Mauritania legal and accounting and tax considerations in 2024

legal and tax regulations in Mauritania

  1. Corporate tax in Mauritania is levied at a rate of 25%. The minimum corporate tax (known as Impôt Minimum Forfaitaire, or IMF) rate is 2.5% of the turnover and may not be less than US$ 2,400;
  2. The fiscal year in Mauritania is the calendar year and tax returns must be filed in two installments which are i) by the 31st of March and ii) by the 30th of April of the year following the fiscal year. Penalties are levied at the rate of i) 10% of the amount due for late filing and late payment for delays less than 2 months and ii) 25% of the amount due for delays that are more than 2 months;
  3. Foreign companies that wish to carry out business activities in Mauritania for a period not exceeding 6 months are subject to a 15% withholding tax regime on their earnings in Mauritania while exempt from all other taxes;
  4. Branches pay a corporate tax rate of 25% plus an additional 10% withholding tax on branch remittances;
  5. All corporate businesses are required to register for VAT. The standard VAT rate levied on provision of goods and services and on import transactions in Mauritania is at a rate of 14%. Services involving telecommunication and petroleum products are to a higher VAT rate of 18%. All VAT returns must be submitted monthly by the end of the subsequent month;
  6. Capital gains tax in Mauritania is subject to the standard applicable corporate tax rate of 25%. The tax may be deferred in case the entity commits to reinvest the proceeds by acquiring new fixed assets in Mauritania in the subsequent three fiscal years;
  7. Withholding tax is levied in Mauritania on i) dividends at the rate of 10%, ii) interest at the rate of 10%, iii) royalties paid to a non-resident at the rate of 3% and iv) technical service fees at the rate of 3%;
  8. Tax losses can be carried forward for a period of up to five years;
  9. Capital duty and real property tax are not levied in Mauritania;
  10. Employers must submit to the relevant authorities social security tax at the rate of 15% of the employees taxable gross salary;
  11. Registration duties on transfers of real property or businesses are levied at variable rates between 0.25% to 15%;
  12. Exchange-control regulations exist in Mauritania for foreign financial transactions;
  13. Mauritania has signed double tax treaties with France, Tunisia, Senegal and the Maghreb Arab Union;
  14. Healy Consultants Compliance Department will assist our Clients with i) documenting and implementing accounting procedures ii) implementing financial accounting software iii) preparation of financial accounting records and iv) preparing forecasts, budget and sensitivity analysis;
  15. It is important our Clients’ are aware of their personal and corporate tax obligations in their country of residence and domicile; and they will fulfill those obligations annually. Let us know if you need Healy Consultants’ help to clarify your annual reporting obligations.

Contact us

For additional information on our accounting and legal services in Mauritania, please contact our in-house country expert, Ms. Chrissi Zamora, directly:
client relationship officer - Chrissi
ministry of finances central bank chamber of commerce invest in mauritania