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Ghana

Taxes, residence and daily life for people moving to Ghana: for a wealthy family, an expat employee and a remote worker. Researched .

Open Ghana in the interactive guide

At a glance

For an EU-citizen family of five living off a €30M portfolio, the guide's default reader. The interactive guide recomputes everything for other passports and situations.

Score for a wealthy family
51 / 100
Tax on a €30M portfolio
€273,900 a year
Wealth tax
none
Children inherit
tax-free
EU member
no
Currency
GHS
Capital
Accra

Tax on investments, inheritance and wealth

Ghana taxes residents on worldwide income at up to 35%. Gains on investment assets are taxed as income or, by election, at a flat 25%, including gains on foreign shares; the old exemption for Ghana Stock Exchange shares is reported to have lapsed. Ghanaian dividends bear an 8% final withholding tax; foreign dividends are taxed at up to 35% with a foreign tax credit. There is no wealth tax. Gifts are taxed as income, but receipts under a will or on intestacy and gifts from a parent are exempt.

Inheritance law and trusts

There is no forced heirship: a will can dispose of the estate, but the court can interfere where reasonable provision is not made for a child under 18 (Wills Act 1971, s. 13). Without a will, the Intestate Succession Law of 1985 shares the estate among spouse, children and others. Trusts are recognised; no private foundation law was found.

Daily life, scored out of 100

From public indicators (World Bank, UNDP, Transparency International and others); higher is better.

MeasureScore
Safety and personal security64
Political and institutional stability50
Corruption and government integrity45
Legal system and property rights52
Healthcare quality and access30
Education quality2
Human development and quality of life26
Infrastructure and connectivity54
Business opportunities and economy40
Cultural fit and lifestyle35

Research notes

Ghana — family-office tax dossier

Last reviewed: 2026-10-15 Tax year: 2026 Reviewer: research agent (Claude), unreviewed by a tax adviser

Summary

Ghana taxes residents on worldwide income at up to 35%. Gains on investment assets are taxed as income or, by election, at a flat 25%, including gains on foreign shares; the old exemption for Ghana Stock Exchange shares is reported to have lapsed. Ghanaian dividends bear an 8% final withholding tax; foreign dividends are taxed at up to 35% with a foreign tax credit. There is no wealth tax. Gifts are taxed as income, but receipts under a will or on intestacy and gifts from a parent are exempt.

US citizens: US citizens remain fully US-taxed on worldwide income and estates; the app adds the US federal layer. No US-Ghana income tax treaty.

Residence and eligibility

Resident if a citizen (unless living abroad in a permanent home all year), present 183 days or more in any 12-month period that begins or ends in the year, a government official posted abroad, or a citizen temporarily absent up to 365 days with a permanent home in Ghana (PwC).

Capital gains

Standard regime

Gains from the realisation of investment assets are included in chargeable income (up to 35%) or, at the resident individual's election, taxed at a flat 25% (Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2023, Act 1094). This applies to foreign as well as Ghanaian assets. The exemption for gains on Ghana Stock Exchange securities applied until 31 December 2021 according to TaxLawGH; a later extension was reported in 2022 but not confirmed. Payers withhold 3% of the consideration from resident sellers as an advance.

Open points for this tax: Whether gains on GSE-listed securities are exempt in 2026 (TaxLawGH: exemption expired after 2021; press reported a 2022 extension).

Dividends

Standard regime

Dividends paid by Ghanaian companies bear an 8% final WHT. Foreign dividends are investment income of a resident, included in chargeable income at up to 35%, with a foreign tax credit not exceeding the average Ghanaian rate.

Open points for this tax: Whether foreign dividends can be taxed at the 8% rate (not supported by PwC).

Inheritance and gifts to children

Standard regime

There is no separate inheritance, estate or gift tax. Gifts are taxable income of the recipient (25% for investment gifts to residents per GRA), but a gift received under a will or on intestacy, or from a spouse, child, parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece, is exempt (GRA).

Open points for this tax: Whether the death of an owner triggers a deemed realisation (capital gains) under Act 896 was not checked.

Wealth tax

Standard regime

No net wealth tax.

Special regimes

None modelled; see Residence and eligibility.

Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

Headline CIT rate: 25% (0.25). General CIT 25% (35% mining and upstream petroleum, 22% hotels, 8% non-traditional exports) plus the Growth and Sustainability Levy (2.5-5% of profit before tax, 2023-2028).

Cost of living notes

Not researched.

Open questions

Sources

Change log

Residence and succession sources

Tax sources are cited in the research notes above.