Taxes in Equatorial Guinea

Law No. 1/2024 of 19th day of the eleventh month, the General Tax Law, entered into force on 6 December 2024 and replaced the 2004 regulation. It broadens the tax base, reduces exemptions, and is connected with harmonised rules of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Ministerio de Hacienda, Planificación y Desarrollo Económico) administers the tax system; the General Directorate of Taxes and Revenue (Dirección General de Impuestos y Recaudaciones) and the Treasury (Tesorería) handle tax assessment, payment, review, and control depending on the procedure. The customs administration is additionally responsible for import and export duties. Progressive tax rates of up to 25 percent apply to employment and other personal income. The minimum tax-free allowance is 1,400,000 XAF. Company profits are generally subject to a tax rate of 25 percent on net profit. Certain business activities are also subject to a minimum tax charge (Cuota Mínima Fiscal) of 1.5 percent of gross receipts per half-year; the two instalments are paid from 1 to 15 July and from 1 to 15 January. Depending on the applicable rules, loss carryforwards may be available for three to five years. Small businesses have a special regime, including the Single Tax Patent (Patente Tributario Único) for smaller activities in categories A to D. The amount depends, among other things, on location and turnover; government information states that small businesses may receive reductions of approximately 30 to 80 percent. The standard value-added tax rate is 15 percent and the reduced rate is 5 percent. Certain basic necessities may be subject to a reduced or exempt rate. The law provides for input-tax deductions and refunds, but a fully transparent and standardised digital refund process has not been publicly documented. Tobacco and alcohol are subject to excise taxes. Gambling, entertainment, leisure, financial transactions, and real estate also fall within the expanded tax framework. According to government information, real estate valued below 20,000,000 XAF is exempt from property tax; the practical implementation and the underlying cadastral valuation still require administrative verification. The calendar year is the usual tax period. The Fiscal Statistical Declaration (Declaración Estadística Fiscal) is filed, according to the available information, from 1 January to 30 June. The practical process usually consists of obtaining and completing forms, making a bank payment, and submitting the documents to the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry or the Treasury may then review the information and carry out an audit or inspection. Employers withhold personal income tax from wages, submit the return by the 15th of the following month, and make the payment, according to the available practical information, before the 30th of the month. A single tax identification number is required for tax administration. There is no reliable public confirmation that a fully available online tax portal, a unified electronic filing system, digital registration, or nationwide online payment is in place. The informal sector, limited digitalisation, and implementation rules that are not yet fully traceable make practical administration more difficult. The 2024 law expands complaint and review options; specific appeal stages and deadlines should be checked against the current statutory text and implementing rules. For international trade, the customs union and Common External Tariff apply. Customs exemptions unrelated to hydrocarbons have been abolished; new exemptions apply only on a case-by-case and time-limited basis. The 2026 budget provides a 5 percent customs duty for selected essential imports and, depending on the goods, a value-added tax rate of 0 or 5 percent. The customs system (ASYCUDA) was approximately 90 percent implemented at the entry points in Malabo, Luba, and Bata; expansion to additional access points was planned for 2026. Residents are generally taxed on their worldwide income, while non-residents are taxed on income sourced in Equatorial Guinea. In practice, some recent audits considered only income from Equatorial Guinea. The regional double-taxation Regulation 07/19-UEAC-010-A-CM-33 has applied uniformly since January 2023 and covers, among other things, taxing rights, permanent establishments, capital gains, withholding taxes on dividends, interest, royalties, and services, exchange of information, anti-abuse measures, and dispute resolution. A bilateral tax treaty with a particular state must be examined separately. Special rules on production levies and profit sharing also apply to the hydrocarbon sector.