Georgia has become a popular destination for individuals seeking a low‑tax environment because its territorial tax system does not levy taxes on foreign‑sourced income. However, the country’s public company registry makes personal information—including passport details—readily accessible, creating significant privacy and security risks for anyone who registers a business or obtains tax residency there.
Tax residency and corporate structures
- Territorial taxation – Residents are taxed only on income earned within Georgia. Foreign income is generally exempt, except for U.S. citizens who remain subject to U.S. tax obligations.
- Residency pathways – Tax residency can be obtained by:
- Establishing a company (limited liability company or individual entrepreneur)
- Purchasing real estate
- Corporate forms
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Standard corporate entity.
- Individual Entrepreneur – Allows a 1 % tax rate on revenue up to roughly $190 000; revenue above that is taxed at 3 %.
- Banking – Georgian banks are considered relatively stable and the jurisdiction is described as crypto‑friendly.
Public access to personal data
Georgia’s national registry of companies and entrepreneurs is openly searchable online. The registry displays:
- Full legal name of the owner or director
- Identification code (often a passport number)
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Scanned copies of passports and other documents
- Registration dates, status (active, suspended, revoked), and address of the registered office
Because the registry is publicly available without charge, any party—government officials, creditors, or malicious actors—can retrieve this information simply by searching for a company name or the individual’s surname.
Example of data exposure
- A newly registered LLC (e.g., “Marketing LLC”) listed a registration date of 19 February 2026.
- The entry included a scanned passport showing the holder’s nationality (German), passport number, and date of issue.
- Similar searches revealed Spanish citizens linked to individual‑entrepreneur registrations, with passport scans accessible via downloadable DJVU files that can be converted to PDF.
Risks and mitigation
Risks
- Identity exposure – Personal identifiers are visible to anyone with internet access.
- Target for legal actions – Creditors or tax authorities can use the data to locate and pursue individuals.
- Potential for fraud or extortion – Detailed personal data can be leveraged for black‑mail or other illicit purposes.
Mitigation strategies
- Use a secondary passport – If holding multiple passports, register the company with the non‑primary document.
- Obtain Georgian residency – Register the company under a Georgian personal identification number rather than a foreign passport.
- Nominee directors – Appoint a third‑party director whose identity appears on the public record, keeping the actual owner’s details hidden.
- Limit exposure – Avoid using your main legal name or personal address in the registration documents when possible.
Decision considerations
When evaluating Georgia as a jurisdiction for tax residency or company formation, weigh the tax advantages against the transparency of the public registry:
- Tax benefit – No tax on foreign income and low corporate/entrepreneur rates.
- Administrative ease – Simple company formation and real‑estate‑based residency options.
- Privacy cost – Full disclosure of personal identification documents to the public domain.
Potential users should assess whether the tax savings justify the inherent privacy risks, and consider employing the mitigation measures outlined above if they decide to proceed.
