Tax rates in Benin

Company Tax

30%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

Resident companies are subject to tax on Benin-source profits and foreign-source dividends, interest, royalties and capital gains, but not on foreign-source industrial and commercial profits. Non-resident companies are taxable only on Benin-source income and on the rental value of their Benin property.
Branches of foreign companies are taxed in the same way as domestic companies.

Capital Gains Taxation

Capital gains derived from the disposal of business assets are taxed at the ordinary company income tax rate unless new investment is made within 3 years (under conditions). If the taxpayer ceases his activities or disposes of his business during the three-year period, the capital gains to be reinvested will be taxed immediately.
Capital gains of non-resident corporations are taxed at 30%.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Deductions normally are allowed for expenses incurred in generating income. Management fees may be deducted if they are reasonable for the services rendered.
Interest paid on loans is deductible if the rates charged correspond to those of the market. The total amount of net deductible interest due annually on all debts contracted by a company is limited to 30% of the result before tax, interest, depreciation and provisions. However, the part of interest that is not immediately deductible may be carried forward and deducted within the limit of five years.
Amounts paid to the head office and technical assistance costs are deductible, provided that the taxpayer can prove that they correspond to real operations and that they are at arm's length.
Losses can be carried forward for up to three years. The carryback of losses is not permitted.

Other Corporate Taxes

Other corporate taxes include: a 4% payroll tax (Versement patronal sur salaires - VPS); social security contribution equal to 15.4% of gross salary are payable by the employer (6.4% pension and a 9% family allowance), plus 1% to 4% for industrial injury insurance (according to the level of risk); apprenticeship taxes; stamp duties; a duty of XOF 6,000 for capital increases; a tax of 8% on the transfer of land, buildings, and on the transfer of shares that results in the takeover of a company; a real property tax of 6% of the rental value for a developed property and 5% for an undeveloped property; a tax on a company's vehicles (between XOF 150,000 and 200,000, according to the size of the engine), an annual radio tax of XOF 1,000 and an annual television tax of XOF 3,000.
A tax for the development of sports is levied on big companies, with the taxable base represented by turnover (excluding taxes) at a rate of 1‰.
Contracts for insurance of assets in Benin are subject to insurance tax at rates from 0.25% (export credit) to 20% (fire).

Other Domestic Resources

Directorate-General for taxation

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

The first XOF 50,000 of employment income are exempt from taxation. Deductions are available for dependent children, with the tax due being reduced as follows:

- 0% in case of one dependent child
- 5% in case of two dependent children
- 10% in case of three dependent children
- 15% in case of four dependent children
- 20% in case of five dependent children
- 23% in case of six or more dependent children.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

An individual who has is tax domicile in Benin is normally subject to taxation on worldwide income, while individuals not domiciled in the country are taxed only on Benin-source income.
Domicile is based on habitual residence, which can be proved by a permanent home, principal place of residence or centre of economic interests.
Foreign-source income that already has been taxed may be exempt under an international tax treaty.