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openaccountants/skills/cameroon-vat.md
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1---
2name: cameroon-vat
3description: Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Cameroon VAT (TVA) return. Trigger on phrases like "TVA Cameroun", "DGI return", "declaration TVA". Cameroon applies TVA at 17.5% plus CAC municipal surcharge (10% of TVA = effective 19.25%). ALWAYS read this skill before touching any Cameroon VAT work.
4version: 2.0
5---
6 
7# Cameroon VAT (TVA) Return Skill v2.0
8 
9## Section 1 -- Quick reference
10 
11| Field | Value |
12|---|---|
13| Country | Cameroon |
14| Standard TVA rate | 17.5% |
15| CAC (municipal surcharge) | 10% of TVA amount (effective 1.75% of base) |
16| Effective total rate | 19.25% |
17| Reduced rate | 10% (social housing, 2026 Finance Law) |
18| Zero rate | 0% (exports, international transport) |
19| Filing portal | https://fiscalis.minfi.cm |
20| Authority | Direction Generale des Impots (DGI) |
21| Currency | FCFA (XAF) |
22| Filing frequency | Monthly (regime reel); Quarterly (simplifie) |
23| Deadline | 15th of following month |
24| Registration threshold | FCFA 100M (regime reel); FCFA 50-100M (simplifie) |
25| Primary legislation | Code General des Impots, Titre III |
26| Contributor | Open Accounting Skills Registry |
27| Validated by | Pending |
28| Last research update | April 2026 |
29 
30---
31 
32## Section 2 -- Required inputs and refusal catalogue
33 
34**Minimum viable** -- bank statement. Acceptable from Afriland First Bank, BICEC, Societe Generale Cameroun, Ecobank Cameroun, UBA Cameroun, or any Cameroonian bank.
35 
36**Refusal catalogue:**
37 
38**R-CM-1 -- Free zone.** Trigger: Douala Free Zone enterprise. Message: "Free zone VAT exemptions require specific decree. Escalate."
39 
40**R-CM-2 -- Oil/gas/mining.** Message: "Sector-specific conventions. Escalate."
41 
42---
43 
44## Section 3 -- Supplier pattern library
45 
46### 3.1 Cameroonian banks (fees: exempt -- exclude)
47 
48| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
49|---|---|---|
50| AFRILAND FIRST BANK, AFRILAND | EXCLUDE | Exempt financial service |
51| BICEC | EXCLUDE | Same |
52| SGC, SOCIETE GENERALE CAMEROUN | EXCLUDE | Same |
53| ECOBANK CAMEROUN | EXCLUDE | Same |
54| UBA CAMEROUN | EXCLUDE | Same |
55| INTEREST, LOAN | EXCLUDE | Out of scope |
56 
57### 3.2 Government
58 
59| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
60|---|---|---|
61| DGI, DIRECTION GENERALE DES IMPOTS | EXCLUDE | Tax payment |
62| DOUANE, CUSTOMS | Check for import TVA | Duty exclude; TVA+CAC recoverable |
63| CNPS | EXCLUDE | Social security |
64 
65### 3.3 Utilities
66 
67| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
68|---|---|---|
69| ENEO, SONATREL | Domestic 19.25% | Electricity |
70| CAMWATER, CDE | Domestic 19.25% | Water |
71| MTN CAMEROUN, ORANGE CAMEROUN | Domestic 19.25% | Telecoms |
72 
73### 3.4 SaaS
74 
75| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
76|---|---|---|
77| GOOGLE, MICROSOFT, AWS | Autoliquidation 19.25% (TVA + CAC) | Both TVA and CAC must be self-assessed |
78| ZOOM, SLACK, NOTION | Autoliquidation 19.25% | Same |
79 
80---
81 
82## Section 4 -- Worked examples
83 
84### Example 1 -- Standard sale with CAC
85 
86Taxable base FCFA 1,000,000. TVA = 17.5% x 1,000,000 = FCFA 175,000. CAC = 10% x 175,000 = FCFA 17,500. Total tax = FCFA 192,500 (effective 19.25%).
87 
88### Example 2 -- Reverse charge (autoliquidation)
89 
90French IT services FCFA 8,000,000. Self-assess TVA FCFA 1,400,000 + CAC FCFA 140,000. Claim input FCFA 1,540,000. Net zero.
91 
92---
93 
94## Section 5 -- Classification rules
95 
96### 5.1 Standard rate 19.25% (17.5% TVA + 10% CAC surcharge)
97 
98CAC is 10% of TVA amount, NOT of taxable base. Both always blocked or allowed together.
99 
100### 5.2 Reduced rate 10% (social housing, 2026 Finance Law)
101 
102### 5.3 Zero-rated
103 
104Exports, international transport, diplomatic supplies.
105 
106### 5.4 Exempt
107 
108Basic foodstuffs, financial services, medical/pharmaceutical, education, residential rental, agricultural inputs, petroleum products (subject to excise).
109 
110---
111 
112## Section 6 -- VAT return form structure
113 
114### Output: A1-A10
115 
116A1 (standard sales), A2 (exempt), A3 (exports), A4 (total), A5 (TVA collectee 17.5%), A6 (CAC 10% of A5), A7 (autoliquidation TVA), A8 (CAC autoliquidation), A9 (adjustments), A10 (total TVA+CAC brute).
117 
118### Input: B1-B8
119 
120B1 (local TVA), B2 (local CAC), B3 (import TVA), B4 (import CAC), B5 (capital goods TVA+CAC), B6 (autoliquidation input), B7 (exclusions), B8 (total deductible).
121 
122### Net: C1-C3
123 
124C1 = A10-B8. C2 = credit reporte. C3 = payable or carry forward.
125 
126---
127 
128## Section 7 -- Reverse charge (autoliquidation)
129 
130Services from non-resident: self-assess TVA 17.5% + CAC 10% of TVA. Both must be self-assessed. Claim input if taxable. Net zero.
131 
132Legislation: CGI, Art. 135.
133 
134---
135 
136## Section 8 -- Deductibility and blocked input
137 
138Blocked (CGI Art. 144-147): vehicles < 9 seats (unless taxi), staff accommodation, entertainment/gifts, fuel for blocked vehicles, personal use, invoices without NIU.
139 
140TVA and CAC always blocked or allowed together.
141 
142Partial exemption (prorata): CGI Art. 143. DGI approval required.
143 
144---
145 
146## Section 9 -- Filing, deadlines, and penalties
147 
148| Regime | Period | Deadline |
149|---|---|---|
150| Regime reel | Monthly | 15th of following month |
151| Simplifie | Quarterly | 15th of month following quarter |
152 
153| Violation | Penalty |
154|---|---|
155| Late filing | 30% surcharge |
156| Late payment | 1.5% per month |
157| Failure to register | 100% of tax due |
158 
159---
160 
161## Section 10 -- Edge cases, test suite, and escalation
162 
163### Edge cases
164 
165**EC1 -- US SaaS.** Autoliquidation. TVA 17.5% + CAC. Net zero.
166 
167**EC2 -- Timber export.** Zero-rated. Input TVA+CAC recoverable.
168 
169**EC3 -- Motor vehicle blocked.** Both TVA and CAC blocked.
170 
171**EC4 -- CEMAC import (Gabon).** TVA+CAC at Cameroon customs. No intra-community mechanism.
172 
173**EC5 -- Excise + TVA.** TVA calculated on price INCLUDING excise duty.
174 
175**EC6 -- Bad debt relief.** Court judgment required. Reviewer flag.
176 
177### Test suite
178 
179**Test 1 -- Standard sale.** FCFA 10M. Expected: TVA FCFA 1.75M, CAC FCFA 175K, total FCFA 1.925M.
180 
181**Test 2 -- Local purchase.** FCFA 5M + TVA 875K + CAC 87.5K. Expected: both recoverable.
182 
183**Test 3 -- Reverse charge.** French services FCFA 8M. Expected: output TVA 1.4M + CAC 140K. Input 1.54M. Net zero.
184 
185**Test 4 -- Export.** Cocoa FCFA 200M. Expected: zero-rated. Input recoverable.
186 
187**Test 5 -- Blocked entertainment.** FCFA 3M + TVA 525K + CAC 52.5K. Expected: both blocked. Cost FCFA 3.577M.
188 
189### Escalation protocol
190 
191```
192REVIEWER FLAG / ESCALATION REQUIRED
193[Standard format]
194```
195 
196### Out of scope -- direct tax
197 
198- Corporate IS: 33% (including 10% surcharge)
199- PAYE (IRPP): progressive 10%-35%
200- CNPS: family 7%, work injury 1.75%-5%
201 
202### Prohibitions
203 
204- NEVER separate TVA recovery from CAC -- always together
205- NEVER confuse zero-rated with exempt
206- NEVER treat CEMAC as intra-community
207- NEVER accept invoices without NIU
208- NEVER compute numbers -- engine handles arithmetic
209- NEVER file without checking credit reporte
210 
211---
212 
213## Disclaimer
214 
215This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional before filing or acting upon.
216 
217The most up-to-date, verified version of this skill is maintained at [openaccountants.com](https://openaccountants.com).
218 

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Use this skill whenever asked to prepare, review, or classify transactions for a Cameroon VAT (TVA) return. Trigger on phrases like "TVA Cameroun", "DGI return", "declaration TVA". Cameroon applies TVA at 17.5% plus CAC municipal surcharge (10% of TVA = effective 19.25%). ALWAYS read this skill before touching any Cameroon VAT work.

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