporate tax and VAT, your internal calendar should include deadlines for:

To make these obligations manageable, it is good practice to create a detailed compliance calendar for the ApS. This calendar should specify the company’s financial year, all statutory deadlines and your own internal deadlines, and assign responsibility for each task to specific persons or your external accountant. Clear planning of the financial year and filing dates helps ensure continuous compliance with Danish rules, supports accurate bookkeeping and gives management a reliable basis for financial decisions.

Ensure compliance with Danish anti–money laundering (AML) and KYC requirements for owners and directors

Newly established ApS companies in Denmark must comply with strict anti–money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) rules. Even if your business is small and has no employees yet, banks, lawyers, auditors and some other service providers are legally required to collect and verify information about your company, its owners and its management.

The core requirement is to identify and register all beneficial owners of the company. A beneficial owner is any natural person who directly or indirectly owns or controls more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercises controlling influence over the company. If no such person can be identified, the members of the management (for example the board of directors or the executive director) are treated as beneficial owners for registration purposes.

As an ApS, you must register your beneficial owners in the Central Business Register (CVR) via the Danish Business Authority’s online system. For each beneficial owner you typically need to provide full name, CPR number or date of birth, nationality, country of residence and the basis of control (for example percentage of shares or voting rights). This information must be kept up to date: any change in ownership or control must be reported without undue delay.

When you open a corporate bank account, the bank is obliged under Danish AML legislation to perform KYC checks. You should be prepared to submit:

Depending on your risk profile and sector, the bank or other obliged entities (for example law firms, accounting firms or corporate service providers) may ask additional questions about the source of funds used as share capital, the origin of larger incoming payments and any cross‑border transactions. They are required to monitor transactions on an ongoing basis and to report suspicious activity to the Danish Financial Intelligence Unit.

Your company should also introduce simple internal AML and KYC procedures, even if you are not directly covered by the Danish Anti‑Money Laundering Act as an obliged entity. At a minimum, you should:

Failure to comply with beneficial owner registration duties or to cooperate with AML and KYC checks can lead to fines, restrictions on access to banking services and, in serious cases, compulsory dissolution of the company. By collecting the required documents early, registering beneficial owners correctly in CVR and keeping your ownership information updated, you significantly reduce the risk of delays and compliance issues and ensure that your new ApS operates in line with Danish AML requirements from day one.

Arrange mandatory company records: ownership register, shareholder agreements and corporate documents

From the moment your new ApS is registered, you are legally required to keep a clear and up‑to‑date set of corporate records in Denmark. Proper documentation is not only a formality – it is essential for proving ownership, complying with the Danish Companies Act (Selskabsloven) and passing potential audits from the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) or SKAT.

Ownership register and UBO information

Every Danish ApS must maintain an internal ownership register that shows who owns the company and on what terms. In practice this means you should document for each owner:

In addition, you must register the company’s beneficial owners (reelle ejere) in the public register at Erhvervsstyrelsen. A beneficial owner is typically any person who directly or indirectly owns more than 25% of the capital or voting rights, or otherwise exercises controlling influence. If no person meets this threshold, you must register the members of the management (board and/or executive director) as beneficial owners instead.

The beneficial ownership information must be kept accurate and updated without undue delay whenever there is a change in ownership structure. Failure to register or update UBO data can lead to enforcement actions and fines.

Shareholder agreements for ApS owners

While not legally mandatory, a written shareholder agreement is strongly recommended for all ApS companies with more than one owner. This agreement regulates the relationship between shareholders beyond what is stated in the articles of association and can prevent costly disputes later.

A robust shareholder agreement for a Danish ApS typically covers:

Make sure the shareholder agreement is consistent with the company’s articles of association and Danish company law. If there is a conflict, the articles and the Companies Act will normally prevail in relation to third parties, so both documents should be aligned from the start.

Core corporate documents you must keep

Besides the ownership register and any shareholder agreement, your ApS must maintain a complete set of corporate documents. At a minimum, you should keep:

These records must be stored securely for at least five years, and in some cases longer, and should be easily accessible in Denmark in case of inspection. Electronic storage is accepted, provided documents are complete, legible and backed up.

Aligning corporate records with accounting and AML requirements

Well‑structured company records support your accounting, tax and anti‑money laundering (AML) obligations. Information in the ownership register and UBO register should match the data used for KYC checks by banks, auditors and your accounting firm. Inconsistencies between corporate documents, accounting records and public registrations can trigger additional questions from authorities and financial institutions.

When you set up your bookkeeping and document archiving routines, integrate corporate records into the same system. This makes it easier to track changes in ownership, management and capital, and to provide complete documentation during audits, due diligence processes or when applying for financing.

By arranging and maintaining mandatory company records from the start, your ApS will meet Danish legal requirements, strengthen transparency for owners and authorities, and create a solid foundation for future growth and potential investors.

Set up internal procedures for invoicing, expense documentation and archiving in line with Danish law

Clear internal procedures for invoicing, expense documentation and archiving are essential to keep your APS compliant with Danish law and ready for a potential SKAT (Danish Tax Agency) audit. From the first issued invoice and the first paid bill, you must ensure that all documents are correct, complete and stored securely for the required period.

Invoicing rules your APS must follow

Every invoice issued by a Danish company must contain specific mandatory information. At a minimum, your invoices should include:

For intra‑EU B2B supplies of services or goods, you must also indicate that the transaction is subject to reverse charge and refer to the relevant VAT rule. For VAT‑exempt supplies (for example certain financial or health services), the legal basis for the exemption should be stated on the invoice.

Decide internally who is allowed to issue invoices, how invoice numbers are generated, how credit notes are handled and how corrections are documented. All changes must be traceable so that the original invoice and the correction can be followed in your accounting records.

Expense documentation and approval workflow

SKAT requires that all costs booked in your accounts are supported by proper documentation. This includes supplier invoices, receipts, contracts, travel documents and any other proof of the business nature of the expense.

Set up a simple but strict internal workflow:

  1. Collection: All employees must submit original receipts or digital copies for every business expense, including small cash payments.
  2. Validation: A responsible person (for example the finance manager or external accountant) checks that the expense is business‑related, correctly coded (e.g. travel, representation, office costs) and includes all mandatory information such as supplier name, date, description and VAT amount.
  3. Approval: Define approval limits (for example, expenses up to a certain amount approved by a team leader, higher amounts by a director). Approval should be documented, either digitally or with a clear signature procedure.
  4. Booking: Only approved expenses are entered into the accounting system and linked to the corresponding digital document.

For representation and entertainment expenses, keep detailed information about participants and business purpose, because only a part of these costs is usually tax‑deductible. For mileage and travel allowances, use standard forms and keep logs with dates, routes and purposes of trips.

Digital archiving and retention periods

Danish bookkeeping rules allow digital storage of accounting documents, provided that the data is complete, readable and accessible throughout the retention period. As a general rule, accounting records, invoices and supporting documentation must be kept for at least 5 years after the end of the financial year they relate to. For some corporate documents and agreements, longer retention may be advisable.

Establish an archiving procedure that covers:

All invoices and receipts should be scanned or imported into your accounting or document management system and linked to the relevant booking. Make sure that the digital copy is of sufficient quality so that all information is clearly readable and that the file format will remain accessible in the future.

Internal controls and audit readiness

To reduce the risk of errors and fraud, define simple internal controls from the start. Separate, where possible, the roles of the person approving payments, the person executing bank transfers and the person reconciling the bank account. Perform regular reconciliations of bank balances, VAT accounts and supplier and customer ledgers.

Document your procedures in a short internal manual that describes how invoices are issued, how expenses are approved, how documents are archived and who is responsible for each step. This will make it easier to train new employees, cooperate with your accountant and respond quickly if SKAT requests documentation or initiates a control.

By implementing clear procedures for invoicing, expense documentation and archiving, your APS will meet Danish legal requirements, reduce the risk of penalties and create a solid foundation for accurate VAT and tax reporting.

Carrying out serious administrative procedures requires caution – mistakes can have legal consequences, including financial penalties. Consulting a specialist can save money and unnecessary stress.

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