HTP closure strategy
We assess the position and recommend the optimal exit route – full liquidation, share sale, HTP exit with dormant status, or a combination.
Closing an IT Company in Belarus
Licensed lawyers at AMBY Legal manage the full process of closing a Belarusian IT company – including exit from the Hi-Tech Park, settlement with employees, transfer of intellectual property rights and exclusion from the company register.
Our clients
Closing an IT Company or HTP Resident in Belarus
Closing an IT company in Belarus – particularly one that is a resident of the Hi-Tech Park – has specific features that distinguish it from the standard business closure procedure. The HTP residency must be formally terminated before or during the liquidation process. Employees hired under the special HTP employment regime need to be properly settled. Intellectual property rights created during the company’s operation need to be addressed. And the interactions with HTP administration add procedural steps that do not exist for non-HTP companies.
Since 2022, a significant number of international IT companies have relocated their Belarusian teams or exited the market entirely. Many of these exits have left Belarusian legal entities in limbo – formally still existing, accumulating obligations, without active management. Closing these entities correctly requires legal support that understands both the HTP framework and the standard Belarusian liquidation procedure.
AMBY Legal manages the closure of IT companies and HTP resident companies – from the initial exit strategy through to the company’s exclusion from the register.
Why HTP Closure Is Different from Standard Liquidation
An HTP resident company closing its business faces several steps that non-HTP companies do not.
Exit from HTP residency: The company must formally exit the Hi-Tech Park. This involves notifying the HTP administration, completing any outstanding obligations to HTP, and ensuring that the exit from the HTP register is properly documented. The timing of the HTP exit relative to the liquidation decision affects which tax regime applies during the wind-down period.
Tax regime transition: HTP residents enjoy significant tax benefits – zero corporate income tax, zero VAT on main activities, reduced social protection contributions, the special employment regime. On exit from the HTP, these benefits cease and the company transitions to the standard Belarusian tax regime for any remaining activities. Getting the transition right avoids unexpected tax liabilities during the closure period.
Employee settlement under HTP employment arrangements: HTP companies can employ staff under special arrangements – including electronic contracts and the non-compete regime. Terminating these arrangements correctly requires compliance with both the Labour Code and the specific HTP employment rules.
Intellectual property: IT companies typically own or have rights to significant intellectual property – software, algorithms, databases, registered trademarks. Closing the company without addressing the IP position can leave rights in legal limbo. We advise on the correct treatment of IP during closure – transfer to the founder, assignment to a third party, or other arrangements.
Reasons IT Companies Close in Belarus
Since 2022, the most common reasons for closing an IT company or exiting the HTP have been: relocation of the team to a different jurisdiction – Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, Armenia – following geopolitical situation; international client requirements restricting work with Belarusian entities; international payment restrictions making it difficult to receive or send funds; the founder’s strategic decision to consolidate operations in a single jurisdiction; or a change in business direction that makes the HTP structure no longer necessary.
For companies that relocated their team but left the Belarusian entity open, the most urgent question is often: how do we close this cleanly without travelling to Belarus?
IT Business in Belarus
Get professional legal support for your IT business in Belarus at every stage!
Exit Strategies for IT Companies
Full liquidation – closing the IT company: The most complete exit. The company is formally liquidated – all debts settled, employees terminated, HTP residency ended, company excluded from the register. Timeline: two and a half to six months for a company with a straightforward history; longer for companies with complex employment arrangements, outstanding contracts or IP issues.
Sale of the IT company: Where the company has value – a team, clients, contracts, HTP residency – it may be more valuable to sell than to liquidate. The buyer acquires the company as a going concern including the HTP residency. For founders from unfriendly states, share sales are subject to restrictions – government commission approval and a state contribution of up to 25% of the transaction value.
Transfer of HTP residency with change of ownership: The HTP residency transfers with the company on a share sale. A buyer acquiring an HTP resident company inherits the residency and its benefits. This can make the company attractive to a Belarusian IT buyer who wants HTP status without going through the application process.
Dormant status with HTP exit: Where full liquidation is not immediately practical, some companies exit the HTP – ending the special tax regime – while keeping the legal entity in dormant status. This reduces ongoing compliance obligations while the formal closure is prepared.
Our Services
HTP exit management
We manage the formal exit from HTP residency – notification, compliance completion and register update.
Full liquidation management
We manage the complete liquidation process from the decision through to exclusion from the register.
IP review and transfer
We review the company's IP position and manage the transfer or assignment of all IP assets before closure.
Employee settlement advice
We advise on the correct termination process for HTP employees – including non-compete compensation obligations.
Tax audit preparation
We prepare the company for the tax audit covering both HTP and post-HTP periods.
Remote closure management
We manage the full closure process by power of attorney for founders who cannot travel to Belarus.
Legal Support for Foreign IT Companies
Professional legal support for foreign clients collaborating with Belarusian IT companies and HTP residents!
Why Foreign Companies Choose AMBY Legal
HTP expertise
We work with HTP resident companies regularly – we know the HTP regime, the exit process and the specific issues that arise on closure.
IP focus
We identify and address IP issues on closure – ensuring rights are properly transferred before the company ceases to exist.
Post-2022 experience
We have advised IT companies on closing their Belarusian operations following the 2022 relocations – including cases involving founders from restricted countries.
Remote managemen
We manage the full closure process by power of attorney – founders do not need to travel to Belarus.
English-speaking
We communicate with clients in English throughout the process.
FAQ
Is closing an HTP resident company different from closing a regular Belarusian company?
Yes – there are several additional steps. The HTP residency must be formally terminated. The timing of the HTP exit affects the applicable tax regime during the wind-down period. Employees hired under HTP arrangements need to be settled under the specific HTP rules. And IP rights created during the company’s operation need to be transferred before the company is excluded from the register.
Can I close my Belarusian IT company without travelling to Belarus?
Yes – we manage the full closure process by power of attorney. Most steps can be handled remotely. We advise at the outset on which steps require local presence and which can be managed remotely.
What happens to the software and IP owned by the company when it closes?
IP rights owned by the company – including software, trademarks and patents – must be transferred to a new owner before the company is excluded from the register. Rights that are not transferred are extinguished with the company. We review the IP position as part of our closure service and manage the transfer process.
What happens to non-compete agreements when the company closes?
The employer’s obligation to pay non-compete compensation continues even after the company closes – for the full post-employment restriction period. This obligation needs to be addressed in the closure plan. We advise on the correct approach for each specific situation.
How long does it take to close an HTP IT company?
For a company with a straightforward history – few employees, no outstanding contracts, clean tax position – the process takes approximately two and a half to four months. For a company with a complex employment and contract history, six to nine months is more realistic. The tax audit is typically the longest step.
What if my IT company relocated its team but left the Belarusian entity open?
This is a common situation after 2022. The entity continues to exist and accumulate obligations. The longer it is left, the more complex the closure becomes. We advise on the current state of the entity – outstanding obligations, tax position, employee status – and recommend the most efficient closure route given the current situation.