Impostos a Ghana

Company Tax

25%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

Resident companies are taxed on their worldwide income, non-resident companies are only taxed on the income sourced in Ghana.
Non-resident companies that conduct activities in Ghana through a branch are liable to pay a tax of 8% on earned repatriated profits, payable within 30 days.

Capital Gains Taxation

Ghana does not levy a separate capital gains tax; therefore, gains derived by a company are added to business income and are taxed at the standard corporate tax rate.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Depreciation of assets does not yield an allowable deduction when calculating taxable profits. It is replaced by capita allowances at statutory rates varying between 10% and 50%. The tax law does not provide for an explicit deduction of start-up expenses; however, they are usually deductible when they are wholly, exclusively, and necessarily incurred in the production of income. Interest expenses are ordinarily deductible, except in the case of restrictions that apply to thin capitalisation. Bad debts are usually deductible if the taxpayer proves they have taken all steps to pursue payments. Bad debts are not deductible if there is a 50% or more change in underlying ownership.
Charitable contributions to organisations or funds, scholarship schemes and rural or urban development programmes approved by the government qualify for deduction. COVID-19 donations are considered deductible expenses for income tax purposes.
Fines, penalties and taxes are usually not deductible for tax purposes.
Net operating losses can be carried for the three years immediately following the year in which the loss was incurred (up to five years for certain priority sectors). Carryback of losses is also permitted for taxpayers obtaining income relating to a long-term contract (unless there is a 50% or more change in underlying ownership).

Other Corporate Taxes

A Communication Services Tax (CST) is levied at a rate of 5% payable by both individual users and companies providing electronic communications services provided by service providers other than private electronic communications services.
National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) and Ghana Education Trust Fund Levy (GETFL) at a rate of 2.5% each are levied on the supply of goods and services provided in Ghana, the importation of goods and imported services. These items are also subject to the newly established COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy (CHRL), at a rate of 1%.
Social security contributions payable by the employer amount to 13% of the salary.
Stamp duty is levied at rates ranging from 0.25% to 1% and from GHS 0.05 to GHS 25, depending on the type of transaction and the instrument. A capital duty of 0.5% is levied on the initial stated capital and any subsequent increase in the stated capital.
Business fees are payable annually to local District Assemblies or Municipal Authorities, with rates varying according to the location.
Property tax is levied by the relevant District Assembly/Municipal Authority at varying rates depending on the location.

Other Domestic Resources

Ghana Revenue Authority

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

The only deductible expenses are social security contributions, qualifying insurance premiums, and donations. Non-business expenses are not deductible. Expenses incurred wholly, exclusively, and necessarily in the production of the income that are subject to tax are deductible.
Annual tax reliefs are provided at varying lump sum rates for certain categories, including an individual with a dependent spouse or two dependent children (GHS 1,200), aged 60 or more (GHS 1,500) and the disabled (25% of assessable income from any business or employment). Professional, technical and vocational training costs give rise to up to GHS 2,000 of tax relief. The first GHS 4,380 are tax-exempt.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

Non-residents pay taxes at the flat rate of 25% on their Ghana-sourced income.