# Tunisia: taxes, residence and cost of living

Source: https://domicile.wiki/places/tunisia/ (domicile.wiki, researched 2026-10-15). Data licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Research, not tax or legal advice.

## At a glance

For an EU-citizen family of five living off a EUR 30M portfolio (the guide's default reader).

- Wealth tax: limited
- Children inherit: low tax
- EU member: no
- Currency: TND
- Capital: Tunis

## Tax on investments, inheritance and wealth

Tunisia taxes residents on worldwide income at up to 40% (40.5% with the social solidarity contribution), but foreign income already taxed abroad is exempt (Income Tax Code art. 36). Tunisian dividends bear 10%, gains on Tunisian shares 10-15% and on Tunisian property 10-15%. The rate on foreign portfolio gains and on foreign dividends not taxed at source is not settled in the sources found. Since 2026 a wealth tax of 0.5%/1% applies above TND 3 million to real estate (worldwide for residents, main home excluded) and Tunisian movables. Inheritances to children bear 2.5% registration duty.

- **Tunisian tax resident**: Worldwide PIT 0-40% with exemption for foreign income taxed abroad; flat rates on dividends and Tunisian gains; wealth tax from TND 3 million.

## Inheritance law and trusts

Tunisia follows an Islamic fixed-share system under the Personal Status Code of 1956 for Muslims. A foreigner's estate is governed by the law of their nationality under Law 98-97 (private international law code). Equal inheritance has been proposed but not enacted per the sources. Trusts and foundations were not sourced.

## Daily life (0-100, higher is better)

- Safety and personal security: 45
- Political and institutional stability: 40
- Corruption and government integrity: 42
- Legal system and property rights: 41
- Healthcare quality and access: 67
- Education quality: 28
- Human development and quality of life: 49
- Infrastructure and connectivity: 57
- Business opportunities and economy: 44
- Cultural fit and lifestyle: 24

## Research notes

### Tunisia — family-office tax dossier

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

#### Summary

Tunisia taxes residents on worldwide income at up to 40% (40.5% with the social solidarity contribution), but foreign income already taxed abroad is exempt (Income Tax Code art. 36). Tunisian dividends bear 10%, gains on Tunisian shares 10-15% and on Tunisian property 10-15%. The rate on foreign portfolio gains and on foreign dividends not taxed at source is not settled in the sources found. Since 2026 a wealth tax of 0.5%/1% applies above TND 3 million to real estate (worldwide for residents, main home excluded) and Tunisian movables. Inheritances to children bear 2.5% registration duty.

US citizens: US citizens remain fully US-taxed on worldwide income and estates; the app adds the US federal layer. 

#### Residence and eligibility

Resident if the principal residence (domicile) is in Tunisia, or if the person has a principal dwelling abroad but stays in Tunisia at least 183 days in the calendar year; treaty tie-breakers apply (PwC).

- **Residence card (carte de séjour)** (EU, US, OTHER): Foreigners staying long-term need a residence card; no residence-by-investment programme verified.

#### Capital gains

##### Standard regime

Residents pay 10% on gains on unlisted Tunisian shares sold after the year following acquisition (15% if sooner) and 10% on gains on Tunisian-listed shares (Finance Law 2023; PwC describes the 10% for sales within that period). Tunisian real estate gains are taxed at 10% after five years (15% within five years). Gains on foreign securities fall under worldwide taxation, but whether they are taxed at the PIT scale (up to 40.5%), a flat rate, or exempted under art. 36 was not established.

- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / low / unverified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **JSON numbers:** headline 15% (0.15); listed domestic 10% (0.1); listed foreign n/a (null); private business sale 10% (0.1); local real estate 10% (0.1); foreign real estate n/a (null).
- **How derived:** Domestic listed 10% (scored as an upper bound; long-held listed shares may be exempt). Unlisted Tunisian shares held past the year after purchase 10%. Tunisian property held over five years 10%. Foreign listed shares and foreign property: null (rate not established).
- **Holding period:** Shares: 10% if sold after the end of the year following acquisition, else 15%. Property: 10% after five years, else 15%.
- **Trader recharacterisation:** Habitual dealing is business income at the PIT scale.
- **Foreign assets:** Worldwide taxation; foreign income already taxed in the source state is exempt (art. 36 Income Tax Code).

Open points for this tax: Rate on a resident's gains on foreign listed securities (PIT scale up to 40.5%, a flat rate, or exempt) not found. | Whether gains on Tunisian-listed shares held beyond the year following acquisition are exempt or taxed at 10% after the Finance Law 2023.

#### Dividends

##### Standard regime

Dividends from Tunisian companies are taxed at 10%, as a final withholding tax (an advance on PIT if under TND 10,000). Foreign dividends are taxable in Tunisia unless they bore a similar tax in the source state (art. 36 exemption method); typical portfolio dividends that suffer source WHT (e.g. US, EU) are therefore exempt. The rate on foreign dividends not taxed abroad is not stated in the sources found.

- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / low / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **JSON numbers:** headline 10% (0.1); domestic 10% (0.1); foreign gross n/a (null); foreign tax relief: exemption.
- **How derived:** Domestic 10% final. Foreign: exempt when taxed at source; otherwise taxable at a rate not established (PIT scale up to 40.5% possible), so foreign_gross_rate is null.
- **Outbound withholding:** 10% on dividends to residents and non-residents, subject to treaties.
- **Treaty network:** Broad network listed on PwC's corporate withholding page (Europe, Arab and African states, and the United States).
- **Holding companies:** General CIT 20% (35% for SICAF/SICAR investment companies); see corporate section.

Open points for this tax: Whether 'subject to a similar tax' requires a minimum source rate, and the rate applying when no foreign tax was paid.

#### Inheritance and gifts to children

##### Standard regime

Inheritances from parents to children (ascendants and descendants) bear 2.5% registration duty on the value of inherited movable and immovable property (PwC). There is no exemption amount. Brothers and sisters pay 5%, more distant relatives 25-35%.

- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / medium / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **JSON numbers:** basis `beneficiary`, children `taxed_low`, exemption 0 TND, brackets (marginal): from 0 TND: 2.5% (0.025); other transfer costs 0% (0.0).
- **Gifts:** Registration duties on gifts between ascendants and descendants were not found in the sources consulted. (same as inheritance: False; tax-free after years: None)
- **Foreign assets:** Assumed to cover foreign movables of a resident deceased (not verified).
- **Residence/domicile rules:** Not verified.
- **Business relief covers listed shares:** False

Open points for this tax: Gift (donation) registration rates in direct line not found. | Territorial scope of inheritance registration duty for foreign assets of residents not verified.

**Surviving spouse:** Registration duty is 2.5% between spouses, the same as between ascendants and descendants, with no allowance (EY 2026); donations of goods between spouses are registered at a fixed TND 30.

#### Wealth tax

##### Standard regime

Wealth tax (impôt sur la fortune immobilière, Finance Law 2023; widened by Finance Law 2026) on individuals whose taxable assets at 1 January are worth TND 3 million or more: Tunisian real estate (and, for residents, foreign real estate) net of related debt, plus from 2026 movable assets situated in Tunisia. The main home and its furniture, professional assets, bank deposits and cars up to 12 CV are excluded. 0.5% of the whole value between TND 3 and 5 million, 1% of the whole value above TND 5 million. A foreign securities portfolio is outside the base.

- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / medium / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **JSON type:** `limited`
- **Component Wealth tax on real estate (worldwide for residents) and Tunisian movables:** base `real_estate_all`, allowance 0 TND, entry threshold 3,000,000 TND, brackets (whole_amount): from 0 TND: 0.5% (0.005); from 5,000,000 TND: 1% (0.01). Main residence, professional property, bank deposits and foreign movables excluded; Tunisian movables (e.g. Tunisian shares, going concerns) included from 2026. Rate applies to the whole value once a band is reached.
- **Property tax (not a wealth tax):** Municipal taxes on built property (taxe sur les immeubles bâtis) not researched.

Open points for this tax: Whether foreign real estate of residents remains in the base after the Finance Law 2026 rewrite (PwC lists it under the 2023 rules).

#### Special regimes

None modelled; see Residence and eligibility.

#### Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

Headline CIT rate: 20% (0.2). General CIT 20% since the Finance Law 2025 (was 15%); 10% for crafts, agriculture, fishing and regional-development zones after the deduction period; 35% for telecoms, hydrocarbons, SICAF/SICAR investment companies and others; 40% for banks, financial institutions and insurers. 10% final WHT on dividends.
Special zones/regimes: Free trade zones; Code for financial services to non-residents (offshore banks).

#### Cost of living notes

Not researched.

#### Open questions

- No source found for the tax on foreign portfolio gains, which is the largest gap for this family.

#### Sources

- Tunisia - Individual - Other taxes (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/individual/other-taxes
- Tunisia - Individual - Taxes on personal income (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/individual/taxes-on-personal-income
- Tunisia - Individual - Foreign tax relief and tax treaties (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/individual/foreign-tax-relief-and-tax-treaties
- Tunisia - Individual - Income determination (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/individual/income-determination
- Tunisia - Individual - Residence (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/individual/residence
- Tunisia - Corporate - Taxes on corporate income (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, professional): https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/tunisia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income
- EY Worldwide Personal Tax and Immigration Guide 2025-26 (March 2026 edition): https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-gl/technical/tax-guides/documents/ey-gl-worldwide-personal-immigration-tax-guide-03-2026.pdf

#### Change log

- 2026-10-15: initial research.
- 2026-10-16: added surviving-spouse treatment.


## Residence and succession sources

- [Inheritance tax and inheritance law in Tunisia](https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/middle-east/tunisia/inheritance) — Global Property Guide
- [Tunisian inheritance tax](https://www.giambronelaw.com/site/international/tunisian-solicitors/inheritance-tax-tunisia/) — Giambrone Law
- [Tunisian family law (UK Home Office)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/797548/Tunisian_Family_Law_-_Print_Version_Final_Document.pdf) — UK Home Office
- [HCCH status table: Convention of 1 July 1985 on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=59) — Hague Conference on Private International Law