Standard 18% VAT. Calculate VAT-inclusive, VAT-exclusive, reverse VAT extraction, and multi-item invoice totals. Accurate 2026 DGI rates.
Calculate how much VAT the buyer withholds and remits to the tax authority on this transaction.
Benin applies a value-added tax known as Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée (TVA) at a standard rate of 18%. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA), Benin follows the harmonized TVA framework established by the union, which sets the standard rate at 18% across member states. The TVA was introduced as part of broader fiscal reforms to modernize tax collection and reduce reliance on customs duties. There is no widely applied reduced rate, though certain essential goods and services are exempt, including basic food staples, medical and pharmaceutical products, educational materials, and agricultural equipment. Exports are zero-rated. The Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI) administers the TVA system. Businesses with annual turnover exceeding XOF 50 million must register for TVA. Registered businesses file monthly TVA returns by the 15th of the following month. Benin has been strengthening tax compliance through the introduction of electronic filing and certified electronic invoicing machines (MECeF). The government has also expanded the tax base by bringing more informal sector businesses into the TVA system. Input TVA credits can be offset against output TVA, with refund mechanisms available for exporters and businesses with excess credits.
Benin's 18% TVA rate is harmonized across the WAEMU/UEMOA zone, which includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. This harmonization simplifies cross-border trade within the economic union.
TVA-exempt goods and services include basic food staples, medical and pharmaceutical products, educational services and materials, agricultural equipment and inputs, and financial and insurance services. Exports are zero-rated rather than exempt.
Businesses with annual turnover exceeding XOF 50 million must register for TVA. Smaller businesses may be subject to simplified tax regimes such as the impôt synthétique, which combines several taxes into a single payment.
Monthly TVA returns must be filed with the DGI by the 15th of the month following the reporting period. Payment of TVA due must accompany the return. Late submissions attract penalties and interest.
Yes, Benin has progressively introduced certified electronic invoicing machines (MECeF) to improve TVA compliance. Businesses above certain turnover thresholds are required to use these machines to issue invoices and transmit data to the tax authority in real time.