Mauritius

Financial Year – 1 July – 30 June
Currency – Mauritian Rupee (MUR)

Corporate Tax Summary

A company is resident in Mauritius if it:

  • a. is incorporated in Mauritius; or
  • b. has its central management and control in Mauritius.

A company incorporated in Mauritius shall be treated as being non-resident if its central management and control is outside Mauritius.

Imposition of Tax

Resident companies are subject to tax in Mauritius on worldwide income whereas non-resident companies are subject to tax in Mauritius only on income derived from Mauritius.

Reference
Corporate Income Tax Rate (%)15%15%
Corporate Income Tax Rate (%)3% (reduced rate)
  1. Applicable on chargeable income attributable to export of goods (including paper trading).
  2. Applicable on chargeable income attributable to manufacturing companies engaged in medical, pharmaceutical sector and holding an Investment Certificate subject issued by EDB.
Capital GainsNo Capital Gains tax in Mauritius
Withholding Tax Rate:
Dividends – FrankedN/A
Dividends – UnfrankedN/A
Dividends – Conduit Foreign IncomeN/AN/A
Interest15%Lower rates could be applicable by way of Treaties which Mauritius has signed.
Royalties15%Lower rates could be applicable by way of Treaties which Mauritius has signed.
Fund Payments from Managed Investment TrustsN/A
Branch Remittance TaxNoNo
Net Operating Losses (Years)
Carry BackNo
Carry ForwardLosses may be carried forward for 5 income years. Losses arising out of capital expenditure can be carried forward indefinitely.

Individual Tax Summary

Residence

An individual is a tax resident of Mauritius in respect of an income year where he:

  • has his domicile in Mauritius unless his permanent place of abode is outside Mauritius.
  • has been present in Mauritius for at least 183 days; or
  • has been present in Mauritius in the current income year and the 2 preceding income years, for an aggregate period of at least 270 days

Basis of Taxation

Resident individuals are subject to income tax in Mauritius on income, other than exempt income, which is derived from Mauritius. Income derived by a resident individual from outside Mauritius is taxable in Mauritius when it is remitted in Mauritius. A non-resident individual will only be subject to income tax on income, other than exempt income, derived from or accruing in Mauritius.

Filing Status – Mauritius has a self-assessment tax system. An individual pays tax on income derived during the preceding year. The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June.

Personal Income Tax Rates

An individual is taxed on his annual chargeable income as follows:

Annual Chargeable IncomeRate of Income taxAnnual Chargeable IncomeRate of Income tax
First Rs 390,0000%Next Rs 300,00012%
Next Rs 40,0002%Next Rs 300,00014%
Next Rs 40,0004%Next Rs 400,00016%
Next Rs 60,0006%Next Rs 500,00018%
Next Rs 60,0008%On the remainder20%
Next Rs 300,00010%

Value-added tax (VAT)

VAT is charged by VAT-registered entities at the standard rate of 15% on all goods and services supplied by them in Mauritius (except those taxed at 0%), other than some exempt supplies.

An entity should register for VAT if turnover exceeds MUR 6 million a year. However, certain service providers (e.g. accountants and auditors, attorneys and solicitors, consultants, surveyors, valuers) should register for VAT irrespective of their turnover.

VAT-registered persons with annual taxable turnover exceeding MUR 10 million should submit their VAT return monthly and electronically by the end of the month following the end of the taxable month. Otherwise, VAT return filing is completed quarterly (i.e., within 20 days following the end of a taxable quarter). The taxable quarter is a period of three months ending at the end of March, June, September, or December. Also, where the VAT-registered persons are filing pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) returns electronically under the Income Tax Act (ITA), they are required to file the VAT returns electronically by the end of the month following the taxable period.

Other Taxes

Land Transfer Tax

Per the Land (Duties and Taxes) Act, Land Transfer Tax (“LTT”) is levied on the transfer of land and payable at the rate of 5% by the transferor.

LTT is also payable at the above rates by the transferor upon transfer of the shares of a company owning immovable properties, based on the value of shares or property, whichever is the lower.

Registration duty

The Registration Duty Act provides, among others, for a duty at an effective rate of 5% of the sum of money paid as a condition of an exchange of immovable property, or a division in kind of immovable property, where such sum does not exceed MUR 100,000.

Contribution Sociale Généralisée (CSG)

Employers are required to deduct, where applicable, the employee’s contribution from his wage or salary and pay that contribution together with the employer’s contribution to the MRA.

Where in a calendar year an employer effects payment of the statutory end of year bonus in more than one month, the social contribution rate applicable in each month shall be determined by cumulating the amount of end of year bonus paid in the respective month.

The rates of contribution applicable are shown in the table below.

Category of employeeRate applicable on the basic wage or salary of the employee and to be deducted from the wage or salary of the employeeRate applicable on the basic wage or salary of the employee and payable by the employer
An employee, other than a Public Sector employee, earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus NOT exceeding Rs 50,000 in a month1.5 %3 %
An employee other than a Public Sector employee earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus exceeding Rs 50,000 in a month3 %6 %
Public Sector employee employed by an employer which falls under the purview of PRB and earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus NOT exceeding Rs 50,000 in a monthNot applicable up to pay period Oct 20214.5 % up to pay period Oct 2021
1.5 % as from pay period Nov 20213 % as from pay period Nov 2021
Public Sector employee employed by an employer which falls under the purview of PRB and earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus exceeding Rs 50,000 in a monthNot applicable up to pay period Oct 20219 % up to pay period Oct 2021
3 % as from pay period Nov 20216 % as from pay period Nov 2021
Public Sector employee employed by an employer which does not fall under the purview of PRB and earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus NOT exceeding Rs 50,000 in a monthNot applicable up to the month preceding a salary review becoming effective4.5 % up to the month preceding a salary review becoming effective
Public Sector employee employed by an employer which does not fall under the purview of PRB and earning a basic wage or salary or prescribed bonus exceeding
Rs 50,000 in a month
Not applicable up to the month preceding a salary review becoming effective9 % up to the month preceding a salary review becoming effective
An employee who is in the domestic service earning a basic wage or salary NOT exceeding Rs 3,000 in aggregate in a month, from one or more employersNot applicable3 %