Soparfi Luxembourg Holding and Finance Company is an appealing jurisdiction for private investors, institutional investors, and multinational groups looking to establish a holding company. With its strategic location right in the center of Europe, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is the crucial center of the European Union. The country boasts stellar regulatory, political, and social stability, enjoying high marks across all rating agencies. Luxembourg’s dynamic and diverse population further adds fuel to its booming financial services market. It’s not surprising that the country is known the world over as a premier financial center for high-net-worth investors and organizations. 

The Luxembourg holding company also called SOPARFI

One of the most popular investment vehicles is the Luxembourg holding company or Soparfi. Here are a few key pieces of information that potential investors should know it:

• Soparfi is an ordinary, unregulated holding company that is allowed to operate as a commercial company in Luxembourg. With that in mind, it is a fully taxable company under prevailing Luxembourg laws. 
• Investors incorporate a Soparfi primarily for holding and financing reasons.
• Under the participation regime,  Soparfis take advantage of corporate tax exemptions on dividends, net wealth, and capital gains for eligible participations. 
• This investment vehicle does not assess Luxembourg withholding tax to outbound dividends from shareholders.
• Soparfis gain full access to Luxembourg’s extensive double taxation network and several EU Directives. 

The most common legal forms that investors can choose from as part of the incorporation process include:

• Private limited companies (SARL)
• Public limited companies (SA)

Criteria for Participation Exemption for Dividends Received and Capital Gains Realized from Shares

• A holding company (parent company) must hold at least 10% share capital of the subsidiary.
• Participation with an acquisition value of at least €1.2 million. The threshold is significantly higher for capital gains exemption set at €6 million. 
• Qualified participation must be held for at least 12 months.

Key Information on Share Capital of Luxembourg Soparfis

Under the Commercial Companies Law 1915, the minimum share of Soparfi legal forms are as follows:

• €12,500 for SARL
• €31,000 for SA

Steps in Soparfi Incorporation

Regardless of legal form, a Soparfi company is incorporated using the following steps:

Drafting Articles of Incorporation 

• Name, registered address, contact number (corporate, information of founder/s)
• Name and registered address of the company to be formed
• Share capital and preferred currency
• Value and type of shares of the Soparfi, indicating specific share classes
• Identification documents of delegated manager/s
• Financial year-end and name of auditor/s

Opening a bank account

• Filing of client due to diligence documents to ensure immediate owning and controlling of beneficial owners
• Draft of articles of incorporation
• Bank account forms to be filled by a delegated manager/s
• Declaration of beneficial ownership signed by Soparfi beneficial owner/s
• Transfer form of the share capital of the company on to bank account 

Upon opening a bank account, the bank will issue a blocking certificate which needs to be notarized by a certified public notary in Luxembourg. This functions as confirmation that share capital is inside a blocked account for incorporation purposes only and will not be available for use. 

Incorporation of Soparfi through a public notary

The following are submitted to a public notary:

• Blocking certificate of the funds
• Signed declaration form including the names of beneficial owners
• Powers of Attorney signed by Soparfi shareholder/s that signify administrators are confirmed, shareholder representatives
• Draft Articles of Incorporation 

Once a public notary is satisfied with the submitted documents, the Articles of Incorporation will be executed along with shareholder/s and their respective attorneys. From hereon after, a Soparfi company is incorporated and starts engaging in transactions. 

A public notary will issue a de-blocking certificate, which will then be forwarded to a bank. The bank in return will confirm the bank account is fully operational and that funds are at Soparfi’s full disposal. 

A Soparfi’s Articles of Incorporation will be published by the public notary on Luxembourg’s Trade and Companies Register. 

Soparfi Incorporation Duration 

Early engagement is highly recommended should you wish to start operations as soon as possible. Depending on the speed at which investors can gather all pertinent data and fulfill activities mentioned above, Soparfi incorporation can be completed within two to three business days. 

If your company’s Articles of Association include more complex provisions, shareholders must prepare ahead of time to take care of requirements. 

As an independent consulting firm in Luxembourg, we pride ourselves on impeccable guidance and support in the incorporation of investment vehicles, including Soparfis, family private wealth management companies in Luxembourg. Using our wide network of affiliations with various professionals, we can streamline Soparfi incorporation to give our investors peace of mind. To learn more about how to incorporate a Soparfi, a holding company in Luxembourg , please reach out to a Damalion expert today.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

SOPARFI in Luxembourg — what it is, how it works, legal forms, share capital, tax features, governance and good-practice for 2025.

For international investors, entrepreneurs, family offices and groups • Damalion helps compare options, prepare files and coordinate providers. Approvals remain with authorities and counterparties.

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What is a SOPARFI?

A SOPARFI (Société de Participations Financières) is a fully taxable Luxembourg company used to hold and finance investments. It is not a fund. It applies ordinary company law and tax law. Common uses: holding shares, group financing, reorganisations, acquisitions, and exits.

Legal forms and share capital

Form	Minimum share capital	Notes
S.à r.l. (private limited)	EUR 12,000	Flexible governance; widely used for holding and financing.
S.A. (public limited)	EUR 31,000	Suitable for larger investor bases; can issue certain securities.
Other forms	—	Possible: S.C.A., S.C.S., S.C.Sp., S.C., S.E. Choose based on needs and investor profile.

Key tax features 

• Participation exemptions. Dividends received: exempt if the SOPARFI holds at least 10% (or acquisition price ≥ EUR 1.2m) in an eligible subsidiary and holds (or commits to hold) for at least 12 months; the subsidiary must be subject to a comparable corporate tax. Capital gains on shares: exemption where participation is ≥ 10% or acquisition price ≥ EUR 6m, held for ≥ 12 months, and the subsidiary is comparably taxed.
• Outbound payments. No withholding tax on arm’s-length interest and royalties under domestic law. Dividends: 15% domestic rate, often reduced to 0% under EU and treaty rules where conditions are met.
• Corporate rate. Ordinary corporate income tax and municipal business tax apply (Luxembourg-City combined headline circa mid-20s %). Exact rate depends on location and law at filing time.
• Net wealth tax. Minimum NWT applies according to assets and profile. Monitor annual thresholds and any special rules for holding companies.
• ATAD/BEPS. Interest-limitation, anti-hybrid, GAAR, and transfer pricing rules apply. Keep support files and benchmarks.

Governance and compliance

• Board as required by the chosen legal form; keep minutes, registers and signatures in good order.
• Substance must match functions and risks (directors, decision-making, documentation, resources).
• Timely financial statements, audits where thresholds are met, and tax filings by legal deadlines.
• Transfer pricing documentation for intra-group dealings. Arm’s-length interest and terms.

Documents investors usually prepare

• Articles, register extract, UBO/ownership chart, share capital evidence.
• Board composition and powers, internal rules, signature matrix.
• Participation files (share purchase, holding period, comparable tax tests).
• Financing files (loan terms, pricing support, cash-flow analysis, security where relevant).
• Substance file (location of decisions, personnel or mandates, premises/services).

SOPARFI vs. SPF (private wealth company)

Topic	SOPARFI	SPF
Nature	Ordinary company, fully taxable	Private wealth holding for eligible investors; specific regime
Activities	Holding + related financing; may do other corporate actions	Passive asset holding; no commercial activity
Use cases	Private equity, corporate groups, financing	Family wealth holding and simple portfolios

Typical path to set up and operate

1. Choose legal form. Match investor base, governance and financing plans.
2. Draft and notarise articles. Register and publish as required.
3. Open bank account. Fund share capital; set user rights and payments flow.
4. Document holdings and loans. Keep evidence for exemptions and pricing.
5. Run governance. Board meetings, accounting, audit (if required), annual filings.

Related reading

• SOPARFI substance requirements
• Comprehensive SOPARFI registration guide
• SOPARFI for private equity
• SOPARFI vs. SPF

Frequently asked questions

1) Is a SOPARFI an unregulated vehicle?

Yes. A SOPARFI is an ordinary commercial company, fully taxable and not supervised by the financial regulator. Company law and general tax law apply.

2) Which legal forms are most common?

S.à r.l. and S.A. are the most common. Other forms (S.C.A., S.C.S., S.C.Sp., S.C., S.E.) are possible depending on needs.

3) What are the minimum share capital amounts?

EUR 12,000 for S.à r.l.; EUR 31,000 for S.A. Capital must be subscribed and paid under law and articles.

4) How do dividend participation exemptions work?

Dividends received can be exempt if the SOPARFI holds ≥10% or acquisition price ≥ EUR 1.2m, for ≥12 months (or with a commitment to hold), and the subsidiary is subject to a comparable corporate tax.

5) How do capital gains exemptions on shares work?

Gains may be exempt where the participation is ≥10% or acquisition price ≥ EUR 6m, held ≥12 months, and the entity disposed of is comparably taxed.

6) Are outbound dividends always subject to 15% withholding?

15% is the domestic rate. EU directives and treaties can reduce this, including to 0%, where legal conditions are met (e.g., qualifying parent, holding period, subject-to-tax tests).

7) Is there withholding tax on interest and royalties?

Arm’s-length interest and royalties are generally not subject to Luxembourg withholding tax under domestic law.

8) Which corporate tax rates apply?

Corporate income tax, solidarity surcharge (if applicable) and municipal business tax apply. Combined headline rates depend on the municipality. Check the rate for the company’s registered location for the fiscal year.

9) Does net wealth tax apply?

Yes. A minimum net wealth tax applies under statutory thresholds and profiles. Monitor annual rules and computations.

10) What substance is expected in 2025?

Decision-making and documentation should align with the company’s functions and risks. Directors must act in Luxembourg when required. Keep records to support control and management in Luxembourg.

11) Do transfer pricing and ATAD rules apply?

Yes. Interest-limitation, anti-hybrid rules and general anti-abuse apply. Maintain contemporaneous transfer pricing files and benchmarks for intra-group loans and services.

12) Can a SOPARFI carry commercial activities?

Its corporate purpose is holding and related financing. Commercial activities require the appropriate business authorisation and must meet regulatory and substance requirements.

13) What are common governance requirements?

Board composition per legal form, regular meetings, accurate minutes, statutory registers, and timely filings. Audit may be required when thresholds are exceeded.

14) Which documents should be kept to support exemptions?

Share purchase agreements, holding period evidence, comparable-tax confirmations, financial statements of subsidiaries, and calculations supporting thresholds.

15) How should intra-group loans be documented?

Written agreements with principal, interest rate, tenor, repayment, guarantees/security where relevant, and arm’s-length support (pricing study, debt capacity, cash-flow tests).

16) Are financial statements public?

Annual accounts are filed and published as required by law. Consolidation may be required in defined cases.

17) Are there municipal differences?

Municipal business tax rates vary by commune. Incorporation location affects the combined tax rate.

18) Can a SOPARFI distribute interim dividends?

Yes, subject to legal conditions, distributable reserves and corporate approvals as set in law and the articles.

19) What is the usual bank onboarding focus for SOPARFI?

Clear ownership chain, purpose of account, expected payments, and compliance documents (KYC/AML). Banks apply their own risk policies.

20) Is professional advice recommended?

Yes. Corporate, tax and regulatory rules change. Obtain tailored legal and tax advice before transactions and filings.

 

10 Banks in Luxembourg City (central branches)

Quick list for corporate and private banking. Jump to map

1. Banque et Caisse d’Épargne de l’État (Spuerkeess) – state-owned universal bank.
2. Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) – corporate, wealth, and retail.
3. Banque de Luxembourg – private banking, entrepreneurs, families.
4. BGL BNP Paribas – universal bank with strong corporate desk.
5. ING Luxembourg – business banking and payments.
6. Banque Raiffeisen – cooperative bank with SME focus.
7. Société Générale Luxembourg – markets, financing, securities services.
8. Quintet Private Bank (Europe) S.A. – private banking and wealth planning.
9. Pictet & Cie (Europe) S.A. – private banking and asset services.
10. HSBC Luxembourg – corporate banking and securities services.

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10 Things to Do in Luxembourg on a Business Trip (24h compact)

Walkable highlights near the centre and Kirchberg. Jump to map

1. Bock Casemates – fortifications and tunnels.
2. Chemin de la Corniche – “Europe’s most beautiful balcony.”
3. Grund District – riverside old quarter below the city.
4. Grand Ducal Palace (outside) – seat of the Grand Duke.
5. Notre-Dame Cathedral – late Gothic/Renaissance.
6. Place d’Armes – cafés and evening atmosphere.
7. MNHA – National Museum of History & Art – quick culture stop.
8. MUDAM & Philharmonie (Kirchberg) – art and architecture.
9. Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator – city views in minutes.
10. Old City & Fortifications – UNESCO core sights.

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10 Best Business Hotels in Luxembourg City

Central and Kirchberg options with reliable Wi-Fi and meeting facilities. Jump to map

1. Hotel Le Royal Luxembourg – classic 5★, central.
2. Sofitel Luxembourg Europe (Kirchberg) – business hub location.
3. Sofitel Luxembourg Le Grand Ducal – views over the old town.
4. Meliá Luxembourg (Kirchberg) – by MUDAM/Philharmonie.
5. Novotel Luxembourg Kirchberg – meetings and parking.
6. Novotel Suites Luxembourg – spacious suites for longer stays.
7. Park Inn by Radisson Luxembourg City – close to station/business core.
8. Mama Shelter Luxembourg (Kirchberg) – modern, lively public spaces.
9. INNSiDE by Meliá Luxembourg – contemporary rooms, gym.
10. NH Luxembourg (Airport area) – convenient for early flights.

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Map — Luxembourg City

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