Contents of this guide
What the single fee is and who pays it
The annual single fee is the payment that keeps a legal entity in “full force”, which article 318-A defines as its valid registration in the Public Registry of Panama. According to the compiled text of the Fiscal Code, corporations, limited liability companies and any other legal entities, domestic or foreign, pay 300 balboas a year. Private interest foundations pay 350 balboas for the first fee and 400 for later ones. The obligation does not extend to non-profit organizations, cooperatives or civil companies.
The first fee is paid at registration, together with the registry charges, and the Public Registry forwards it to the Directorate General of Revenue (DGI). Later fees are paid through the legal representative or the registered or resident agent, who declares the date the articles of incorporation were registered when paying. The role of the agent is explained in Radar’s guide to the resident agent in Panama. The same article allows advance payment, and that payment is treated as final for the periods covered.
Due date calendar
The deadline for the second and later fees depends on the month in which the articles of incorporation or founding document were registered:
| Registration month | Due each year | Next due date at the time of writing |
|---|---|---|
| January | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| February | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| March | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| April | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| May | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| June | July 15 | July 15, 2027 |
| July to December | January 15 | January 15, 2027 |
Rule in article 318-A: until July 15 for entities registered from January to June, inclusive, and until January 15 for those registered from July to December, inclusive. The right-hand column applies that rule to the date of this note. The compiled text is on Wikisource and the original wording of the reform is in Law 49 of 2009, Gaceta Oficial 26370-C.
Timeline of default
Article 318-A escalates the consequences of not paying:
| Situation | Consequence under article 318-A |
|---|---|
| Payment after the deadline | Single surcharge of 50 balboas per year or fraction of a year |
| Fee unpaid in the period | No act, document or agreement is registered and no certifications about the legal entity are issued, with exceptions for what an authority orders and for third parties asserting rights, in a format that notes the default |
| Two consecutive or alternating periods unpaid | In addition to the surcharge, a fine of 300 balboas and a marginal note of default |
| Payment of overdue fees, surcharges and fine | Public Registry services are restored and the marginal note is lifted |
| Ten consecutive periods unpaid | Permanent removal from the Public Registry and dissolution of the legal entity |
Law 49 of 2009 and the compiled text also provide a fine of between five and ten times the amount owed for anyone who receives money from third parties to pay the fee and does not deliver it to the National Treasury.
How a company dissolved for non-payment is reinstated
After dissolution for ten years of non-payment, the article opens a three-year period in which a director, officer, foundation council member, resident agent, partner or interested creditor can reinstate it. Reinstatement requires paying all sums owed in fees, including those of the years that fall due during the three years, plus a fine of 1,000 balboas. Once reinstated, the legal entity recovers its existence and can resume activity. If the period expires without reinstatement, the Public Registry cancels the registration and the name can be used by anyone interested. The DGI prepares and publishes the list of legal entities with ten years of default.
How to keep it current: control steps
- Identify the registration month. It appears in the registered articles of incorporation and decides whether the due date is in July or January. Radar’s guide on how to search the Public Registry online explains where to look at a company.
- Put the date on the calendar in advance. Payment falls due on July 15 or January 15, and the surcharge applies per year or fraction.
- Define who pays. The article provides for payment by the legal representative or the resident agent, who declares the registration date when paying.
- Check for overdue periods. Two unpaid periods trigger a fine and a marginal note, so a single missed payment is better regularized at once.
- Keep the receipt. Advance payment is treated as final for the periods covered, and the receipt backs up the entity’s standing before the Public Registry and banks.
- Cross-check with other obligations. The single fee coexists with other payments and reports of a company, summarized in the guide to taxes a company pays in Panama.
For companies set up for international purposes, the guide on setting up an offshore company in Panama details first-year obligations, and the one on private interest foundation or trust compares the vehicle that pays 400 balboas.
How the single fee appears in an incorporation service
According to Legal Solutions Panamá’s company incorporation page, the Offshore Basic plan includes the company’s first-year single fee and an annual reminder of taxes and fees with payment of fees before the DGI. The same page does not detail the amount or the later calendar, which is defined when each case is assessed with the team.
Legal Solutions Panamá presents on its website the incorporation of offshore and operating companies, with the first-year single fee and an annual fee reminder inside the Offshore Basic plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the single fee for a company in Panama?
300 balboas a year for corporations, limited liability companies and other legal entities, and 400 balboas for private interest foundations, under article 318-A of the compiled Fiscal Code.
When is the single fee for companies due?
July 15 for companies registered from January to June and January 15 for those registered from July to December. At the time of writing, the next due dates are January 15 and July 15, 2027, depending on the registration month.
What happens if the single fee is not paid?
A surcharge of 50 balboas per year or fraction applies, the Public Registry stops registering acts and issuing ordinary certifications, and with two unpaid periods a fine of 300 balboas and a default note are added.
Who pays the single fee of a company?
Payment is made through the legal representative or the registered or resident agent of the company, who declares the registration date of the articles of incorporation when paying.
Can a company dissolved for not paying the single fee be reinstated?
Yes, during a three-year period after dissolution, by paying all fees owed and a fine of 1,000 balboas. After that period, the Public Registry cancels the registration.
Related articles
- Resident Agent in Panama: What It Does, What the Law Requires and How to Choose
- Taxes a company pays in Panama
- How to set up an offshore company in Panama: requirements, steps and obligations
- Private interest foundation or trust in Panama: differences and which one fits
This content is informational and does not replace the advice of a Panamanian lawyer or accountant. Amounts and deadlines can change through reforms, so they are confirmed with the DGI before paying.
Sources
- Fiscal Code of Panama, Book II, article 318-A (Wikisource): amounts, due dates, surcharges, default and reinstatement.
- Law 49 of September 17, 2009, Gaceta Oficial 26370-C: wording of the reform to article 318-A.
- Legal Solutions Panamá, create a company in Panama.
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