Cameroon - Country Key Features

Last reviewed: 4 February 2022

Effective date: 1 January 2022

A. Direct taxation: Companies B. Direct taxation: Individuals C. Indirect

taxation: Value added tax (VAT)/Goods and services tax (GST) D. Other
taxes E. General information

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Exported / Printed on 14 Apr. 2022 by Olivier.Balga.Djonwe@cm.ey.com.

A. Direct taxation: Companies
1. Resident companies
Residence No definition of residence is provided in the law.
Instead, the territoriality rule provides that tax is due
from
companies operating in Cameroon
Tax base Territorial (active income)
Worldwide (passive income)
Corporate tax rates 33% (30% standard rate plus 10% local surcharge)
30.8% (28% standard rate plus 10% local surcharge)
for companies with annual turnover below 3 billion
16.5% (15% standard rate plus 10% local surcharge)
on commercial operations of non-profit entities.
Alternative minimum tax 2% of gross turnover
5% for companies under the simplified tax regime
1% for non-profit entities
Capital gains Part of business income (with some exemptions and
reliefs)
Loss carry-forward Yes, up to 4 years (extended by 1 year for taxpayers
most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, undergoing
restructuration in fiscal year 2021)
Loss carry-back No
Unilateral double taxation relief Yes, deduction

2. Non-resident companies
Corporate tax rates 15%
33% (if PE)
Capital gains on sale of shares in resident 16.5%
companies
Capital gains on sale of immovable property Part of business income (with some exemptions and
reliefs). Non-final withholding tax applies in specified
cases

Withholding tax rates

Branch profits 16.5%
Dividends 16.5%
Interest 16.5%
0% on certain interest
Royalties 15%
Fees (technical) 15%
Fees (management) 15%

3. Specific issues
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distributed without permission of IBFD.
Disclaimer: IBFD will not be liable for any damages arising from the
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 Participation relief Yes
Group treatment No

Incentives Investment in creation, extension, renewal, asset

restructuring or conversion of businesses
Listed companies
Free-trade zone
New investments in economically depressed zones
Agriculture, livestock and fisheries
Local construction material
Digital and innovation sector

Anti-avoidance legislation
Transfer pricing Yes
Limitations on interest deductibility Yes
Controlled foreign company No
General anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) Yes
Other anti-avoidance legislation Yes, indirect sale of shares in Cameroonian
companies

B. Direct taxation: Individuals

1. Resident individuals
Residence An individual is resident in Cameroon if (1) he has
a permanent home in Cameroon, (2) exercises a
professional activity in Cameroon, or (3) his centre
of vital interests is in Cameroon
Taxable income Territorial (active income)
Worldwide (passive income)
Income tax rates Employment income: progressive, top rate 35% (over
F.CFA 5 million)
Business, professional, industrial and commercial
income: 30%
Artistes and sportsmen, rental income: 15%
10% local surcharge applies
Alternative minimum tax 2.2% of gross turnover
5.5% for companies under the simplified tax regime
Capital gains Taxed as ordinary income (with some exemptions and
reliefs)
Unilateral double taxation relief No
Social security contributions 4.2% on the gross salary

2. Non-resident individuals

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distributed without permission of IBFD.
Disclaimer: IBFD will not be liable for any damages arising from the
use of this information.

Exported / Printed on 14 Apr. 2022 by Olivier.Balga.Djonwe@cm.ey.com.

 Income tax rates Employment income: progressive, top rate 35% (over
F.CFA 5 million)
Business, professional, industrial and commercial
income: 30%
Artistes and sportsmen: 10%

Rental income: part of business and professional

income and 15% in other cases
10% local surcharge applies
Capital gains on sale of shares in resident 16.5%
companies
Capital gains on sale of immovable property 5%

Withholding tax rates

Employment income Regular wage withholding applies
Dividends 16.5%
Interest 16.5%
0% on certain interest
Royalties 15%
Fees (technical) 15%
Fees (directors) 16.5%

C. Indirect taxation: Value added tax (VAT)/Goods and services tax

(GST)
Taxable events Supply of goods and services, imports and transfer of
fixed assets
VAT/GST (standard) 19.25%
VAT/GST (reduced) 0%
VAT/GST (increased) No
Registration/deregistration threshold F.CFA 50 million
VAT group No

D. Other taxes
Inheritance and gift taxes Yes
Net wealth tax (individual) No
Net wealth tax (corporate) No
Real estate taxes Yes
Capital duty Yes
Transfer tax Yes
Stamp duty Yes
Excise duties Yes

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distributed without permission of IBFD.
Disclaimer: IBFD will not be liable for any damages arising from the
use of this information.

Exported / Printed on 14 Apr. 2022 by Olivier.Balga.Djonwe@cm.ey.com.

 Other main taxes Special tax on petroleum products
Special tax on income (taxe spéciale sur les
revenus) applicable on e.g. on income of specified (i)
Cameroon shipping companies – 3%; (ii) public
procurement contracts – 5% and one-time service
provision to nonresidents – 10%

E. General information
Sources of tax law General Tax Code (Code Général des Impôts)
Main types of business entities Public limited companies (sociétés anonymes, SAs)
Simplified public limited company (société par actions
simplifiée, SAS)
Private limited companies (sociétés à responsabilité limitée,
SARLs)
General partnership (sociétés à nom collectif, SNCs)
Joint ventures (sociétés en participation)
Limited partnerships (sociétés en commandite simple,
SCSs)

Accounting principles OHADA

Currency CFA franc (franc de la Coopération Financière d’Afrique,
F.CFA)
Foreign exchange control Yes
Official websites Ministry of Finance
Directorate General of Taxation
Citation: Cameroon - Country Key Features, Tables IBFD (accessed 12 Apr. 2022).

© Copyright 2022 IBFD: No part of this information may be reproduced or

distributed without permission of IBFD.
Disclaimer: IBFD will not be liable for any damages arising from the
use of this information.

Exported / Printed on 14 Apr. 2022 by Olivier.Balga.Djonwe@cm.ey.com.