Financial Focus for Startups – VAT & Corporation Tax in Luxembourg: What You Need to Know from Day One
Thinking about registering your business in Luxembourg? There’s a lot to be excited about, but handling taxes is surely not one of them.
Ignoring VAT and Corporation Tax could cost you dearly. From compliance penalties to lost deductions and financial blind spots, many early-stage founders get caught off guard simply because they didn’t know what to look for.
That’s why the Entrepreneurial Woman Project (EWP) 2025 includes a focused session: Financial Focus for Startups – VAT & Corporation Tax, led by Shashika Samarawickrama, a seasoned CFO with over 20 years of experience across Europe and Asia.
This workshop will help you understand the rules, timelines, and thresholds that matter from the moment you launch, so you don’t get stuck with last-minute panic or unnecessary bills.
Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore VAT or Corporate Tax
Tax is a strategic part of your startup’s survival.
According to Shashika, “For founders, understanding VAT and corporate tax in the first year can be the difference between staying afloat and scaling strategically.”
In this one-hour session, you’ll learn:
- When and how to register for VAT (and what happens if you don’t)
- The thresholds for VAT in Luxembourg and the EU OSS scheme
- How to invoice correctly for local, EU, and non-EU clients
- Corporation tax rates, deductions, and first-year filing requirements
- What expenses you can deduct and how to track them from day one
- How to stay on top of your compliance calendar—and avoid penalties
This session gives you tailored, Luxembourg-specific guidance to demystify your obligations and build a tax strategy that supports growth, both for those who are selling services within the EU or exporting digital products abroad.
Meet Your Expert Trainer: Shashika Samarawickrama
Shashika Samarawickrama has spent the last two decades helping companies build solid, compliant financial foundations, helping both small enterprises and international firms.
Having worked in Sri Lanka, the UK, and now Luxembourg, she brings a calm, structured approach to startup finance, especially in areas many founders overlook or avoid.
What makes her approach unique is her belief that pro-level finance support shouldn’t be reserved for big companies. She wants to empower solopreneurs and small teams with the same level of clarity, control, and confidence.
“This session will help you know when to register, what to track, and how to meet your filing obligations without the overwhelm.” says Shashika about her training.
What You’ll Actually Get Out of This Session
In her workshop, she shares key timelines, sample invoices, real use cases (like SaaS and cross-border e-commerce), and a compliance checklist built just for your first year in business. Sign up for the workshop to get:
- A VAT registration and filing roadmap
- Sample compliant invoices for EU and non-EU clients
- Corporation tax rate breakdowns tailored to Luxembourg City
- First-year compliance checklist (so nothing gets missed)
- Access to official resources, filing calendars, and helpful links
You’ll leave this session with confidence that will allow you to stop fearing paperwork and start building your business strategically.
About EWP
The Entrepreneurial Woman Project is Luxembourg’s go-to training program for women who want to turn their business ideas into fully functioning companies. Whether you’re testing a concept or already have clients, EWP gives you the practical toolkit to move from “thinking about it” to “running it.”
Delivered over weekends by professionals who live and work in Luxembourg, the program covers legal structures, branding, sales, marketing, public speaking, and financial know-how.
Over 300 women have already completed the program, many of whom have gone on to launch their own businesses, shift careers, or bring a long-held idea to life.
And yes, there are prizes (courtesy of sponsors like Elvinger Hoss Prussen, TMF Group and BSP), but the real win is walking away with a solid plan, community support, and the confidence to go for it
Why Join
Because the more informed you are, the more powerful you become. Building a business doesn’t mean doing it alone, and this might be the most doable, friendly, and high-value training you’ll come across in Luxembourg.
And most of all – because you’re already thinking about it.
So go ahead. Apply now. The legal structure of your future business will thank you.
Spots are limited. Big ambitions welcome.
Oliwia Gertych,
LPCC Team
