Macau

Research notes

Macau — family-office tax dossier

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

Summary

Macau taxes individuals only on employment and business income: professional tax is at most 12%, and complementary tax 12% on business profits. It does not tax capital gains, dividends or interest received by individuals, and has no inheritance, gift or wealth tax. It became formally territorial from 2026. The treaty network is tiny (no US treaty). Residence for foreigners is mainly through talent and employment schemes; the old investment-residence scheme for property buyers was suspended in 2007.

US citizens: US citizens remain fully US-taxed; Macau does not tax their investment income, so the US layer is the full cost. No treaty.

Residence and eligibility

No residence test is relevant for individuals: professional tax applies to Macau employment income regardless of residence; investment income is not taxed (PwC).

• Talent programme / employment / significant investment residence authorisation (EU, US, OTHER): Residence authorisation through the talent-introduction scheme, employment, or significant investment/management projects approved by IPIM; the property-purchase route was suspended in 2007 (details not verified). Portuguese citizens have historical links but no automatic right.

Capital gains

Macau resident (standard)

Macau has no capital gains tax for individuals: capital gains and investment income are not taxable to individual recipients (PwC). Individuals are taxed only on employment income (professional tax, max 12%). From 1 January 2026 Macau formally moved to territorial taxation.

• Important exceptions, statute references and announced changes: Stamp duty applies to transfers of Macau real estate (purchaser) and special stamp duties on short-term resales of residential property have existed; current rates not verified. Dealing in property or securities as a business is subject to complementary tax (12% above the threshold).
• Tax year / confidence / verification: 2026 / high / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
• JSON numbers: headline 0% (0.0); listed domestic 0% (0.0); listed foreign 0% (0.0); private business sale 0% (0.0); local real estate 0% (0.0); foreign real estate 0% (0.0).
• How derived: No tax on capital gains of individuals (PwC Income determination).
• Trader recharacterisation: A business of trading is subject to complementary tax at up to 12%.
• Foreign assets: Not taxed.

Dividends

Macau resident (standard)

Dividends are not taxed in the hands of individuals; dividends of Macau companies are covered by complementary tax at company level (PwC). Foreign dividends are untaxed.

• Tax year / confidence / verification: 2026 / high / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
• JSON numbers: headline 0% (0.0); domestic 0% (0.0); foreign gross 0% (0.0); foreign tax relief: not_applicable.
• How derived: No personal tax on dividends.
• Outbound withholding: No dividend WHT (general knowledge, not verified).
• Treaty network: Comprehensive arrangements with Mainland China, Hong Kong, Portugal, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Mozambique and Vietnam only; Belgium signed (PwC). No treaty with the US, so US dividends bear 30% US WHT.
• Holding companies: Complementary tax 12% above the tax-free threshold (MOP 600,000 for 2025 income under the 2026 Budget); territorial from 2026 except for MNE constituent entities.

Inheritance and gifts to children

Macau resident (standard)

No inheritance, estate or gift taxes (PwC). The former succession and gift tax was abolished in 2001 (general knowledge).

• Tax year / confidence / verification: 2026 / high / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
• JSON numbers: basis none, children fully_exempt, scope worldwide, exemption 0 MOP, brackets (marginal): none; other transfer costs 0% (0.0); deemed disposal 0% (0).
• Gifts: None. Stamp duty may apply to gratuitous transfers of Macau real estate (rates not verified). (same as inheritance: True; tax-free after years: None)
• Foreign assets: No tax.
• Residence/domicile rules: Not applicable.
• Business relief covers listed shares: False

Wealth tax

Macau resident (standard)

No net wealth tax.

• Tax year / confidence / verification: 2026 / high / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
• JSON type: none
• Property tax (not a wealth tax): Urban property tax on Macau real estate (on rental income or assessed rental value; rates and owner-occupier reliefs not verified). Stamp duty on property purchases.

Special regimes

None modelled; see Residence and eligibility.

Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

Headline CIT rate: 12% (0.12). Complementary tax: progressive to 12% on taxable profits; tax-free threshold raised to MOP 600,000 for 2025 income by the 2026 Budget; territorial taxation from 1 January 2026 except foreign income of MNE constituent entities.

Cost of living notes

Not researched in this pass (no quickly verifiable sources).

Open questions

• Residence routes for a non-working investor family were not verified with IPIM/PSP.
• Property stamp duties and urban property tax rates not verified.

Sources

• Macau SAR - Individual - Income determination (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/macau-sar/individual/income-determination
• Macau SAR - Corporate - Taxes on corporate income (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/macau-sar/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income
• Macau SAR - Individual - Foreign tax relief and tax treaties (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/macau-sar/individual/foreign-tax-relief-and-tax-treaties
• Macau SAR - Individual - Other taxes (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/macau-sar/individual/other-taxes
• Macau SAR - Individual - Residence (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/macau-sar/individual/residence
• Direcção dos Serviços de Finanças (Financial Services Bureau) - home (Financial Services Bureau, Macao SAR, tax_authority): https://www.dsf.gov.mo/

Change log

• 2026-10-15: initial research.