Benin Corporate Income Tax

Corporate income tax (Impôt sur les Sociétés)

Companies in Benin pay the Impôt sur les Sociétés (IS) on net taxable profit. A minimum tax (Impôt Minimum, IM/IMF) applies where the IS computed on profit is low. Withholding taxes apply to dividends, interest, and royalties.

• Standard IS rate — 30% percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — Impôt sur les Sociétés)
• Reduced IS rate — industrial / manufacturing / mining companies — 25% percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — Impôt sur les Sociétés)
• Hydrocarbon (oil & gas) sector IS rate — Between 35% and 45% depending on contractual clauses percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — secteur des hydrocarbures)
• Minimum tax (Impôt Minimum) rate — 0.75% of turnover / receivable products (produits encaissables) percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — Impôt Minimum)
• Minimum tax floor — Not less than XOF 200,000 XOF (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — Impôt Minimum)
• Tax base — Net accounting profit (per SYSCOHADA accounts) adjusted for tax add-backs and deductions (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — détermination du bénéfice imposable)
• Territorial basis — IS applies to profits realised in Benin (territoriality); foreign-branch profits generally outside scope ((approx — confirm)) (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — territorialité de l'IS)
• WHT on dividends (standard) — 15% (10% for regularly distributed dividends) percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — IRCM / retenue sur dividendes)
• WHT on dividends — WAEMU-listed company — 7% for dividends distributed by companies listed on an approved WAEMU stock exchange percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — IRCM)
• WHT on interest — 15% percent ((approx — some guides cite 10% to non-residents; confirm)) (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — IRCM / retenue sur intérêts)
• WHT on royalties (paid abroad) — 10% to foreign individuals; 12% to foreign companies percent (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — retenue sur redevances)
• Treaty relief — Benin's double tax treaties (incl. WAEMU/UEMOA multilateral convention) may reduce WHT rates on dividends, interest and royalties (Conventions fiscales / WAEMU multilateral tax convention)
• IS annual return deadline — By 30 April of the year following the financial year-end ((approx — confirm)) (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — déclaration IS)
• Advance payments (acomptes) — IS is paid by advance installments (acomptes) during the year, with the balance settled on filing ((approx — confirm number/dates of installments)) (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — acomptes IS)