Tag Archives: Company Law

Mongolia Enacts New Law on Hygiene Affecting Employers



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The Parliament of Mongolia nullified the Law on Sanitation adopted on May 07, 1998 and passed the Law on Hygiene on Feb 04, 2016. The laws warrant the Constitutional right of a citizen to live in healthy and safe environment.

According to the new law, organizations and employers shall have the following duties:

  • to demand employees and customers to comply with hygiene legislations;
  • to impose a penalty on employee who is in breach of hygiene legislations;
  • to comply with the order issued by a competent official or an authority with respect to standards and legislation on hygiene and to take all necessary actions to eliminate the offences and to respond;
  • to comply with the norms and requirements of labor safety and hygiene during all stages of activities;
  • to keep the public road and square free of garbage, puddle, snow or ice, to broaden green area and to keep stairs, walls and fences intact;
  • to prevent infectious and non-infectious diseases, occupational disease, industrial accident and injuries;
  • to include the employees to medical exam and screening;
  • to employ a personnel who is in charge of labor safety and hygiene in accordance with rules adapted by State Central administrative authority in charge of Health and Labor related matters if the organization and legal entity in production and service business employs 50 people or more. If the organization in manufacturing and service business employs 50 people or less, it may employ the personnel on the basis of  a contract;
  • to approve annual expenses to spend on hygiene safety;

Also the organization and the employer is required to cooperate with the relevant professional NGOs in organizing hygiene trainings and shall support by providing accommodation and other expenses related to the training.

According to the law, following activities shall be prohibited:

  • to take any actions and activities that has adverse impacts to human health and environment;
  • to sell open food and operate production and service on public streets, squares, points or places where such activities were prohibited by the competent authorities;

If the organizations or persons do not comply with the law authorities shall impose the following administrative sanctions i.e. fine if the violation does not constitute a criminal offence.

Keep up to Date on The Mongolia VAT



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As we posted previously, the newly adopted Mongolia Value-Added Tax  (VAT) law has come into effect since January 1, 2016.

According to the VAT law, “Any citizen and legal person, who is engaged in the import and export of goods as well as the sale and manufacturing of any goods, performance of work and rendering of services in the territory of Mongolia, shall be value-added taxpayers.” VAT shall be applicable for the following goods, works and services where operational income value reaches 50 or more million tugrugs:

  • all types of goods, works and services sold within the territory of Mongolia;
  • all types of goods, works and services imported from abroad to Mongolia; and
  • all types of goods, works and services exported from Mongolia;

Furthermore, the VAT shall apply to the representative office of a foreign legal entity whose revenue of sold goods, performed works and rendered services in the territory of Mongolia, has reached 50 million tugrugs or more.

In almost all cases, the value-added tax shall be imposed at the rate of 10 percent of the taxable amount of imported, manufactured or sold goods, performed works and rendered services.  However, some certain types of goods, work and services can be subject to zero (“0”) percent VAT. The payment of VAT must be within the first ten days of the following month.

The newly adopted law also creates an incentive system with the possibility of recovering up to 20 percent of paid taxes if certain conditions are met. Initial such tax returns are expected to refund in the first quarter of this year.

A conference with our Mongolian Tax Law specialists can help you determine whether your company may be able to take advantage of the 0% VAT, or the VAT recovery.

Crash Course on Mongolia Corporate Income Tax



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Mongolia resident economic entities are taxable on aggregate annual income earned worldwide. Non-resident economic entities carrying out business activities in Mongolia are taxable on the income earned within the territory of Mongolia and otherwise from Mongolian sources.

According to the Law on Corporate Income Tax enacted in 2006, taxable corporate income includes income from activities, properties and sale of property.

The general tax rate for an economic entity incorporated in Mongolia is ten percent (10%) for the first 0-3.0 billion MNT and 300 million MNT, plus twenty-five percent (25%) for all income exceeding 3.0 billion MNT.

Dividend income, royalty income and interest income are taxed at ten percent (10%), income from the sale of a right at thirty percent (30%) and income from the sale of immovable property at two percent (2%).

A representative office of a foreign economic entity that transfers its own profit overseas is taxed at twenty percent (20%).  Similarly, the following income of a taxpayer who does not reside in Mongolia but generates income in Mongolia shall be taxed at twenty percent (20%):

  1. dividend income received from an economic entity that is registered and operates in Mongolia;
  2. loan interest and payment for issuing a guarantee;
  3. royalty income and interest on a finance lease, payment for administrative expenses, rent, management expenses and lease, and income from the lease of tangible and intangible assets; and
  4. income from goods sold, work performed and services provided in the territory of Mongolia.

Payment of corporate income tax is on a quarterly basis with the payment for the first three quarters to be paid between the 1st and the 20th of the first month for the following quarter, and for the fourth quarter between January 1st and February 10th of the following year.

LehmanLaw Mongolia employs Mongolian Tax Attorneys and Accountants and can take care of all your Mongolia taxation needs!

Fresh Amendment to Mongolia Company Law Incoming



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A new draft law to amend to the company law was submitted to the Mongolia Parliament recently. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to improve the regulation of liability limited companies with majority state ownership. There have been problems which have occurred with corporate governance of such majority state owned companies, in areas such as shareholder and board meetings and selecting members of the Board and executive management.

The amendment aims to improve legislation concerning proposals to call regular and irregular meetings of shareholders of these companies and improve the effectiveness of the regular Board of Directors meeting so as to aid is role as decision maker and to ensure normal operations of these companies.

The draft amendment includes the regulations clarifying procedures for to the call of regular and irregular meetings of shareholders of and the effectiveness of Board of Directors meetings.

Once the draft law enacted, rights, obligations and liabilities associated with the liability limited companies dominated by state ownership shall be clear and no additional funding from state budget shall be required for enforcement of this law.  We see this as a positive step to encourage independent decision making among leadership of key state owned enterprises, which are the primary vehicles by which Mongolia facilities and draws profits from several of its major mining operations.

Basics of Maternity Leave in Mongolia



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As with most countries, Mongolia provides special benefits for expecting and new mothers. The law provides for a period of “Maternity Leave” as well as a period of “Baby Care Leave.” Understanding the differences of each of these leave periods is critical for foreign companies operating in Mongolia.

Maternity Leave is designated under Mongolian law as a required period of 120 days. This Maternity Leave period is intended to cover 60 days prior to birth and 60 days after delivery. During this legal Maternity Leave period, the Mongolian Social Insurance system is responsible for payments to the new mother. Maternity Leave is not available for male employees.

The Baby Care Leave is granted to all mothers (and single fathers) with children under 3 years, and is optional at the employee’s discretion. During the leave period, the Employer is obligated to pay required monthly Social Insurance payments to the Social Insurance Fund on behalf of the employee. The employer is obligated by law to accept the employee in the same employment position or in a new position when the employee returns to work at the end of the leave.

Two Kinds of Employment in Mongolia



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Mongolian law recognizes “Specified Term” and “Permanent” employment. A Specified Term agreement states a definite starting date, and ending for the employment, or a condition that ends the employment when and if it occurs.

Mongolian law stipulates that a Specified Term agreement will be automatically extended for the duration of the initially stated term if termination of the agreement is not proposed by the parties, and the employee continues to work in the position.

For a valid Specified Term agreement, the employment automatically ends at the end of the specified term, or upon the occurrence of an event, such as return to work of an original employee. In this case, a termination notice from the employer should be utilized so as to avoid the situation described above in which the Specified Term agreement automatically renews under Mongolian law.

To qualify as a “Permanent” position under Mongolian law, the employment agreement must be concluded for an indefinite term. This means no stated ending date, and no stated event or condition upon the occurrence of which the employment ends.

If a Specified Term agreement is terminated before the term expires, or a Permanent position is terminated, the termination provisions of the Agreement and of Mongolian Law will apply.

Per Mongolian law, for a Specified Term agreement, the requirements and reasons requiring Specified Term employment, and any conditions in connection with the same must be clearly stated in the Employment Agreement.  Such requirements, reasons or conditions will typically be the need for temporary or seasonal employment for the replacement of an employee that is taking some kind of hiatus from work, but whom the employer expects to return.

Closing Down A Mongolia Company



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In Mongolia company liquidation proceedings may be started by either a decision of the shareholders, or order of a court.

If the company is liquidated by decision of the shareholder’s, the Board of Directors (or in its absence, the executive body), will submit a draft Shareholders Resolution of Liquidation of the company. The shareholders resolution must include appointment of a liquidation commission and authorization of its commission, a liquidation timeline and if necessary, a procedure for the distribution of the company’s remaining property among shareholders after creditors` claims are satisfied. The shareholder resolution must be approved by an overwhelming majority of votes of shareholders.

The company/legal entity is obliged to notify the relevant state registration authority in writing within 3 working days and attach the original decision on liquidation.

Upon appointment of the liquidation commission, the company’s executive authority will be terminated and such authority is transferred to the liquidation commission. From then on, the liquidation commission has final authority over the company.

The liquidation commission is required to publicize the pending liquidation of the company via the media. If the company has any licenses, the commission will request that they are canceled and returned to the relevant authority.

The following actions must also be completed over the course of the liquidation. The State Registration Certificate of the company must be officially handed in. The company’s bank accounts closed, the company’s official seal must be handed over to the police. Finally a form must be obtained from the Customs Office to confirm no related taxation issues remain on behalf of the company.

The Tax authority will examine and investigate the company’s tax records, and an auditor will be required to handle the closing financial statements. Then an accountant will issue the closing balance of the company.

Once the Liquidation commission has submitted the required documents such as the Shareholders Resolution, completion report of the liquidation, report or reference by the tax inspector and reference by court decision enforcement agency on debt obligations to the State Registration Office (SRO), the SRO will remove the legal entity from the state register. The registration body will announce publicly the deletion of the company from the State Register. It will likely take 6 months to 1 year to complete the company liquidation process.

Company Incorporation in Mongolia



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As a licensed Mongolian Law firm with English speaking professionals, we are your boots on the ground, able to provide full service company establishment along with all required annual maintenance services. LehmanLaw Mongolia is able to establish your new Mongolian Company quickly and efficiently with an eye for compliance with all local and international laws.

What are the main procedures and requirements for establishing a new company in Mongolia?

We will require from you the client a standard set of due diligence documentation. We will then draft a detailed project map, outlining on a weekly basis each step in the process of company establishment in Mongolia.

We will work with you to confirm the planned corporate structure, and to choose a new company name. The company name will be reserved at the Legal Entities Registration Office of Mongolia (LERO).

LERO will provide a name reservation form, and an official document granting the prospective company to open a new capital account in a Mongolian bank. LehmanLaw Mongolia will work directly with the bank to open the account.

Next, funds are to deposited into the capital account. After the funds are confirmed, the bank will issue certificates of deposit declaring funds received from each shareholder. A company registration fee must then be paid to the Mongolia General Department of Taxation.

You will need an address for the company’s operations in Mongolia. If you do not have a space available, LehmanLaw Mongolia may provide virtual office service until the company finds its own location. The firm is also able to provide assistance in finding your office location and in reviewing or negotiation any lease agreement.

For the final company establishment application, the firm will prepare the following documentation: Official Application form, Company Charter, Shareholder’s Resolution, Company Balance Sheet. We will require from you notarized passport copies (individuals) or incorporation certificates for all shareholders, and your lease agreement.

LehmanLaw Mongolia will submit the formal application to establish the company and approval should be within 20 working days. After approval, the firm will assist in opening a corporate bank account for the company’s daily operations. As part of this process we will arrange for online banking, and coordinate services such as credit cards, debit cards, and phone banking as required. Next we will coordinate with the local Social Insurance Department to register the company with social security.

We will prepare an official company seal which will be used to execute official documentation. The firm also offers continuing services in which we maintain the seal at our office and monitor its use. Our client’s find this is helpful to prevent misuse misplacement of the seal. LehmanLaw Mongolia is also able to maintain important company documentation, such as original Company Incorporation Certificate and Charter at our office for safekeeping.

LehmanLaw Mongolia is also able to provide monthly accounting and payroll services for our clients on an ongoing basis for a low monthly fee, and we can arrange visas for any expatriate personnel.

Mongolia Company Formation 101



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In Mongolia, the Law on State Registration of Legal Entities regulates the founding, reorganization, and dissolution of legal entities, as well as amendments to registered information. Per the law the following legal entities, including subsidiaries and representative office must be registered with the state registration authority:

  • partnerships;
  • companies;
  • cooperatives;
  • NGOs;
  • State or local government owned enterprises;
  • government organizations, departments and state funded enterprises (Other than intergovernmental organizations, international organizations, government special funds, committees and national councils);
  • religious organizations;
  • media organizations;
  • public legal entities;
  • foreign invested legal entities;

After a completed application and required documentation has been submitted to the state registration authority, a decision will be made within 10 business days for foreign invested legal entities as to whether the entity is approved for registration. For domestic entities only two days are required.

If the state registration authority refused to register the legal entity, they will deliver notice in written stating the ground for refusal.

The state registration authority will refuse to register a new entity or any changes to an existing entities’ information if the application documentation is found to not match legal requirements, to be incomplete, or is found to be fraudulent. If an application is refused for any of these reasons, an new application may be made correcting the errors.

Investors should understand that the law specifically prohibits undertaking activities in the name of a entity which has not yet been officially registered.

 If any key information of the entities registration is to be amended, the legal entity should inform to the state registration authority within 15 business days after execution of relevant corporate documentation. Failure to do so may incur legal penalty.