Budget 2018-19: L'analyse de KPMG
Budget 2018-19: L'analyse de KPMG
Budget 2018-19: L'analyse de KPMG
Highlights
2018/19
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© 2018 KPMG, a Mauritian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.
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Contents
Our Opinion
Budget Financials
Economic Outlook
Global Business
Corporate Tax
Personal Tax
Indirect Taxes
Tax Administration
The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to
provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in
Snapshot
hub. From an economic outlook perspective, the 2018-19 budget is expected to pursue a controlled path in terms of
macroeconomic fundamentals, with growth forecast of 4.1%, a budget deficit of 3.2% and public sector debt of
63.4%.
Social inclusiveness: Socio economic welfare remains high on the Government’s agenda. Youth employability is
enhanced through apprenticeship programmes and a new SME employment scheme. On the productivity side, a
fresh “work@home” scheme with tax incentives for employers is being introduced. Education expenditure
continues to feature prominently. The unacceptably high level of fatalities on our roads is being tackled in the form
of significantly higher fines, revocation of driving licences and the introduction of probationary driving licences for
new drivers.
Alleviation of the tax burden: The application of a one tax rate which was hailed as being simple and easy to apply, is
no longer seen as being equitable. A fresh tax bank of 10% is being introduced largely for the benefit of the middle
income group, earning up to Rs650,000 pa. The first Rs305,000 of income is exempt.
Financial Sector reforms: We have finally bowed down to international pressure on our global sector: GBC2s will
disappear and fiscal regime for both domestic and global business companies will be harmonised.
Opening up to foreigners: Mauritius officially opens up to the world by enticing foreign HNWIs to obtain citizenship
and Mauritian passports against payment of USD 1m and USD500k respectively. This is likely to generate fresh
revenue for the public coffers, whilst ensuring Mauritius remains a destination of choice. Other schemes
announced to this effect are a Foreign Manpower Scheme and a new package of facilities to attract foreign retirees.
Public infrastructure: The modernisation of our public infrastructure and regeneration which started in 2015 is well
on track, with committed investments in the metro project, expansion of the road networks and development of
smart cities.
Managing a transformation requires a slow but sure approach, or does it depend on what lies ahead?
The public accounts indicate a dependency on grants to achieve a 3.2% deficit as the country transforms itself from
a services economy to an integrated business platform. In years ahead, harsh realities will emerge, such as spare
asset capacity emerging from the contraction of the sugar sector, excess liquidity, an ageing population and a falling
birth rate. The vision of a high income country by 2023, with a GDP per capita of USD13,600, implies that our
economy will have to grow by an average of over 6% per year. Given the forecast growth of 4.1% for next fiscal
year, there will have to be new avenues of incremental economic growth to help achieve this vision in the longer
term. In such a future state of affairs, one would eventually question if the pursuit of a prudent transformation will
be enough? …. Or should we as a country, be bolder with less reliance on government?
Snapshot
As at June, 2018 10% increase 9.4% increase
MUR 323bn
services
Grants
Public sector gross debt is Social protection
planned to increase by MUR
21bn. However, as a percentage
of GDP, this figure is planned to
decrease from 63.4% to 63.1%
MUR 8.8bn
7.5% of total revenue
MUR 35.2bn
26.3% of total expenditure
MUR 3.4bn
2017-2018
MUR 1.6.4bn
2017-2018
MUR 11.6bn
2017-2018
MUR 32.6bn
2017-2018
rising to rising to
rising to rising to
MUR 4.2bn
2018-2019
MUR 17.7bn
2018-2019
MUR 12.7bn
2018-2019
MUR 35.2bn
2018-2019
How do we compare *
*Sources: Singapore budget 2017, National Treasury Republic of South Africa budget review 2018, Budget speech 2018/2019 Mauritius
Budget
Real GDP growth % 3.8 3.9 4.1 4.3
Snapshot
Public Sector Debt % of GDP 64.8 63.4 63.1 62.8
10,000 712
1,789
8,000 15,449 5,588 15,544
1,719
70
6,000
4,000
2,000
6,737
-
Grants
Budget Deficit
Economic Affairs
Budget Deficit
General Public
Other income
Social Protection
services, income
Environmental
Education
Other expenses
Taxes on goods,
protection
2017/18
2018/19
Services
and profits
Safety
Tax
Reforms in the taxation regime of Global – Income derived from provision of specified financial
services.
Business Companies
— A partial exemption regime will replace the deemed — Where partial exemption is not available, GBL1 will
foreign tax credit system as from 1 January 2019; benefit from the current foreign tax credit system (for
taxes suffered on foreign source income);
— A partial exemption regime will be implemented
whereby all Category 1 Global Business Companies — Profits derived from global trading activities will be
(“GBL1”), subject to satisfying pre-defined substantial taxed at a reduced rate of 3%;
activities requirements imposed by the Financial
Services Commission, will be granted an income tax — The Category 2 Global Business regime will be
exemption at the rate of 80% on the following income: abolished as from 1 January 2019;
– Foreign source dividends and profits attributable to — The current regime will continue to apply until 30 June
a foreign permanent establishment; 2021 for companies which have been issued a licence
prior to 16 October 2017.
– Interest and royalties; and
KPMG VIEWS
1. The above changes align the taxation of Global Business Companies with domestic companies;
2. The new tax regime is welcomed as it is in line with international best tax practices in relation to fair taxation;
3. The enhanced substance conditions have not yet been defined. We hope these will be defined in the Finance
Bill and that these conditions will vary depending on the business activities of the company;
4. Existing companies holding a Category 2 Global Business Licence need to review their structures as they will
not be able to operate as Global Business Category 2 Companies after 30 June 2021;
5. Clarity should be provided as to whether GBL1s will be subject to Corporate Social Responsibility requirements
under the new tax regime;
6. We hope the Finance bill will provide clarity as to whether the Global Business Companies will continue to be
able to claim foreign taxes suffered on foreign income where they do not opt for partial exemption.
Regulatory
— Management Companies will be responsible for Anti- Measures to support the Fintech sector
Money Laundering/combating the financing of
terrorism as well as legal, regulatory & corporate — Setting up a National Regulatory Sandbox License
governance compliance of these Committee;
companies/partnerships.
— Issuance of guidelines on investment in crypto
currency as a digital asset.
Banking
New Tax Regime for Banks — An incentive system will be introduced for banks having
chargeable income exceeding MUR1.5 Billion where the
tax rate may be reduced to 5% if pre-determined
— With effect from 1 July 2019, there will be no distinction conditions are satisfied;
between Segment A and Segment B income and the
chargeable income of banks will be taxable as follows: — The current special levy on banks will be maintained
until 30 June 2019;
– 5% tax rate applicable on chargeable income less
or equal to MUR1.5 Billion; and — With effect as from 1 July 2019, a special levy will be
introduced under the Value Added Tax Act and will be
– 15% tax rate applicable on chargeable income charged on the net operating income derived by banks
exceeding MUR1.5 Billion. from their domestic operations.
KPMG VIEWS
— The new regime is welcomed as it aligns with international best practices in relation to fair taxation.
— The tax regime maintains Mauritius as an attractive jurisdiction for banks as the effective tax rate will continue
to remain competitive.
— The Budget does not specify the conditions to be satisfied under the incentive system. We hope these
conditions and for which period the reduced rate will be applicable will be specified in the Finance Bill.
— It is not clear whether the new special levy will be applicable on banking transactions with global business
companies.
— There is no clarity whether under the new regime banks can continue to claim credit for foreign taxes suffered
on foreign source income.
Others
Others
Tax holidays Work@Home Scheme
— A five year tax holiday will be introduced for Mauritian
— A double deduction for tax will be granted on the wage
companies collaborating with the Mauritius Africa
and salary costs of employees operating under the
Fund with respect to investment in the development
Scheme for the first two years of operation;
of infrastructure in the Special Economic Zones;
KPMG VIEWS
— Domestic companies will henceforth be eligible to the partial exemption similar to Global Business Companies;
— The reduced tax rate of 3% applicable to companies on export of goods should be applicable to freeport companies.
Effective as from the income year starting on 1 July – An individual investing in a rainwater harvesting
2018, the Income Exemption Threshold for all system will be entitled to deduct from his taxable
categories has been increased by MUR5,000 as income the total costs of the investment.
detailed in Appendix 1.
— Interest Relief
Other Exemptions and Reliefs – An interest relief on the profit charge payable under
an Islamic Financing Arrangement will be applicable
— Deduction for Tertiary Education on the construction of a house provided that the
arrangement is secured on immovable property.
– The deduction in respect of a dependent child
pursuing tertiary education abroad has been — Exempt Income
increased from MUR135,000 to MUR200,000.
Similarly, if the dependent is pursuing tertiary – The exemption threshold on lump sum has been
education locally, the relief has been raised increased from MUR2 Million to MUR2.5 Million.
from MUR135,000 to MUR 175,000. The lump sum relates to severance allowance,
pension or retiring allowance.
— The Negative Income Tax scheme was introduced — A Mauritian artist can choose to claim an
as from 1 July 2017 to provide financial support to expenditure of up to 50% of his earnings arising
employees deriving monthly earnings less than or from his artistic work (other than a literary work)
equal to MUR9,900; without any supporting documentation. The artist
should be a registered unsalaried Mauritian and earn
— It has been proposed that the eligibility criteria will less than MUR300,000 annually.
be reviewed with retrospective effect as from 1
July 2017 as follows: Regulatory – Two new schemes to attract
High Net Worth Individuals:
– The Negative Income Tax allowance will be
based on the monthly basic salary instead of
the total monthly earnings; — The first scheme will offer Mauritian Citizenship to
foreigners who make a non-refundable contribution
– However, an employee will not be eligible to of USD 1 Million to a Mauritius Sovereign Fund. For
Negative Income Tax if his monthly earnings their spouse and dependents, an additional
exceed MUR20,000; contribution of USD 100,000 will have to be made
for each member of their family.
– The monthly income of the individual should be
equal or less than MUR9,900 and that of his/her — The second scheme will offer the opportunity to
spouse should not exceed MUR30,000. obtain a Mauritian passport provided they make a
contribution of USD 500,000 to the Mauritius
Sovereign Fund. For their spouse and dependents,
Income Tax on Winnings
they will have to make an additional contribution of
USD 50,000 per passport.
— Any amount above MUR100,000 derived from
Mauritius National Lottery and Government
— The Mauritius Sovereign Fund will be managed by
Lotteries will be subject to a final withholding tax
the Mauritius National Investment Authority. Any
of 10%;
withdrawal from the Fund will be used to meet
disbursements for new capital projects and public
— The above tax rate will also be applicable on
debt repayments.
winnings above MUR100,000 in casinos and
gaming houses.
— The MRA may claw back VAT refund on capital goods — A VAT- registered person operating in the hospitality
(other than building) exceeding MUR100,000 if operators sector whose main activity is the supply of
have voluntarily registered for VAT purposes and accommodation, catering, entertainment or rental/lease
thereafter de-register solely to benefit from the VAT of motor vehicles services will be able to claim input VAT
refund. in respect of these supplies.
— In order to facilitate the cash flow operation of — The VAT Act currently provides that photovoltaic panels,
businesses, a VAT registered person will no longer be generators, batteries and inverters are zero-rated items.
required to pay a VAT amount on import of capital goods Now, it has been extended to all components forming an
if the VAT payable exceeds MUR150,000. However, the integral part of a photovoltaic system.
import of capital goods will still have to be declared in the
VAT return. Burglar Alarm Systems
— The VAT Act currently provides that a VAT-registered — The VAT Act currently provides that burglar alarm
person has to submit a consolidated list of taxable systems and sensors, including patrol and monitoring
supplies electronically along with its VAT return. It is now equipment are zero-rated items. Now, it is being
being proposed that the list of taxable supplies will be proposed that services such as upgrading, repairs and
reported in terms of serially numbered invoices instead maintenance, patrol and monitoring or rental of burglar
of taxpayer-wise. alarm systems will also be zero-rated.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities by TDS at the rate of 10% will apply on rent paid to a non-
resident
High Net Worth Individuals
The Finance Act 2016 introduced the requirement It has been clarified that TDS would not be applicable on
whereby a Mauritius tax resident individual who director fees paid to a company.
derives net income and exempt income exceeding
MUR15 Million in an income year or owns assets 5% payment on appeal to ARC
costing more than MUR50 Million is required to submit
an annual statement of assets and liabilities together Presently, 10% of the amount assessed is payable for
with his income tax return lodging an objection against a tax assessment made by
the MRA. No additional payment is required where the
The due date for the submission of the statement of taxpayer is not agreeable with the decision of the MRA
assets and liabilities will be extended to 30 September and decides to file an appeal before the Assessment
2019 in respect of the income year commencing on 1 Review Committee (“ARC”)
July 2017 to 30 June 2018
It has been proposed that an additional payment of 5% of
However, an individual will not be required to submit a the amount assessed in the event that the tax payer
statement of assets and liabilities along with his intends to appeal before the ARC will be required.
income tax return if he has submitted his income tax
return during the last five years.
This measure will be applicable for assessments raised
by both the MRA and the Registrar-General’s
Tax deduction at source (TDS) Department.
— This measure, which was re-introduced in the — Interest at the rate 0.5% per month up to a maximum of
last fiscal year, will be extended to 50% of the tax or duty remaining unpaid will also be
assessments raised from 1 July 2015 to 30 applicable.
June 2016 for disputes of less than MUR10
Million.
KPMG VIEWS
— Statement of assets and liabilities will no longer be required to be submitted to the MRA for
taxpayers that are in compliance with all their tax obligations
— We believe that Return of Information has been introduced to allow the MRA to collect information to
ease their compliance monitoring process. The date of the submission for the Return of Information is
not yet known. However, we are expecting that the deadline to file same will be on 15 August in line with
the filing of other annual returns
— The scope of the EDRTS has been broadened with the aim of settling more disputes less than MUR10
Million
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The above information has been extracted from the budget speech delivered by The Honourable Pravind
Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National
Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, to the National Assembly, on 14
June 2018.
The Budget proposals may be amended significantly before enactment. The content of this summary is
intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be regarded as a basis for
ascertaining liability to tax or determining investment strategy in specific circumstances. In such cases
specialist advice should be taken.
© 2018 KPMG, a Mauritian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent
member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.
All rights reserved.
The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.