In order to reduce business and tax risks, it is always reasonable to check the background of the other party and the circumstances of the transaction before entering into a transaction.
The website of the Tax and Customs Board (MTA) contains the most common public and private sector databases, which can be used to check and assess the background and payment behaviour of the other party, thus reducing business and tax risks.
Cautionary signs may include tax arrears, unfiled tax returns, a discrepancy between the area of activity of the company and its actual business activities, lack of a valid legal address, unfiled annual reports, frequent changes in board members or shareholders, listing foreign nationals as members of the board, lack of functioning contact information, the email address and telephone number of the company not being registered under a local telecommunications operator.
Inquiries generally require the name and the registry and/or personal identification code of the counterparty. Some of the services are subject to a fee.
Through the Find public data service of the Tax and Customs Board, you can get a comprehensive overview on the public data of companies. The service displays general information about companies (legal address, main area of activity, etc.); data declared to the Tax and Customs Board (turnover, taxes paid, number of employees); information on arrears, unfiled declarations, and business and entrepreneurship prohibitions; valid notifications and permits from the register of economic activities; the company’s biography; activity licences for excise warehousing, tax warehousing, and customs services.
In the e-Business Register, you can view general data of all legal persons, registry cards (B-card), information on tax arrears, and business and entrepreneurship prohibitions free of charge. Inquiries about annual reports, field of activity, processing information, statutes, personal and commercial pledge data, and other information are subject to a fee.
The register of economic activities provides information about areas of activity subject to special requirements. The register can be used for checking whether an undertaking has an activity licence or if they have submitted a notice of economic activity necessary for operating in the field, and for obtaining information on precepts and prohibitions issued to undertakings.
The credit information database and credit register Creditinfo Eesti, Inforegister (business networks, credit rating, media monitoring), Äripäeva infopank (debts of various collection companies, background of key persons, tax reports, credit reports) also provide useful information about the counterparty.
The online publication Ametlikud Teadaanded publishes notices, invitations, summons, and announcements which must be published by law.