Mauritius Finance Bill 2026 Explained

Mauritius Finance Bill 2026 Explained: What It Means for Residents, Property Buyers, Investors and Businesses

The Mauritius Finance Bill 2026 contains a wide-ranging collection of proposals affecting how people live, work, invest and conduct business in Mauritius.

Some of the measures are highly technical. Others could have a direct and noticeable effect on household finances, property transactions, immigration applications, company structures and employment costs.

The Bill proposes changes across corporate and personal taxation, Value Added Tax, property duties, immigration, financial services, virtual assets, employment law and environmental regulation.

For individuals, one of the most significant developments is the introduction of a new 35% income-tax band for chargeable income above Rs12 million.

For property buyers, the proposed legislation increases first-time buyer relief and reverses a previously planned doubling of registration duty and land transfer tax on certain acquisitions by non-citizens.

For international investors, the Bill introduces a Golden Visa linked to an investment of at least USD1 million in qualifying business activities, while also tightening several requirements applying to Occupation Permits.

For businesses, the direction is mixed. There are new tax holidays and investment incentives, but also broader reporting obligations, stronger tax enforcement powers and additional compliance requirements.

The Finance Bill is not simply a tax document. It provides a useful indication of the direction in which Mauritius is seeking to develop its economy: attracting technology, artificial intelligence, private wealth and international investment while expanding regulation, disclosure and enforcement.

This guide explains the principal measures in straightforward language and considers what they could mean in practice.

Important: The Finance Bill contains proposed legislative measures. Some provisions only take effect once enacted, gazetted or brought into force on a specified date. Readers should obtain professional advice before making tax, legal, immigration, property or investment decisions.

Finance Bill 2026: The principal changes at a glance

Among the most important proposals are:

A new 35% personal income-tax band on chargeable income above Rs12 million. Increased relief for qualifying first-time property buyers. Retention of the standard 5% registration duty and land transfer tax on qualifying non-citizen purchases under Economic Development Board property schemes. A new 10% vendor-paid duty on certain G+2 apartment sales to non-citizens. A Golden Visa for non-citizens investing at least USD1 million in qualifying business activities. Higher capital and turnover requirements for some Occupation Permit categories. Creation of an AI City Scheme offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. A proposed Private Wealth Management Licence. Stronger beneficial-ownership and sustainability-reporting requirements. Tighter rules governing virtual-asset promotions. Extended maternity and paternity leave and the introduction of menstrual leave. A new 5% Insurance Premium Tax from 1 January 2027. Greater reporting, inspection and enforcement powers for the Mauritius Revenue Authority.

The scale of the Bill means its effect will vary significantly according to the circumstances of each person or business.

Personal income tax: a new 35% top rate

One of the most prominent measures is the replacement of the Fair Share Contribution for individuals with a new progressive income-tax structure.

From 1 July 2026, the proposed bands are:

Chargeable income Proposed rate First Rs500,000 0% Next Rs500,000 10% Next Rs11 million 20% Remaining chargeable income 35%

The 35% rate therefore applies to the portion of chargeable income exceeding Rs12 million.

This does not mean that someone earning more than Rs12 million pays 35% on their entire income. The tax is progressive, so each portion is taxed according to the band into which it falls.

Nevertheless, the measure represents a significant change for Mauritius. The country has historically promoted a relatively simple and competitive personal-tax system, particularly when compared with many European jurisdictions.

The new top rate may therefore influence the decisions of highly paid executives, entrepreneurs, investors and internationally mobile professionals considering Mauritius as a base.

Tax is only one element of a relocation decision. Quality of life, safety, climate, political stability, connectivity and family considerations remain equally important. However, the narrowing of the tax differential between Mauritius and some higher-tax jurisdictions may become part of the calculation.

The Bill also raises the tax-exempt threshold for qualifying lump sums received as a pension, retiring allowance or severance allowance from Rs3 million to Rs3.5 million.

The Golden Visa: a new route for international investors

The proposed Golden Visa is likely to attract considerable international attention.

Under the Bill, a non-citizen investing at least USD1 million, or the equivalent in another freely convertible currency, in a qualifying business activity may become eligible.

The investment must be made within 12 months of the visa being issued.

Importantly, the investment requirement excludes the purchase of residential property under Economic Development Board property schemes. In other words, the Golden Visa described in the Bill is primarily a business-investment route rather than another property-linked residence scheme.

The proposed tax treatment is also noteworthy. A Golden Visa holder would:

Be taxed on foreign employment income only when that income is remitted to Mauritius. Not automatically be treated as remitting income merely because local expenditure is paid using a foreign credit or debit card. Not be taxed on money deposited into a Mauritian bank account where a declaration is provided confirming that applicable overseas tax has already been paid.

These provisions could make the Golden Visa attractive to international entrepreneurs and investors looking for a long-term base.

However, eligibility for a visa, residence status and tax residence are not necessarily the same thing. Applicants should not assume that obtaining a Golden Visa automatically determines where all their worldwide income will be taxed.

The interaction between Mauritian tax law, foreign tax residence, remittance rules and applicable double-taxation agreements will require careful professional assessment.

Occupation Permits: higher entry and renewal requirements

The Bill also proposes several changes to Occupation Permits.

Investor Occupation Permit

The minimum initial investment for an Occupation Permit as an investor is proposed to increase to USD100,000.

The business would then need to meet turnover requirements of:

Rs5 million from the third year; and Rs8 million from the fifth year for renewal.

These changes place greater emphasis on applicants establishing genuine and economically active businesses rather than using a company primarily as an immigration vehicle.

Professional Occupation Permit

The proposed minimum monthly basic salary for a professional is Rs50,000 across all sectors.

A special category may apply to contractual workers and technical personnel employed through an approved government-to-government framework. In qualifying cases, the salary may be below Rs50,000, provided it remains above the prescribed minimum and suitable accommodation can be demonstrated.

Self-employed Occupation Permit

A self-employed permit holder would be expected to generate:

At least Rs2 million in turnover from the third year; and At least Rs3 million from the fifth year for renewal.

The Family Occupation Permit category is proposed to be abolished.

These measures suggest that immigration policy is becoming more closely tied to measurable economic contribution.

Prospective applicants should prepare credible business plans, maintain reliable financial records and monitor their progress against renewal thresholds from the beginning of their permit period.

Property: changes for first-time buyers

The property measures contain positive news for qualifying first-time buyers.

The maximum registration-duty relief is proposed to rise:

From Rs125,000 to Rs150,000 for bare residential land. From Rs250,000 to Rs300,000 for a house or apartment.

In practical terms, this would exempt the first Rs3 million of the purchase price for qualifying bare land and the first Rs6 million for a qualifying house or apartment.

The relief would also be extended to people who already own agricultural land, who were previously excluded from the first-time buyer arrangement.

This could reduce the initial cost of home ownership for more Mauritian households.

Registration duty is only one of the expenses involved in purchasing property. Buyers should also budget for notarial fees, mortgage costs, valuation expenses, agency fees where applicable and any additional work required after completion.

Nevertheless, increasing the available relief may improve affordability at the lower and middle end of the residential market.

Non-citizen property purchases: the planned doubling is reversed

A particularly important measure for the international property market is the reversal of the planned doubling of registration duty and land transfer tax for certain non-citizen acquisitions.

Under the Bill, qualifying purchases under EDB-approved property schemes would continue to be subject to the standard 5% registration duty and 5% land transfer tax rather than the doubled rates that had been expected to apply from 1 July 2026.

This could provide greater certainty for developers, agents, investors and foreign buyers.

Large increases in transaction taxes can affect:

The final cost faced by purchasers. The price vendors are prepared to accept. The viability of new developments. The attractiveness of Mauritius compared with competing international property markets. The speed at which properties sell.

Maintaining the existing standard rate avoids a potentially disruptive increase for qualifying EDB-scheme transactions.

However, this should not be interpreted as a general exemption from duty. The standard taxes and other transaction costs still need to be considered as part of a purchase.

A new vendor levy on certain G+2 apartment sales

While the doubling of taxes on EDB-scheme acquisitions is being reversed, the Bill proposes a targeted additional charge elsewhere.

A new 10% duty would be payable by the vendor when selling to a non-citizen a qualifying residential unit under the G+2 arrangement.

The measure applies to an apartment:

Located in a building with at least two floors above the ground floor. Priced at Rs6 million or more. Constructed on State land or Pas Géométriques.

The levy would not apply where a notarial presale agreement was signed before 19 June 2026.

Although the duty is formally borne by the seller, it may still affect market pricing.

A vendor who knows that a 10% levy will be deducted from the proceeds may seek a higher asking price. Alternatively, the seller may accept a reduced net return in order to complete the transaction.

The actual market effect will depend on demand, supply, location, property quality and the negotiating strength of the parties.

This is an area in which both buyer and seller should request a detailed transaction-cost calculation before signing an offer or reservation agreement.

AI City Scheme: technology, investment and property

The proposed AI City Scheme is one of the Bill’s most ambitious development initiatives.

Its stated aim is to establish a technology and innovation hub, attract investment in artificial intelligence, and encourage technology companies and founders to establish operations in Mauritius.

Qualifying certificate holders may receive:

Fiscal incentives. Non-fiscal incentives. Duty exemptions. Expedited Occupation Permit, work permit and residence permit processing. The ability to acquire or lease immovable property. Other forms of regulatory facilitation.

For the property sector, the scheme could create demand for more than offices.

A successful technology ecosystem requires:

Commercial premises. Data infrastructure. Residential accommodation for founders and employees. Schools and family facilities. Transport connections. Restaurants, leisure services and retail. Reliable energy and telecommunications.

The long-term property opportunity will therefore depend on where the scheme is located, which activities qualify, the incentives ultimately approved and whether sufficient infrastructure is developed.

AI City has the potential to become a new investment and employment cluster, but the legislation alone will not determine its success. Implementation will be critical.

Corporate tax and the Corporate Climate Responsibility Levy

For larger companies and international groups, the Bill contains several important tax developments.

The Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax framework would be adjusted to clarify definitions, filing deadlines and amendment periods.

Investment funds and real-estate investment vehicles that are Ultimate Parent Entities would be included within the definition of excluded persons.

The penalty for non-payment of QDMTT is proposed to fall from 5% to 2.5%.

The Corporate Climate Responsibility Levy would become payable through quarterly Advance Payment System statements, with phased implementation.

The Bill also restricts the tax credits that can be used against the levy. With the exception of investment tax credit and foreign tax credit available under a tax treaty, other credits would no longer be available for offset.

This may increase the effective burden on some businesses, particularly those previously able to use other accumulated credits.

The cash-flow effect also matters. A tax paid through advance quarterly instalments affects working capital differently from a liability settled only through an annual return.

Businesses should model both the total tax cost and the timing of payments.

New tax incentives for qualifying start-ups

The Bill proposes a 10-year income-tax holiday for certain start-up businesses.

To qualify, an enterprise must:

Be established on or after 19 June 2026. Be managed in Mauritius. Conduct operations in Mauritius or Africa. Fall within the National SME Incubator Scheme. Be supported by an accredited incubator. Have annual turnover not exceeding Rs100 million.

The holiday would begin from the date operations commence rather than merely from the date of incorporation.

This is potentially valuable.

A tax holiday that starts when genuine operations begin is generally more commercially useful than one that starts while the business is still developing a product, raising finance or preparing to launch.

The focus on businesses operating in Mauritius or Africa also aligns with the country’s ambition to act as a bridge between international capital, expertise and African growth markets.

However, founders should wait for detailed eligibility rules and should not assume that every newly incorporated technology company will automatically qualify.

Non-resident software and ICT providers

The Bill proposes that non-resident companies supplying certain ICT services into Mauritius become subject to income tax.

The relevant services include:

Software. Software licences. Software applications. Software maintenance. Remote maintenance of programs. Remote maintenance of ICT equipment.

This may affect Mauritian businesses purchasing cloud software, specialist platforms, licensed systems or remote technical support from overseas providers.

A related proposal introduces a 1% Tax Deduction at Source on certain payments above Rs300,000 made by companies to ICT service providers.

A 5% TDS would also apply to company payments for advertising, endorsement, promotional or marketing services delivered through social media, digital content or similar electronic channels.

Businesses should review supplier contracts, invoicing terms and responsibility for withholding tax.

Where agreements require the customer to “gross up” payments so the overseas supplier receives the full contractual amount, the economic cost could fall on the Mauritian purchaser.

VAT, digital platforms and electronic services

The Bill makes several changes to VAT.

The period for claiming input VAT credits would be reduced from 36 months to 24 months. This makes timely accounting and reconciliation more important.

From 1 October 2026, a foreign supplier of digital or electronic services would not be required to register compulsorily for VAT where:

Its annual taxable turnover is below Rs3 million; or It supplies taxable services exclusively to VAT-registered persons, in which case the reverse-charge mechanism would apply.

Foreign digital suppliers would also no longer be required to appoint a local tax representative purely for return submission and VAT remittance.

Online marketplaces and digital platforms would be expressly brought within the scope of digital and electronic services.

These measures seek to provide clearer rules for an economy in which more software, subscriptions, advertising and commercial services are purchased online.

A new 5% Insurance Premium Tax

From 1 January 2027, general insurers would be required to impose a 5% Insurance Premium Tax on policies entered into or renewed from that date.

The insurer would collect and remit the tax.

General insurers would also submit annual information relating to motor vehicles with an insured value above Rs2 million, including the value insured and the policyholder’s name.

Although the legal responsibility to collect the tax lies with insurers, policyholders are likely to experience it through higher total premium costs unless insurers absorb some or all of the charge.

The measure may affect home, motor, commercial and other general insurance policies. The precise treatment of different products should be confirmed with the insurer.

For property owners and landlords, insurance should remain a fundamental part of risk management even where premiums rise.

Financial services and private wealth management

The Bill introduces several important financial-services reforms.

A new Private Wealth Management Licence is proposed under the Financial Services Act.

The legislation also provides for a conservatorship framework allowing the Financial Services Commission to appoint a conservator where a licensee’s capital is threatened, client interests may be harmed or regulatory requirements are not being met.

A conservator could take charge of the business, preserve or recover assets and suspend or overrule the powers of the board during the conservatorship.

This strengthens the FSC’s ability to intervene before a licensed institution reaches complete failure.

The proposed Private Wealth Management Licence could also support Mauritius’s ambition to attract family offices, international families and private capital.

Its commercial importance will depend on the final licence conditions, permitted services, substance requirements, capital thresholds and tax treatment.

Banking, cybersecurity and financial crime

The Bank of Mauritius would be empowered to establish a Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing Platform.

Financial institutions and other designated organisations could be required to participate and share cybersecurity intelligence promptly.

The Bill also expands circumstances in which financial institutions may disclose customer information to competent authorities in connection with financial crime investigations and sanctions enforcement.

These changes reflect the growing importance of cyber resilience, anti-money-laundering controls and cross-institutional information sharing.

For customers, this should not be read as the end of banking confidentiality. Rather, the Bill broadens specific statutory circumstances in which information can be shared with authorised bodies.

Financial institutions will need to balance customer confidentiality, cybersecurity, data protection and regulatory reporting.

Virtual assets: tighter controls on promotion

The Bill proposes stricter regulation of businesses promoting virtual assets or initial token offerings to people in Mauritius.

A person would not be allowed to solicit, target or engage with investors for relevant virtual-asset transactions unless appropriately licensed or registered.

The definition of solicitation would be broad. It would cover:

Online advertising. Websites and mobile applications. Social media. Seminars and webinars. Influencers and affiliates. Referral arrangements. Links and promotional codes. Claims that a business is able to provide virtual-asset services.

Communications accessible to the general public in Mauritius may be presumed to target Mauritian investors.

This is highly relevant to overseas crypto businesses whose websites or promotions can be viewed in Mauritius.

Merely being based abroad may not prevent Mauritian rules from applying where the marketing reaches or targets local investors.

Publishers, influencers and introducers should also be careful about promoting unlicensed platforms.

Beneficial ownership and company reporting

The Bill strengthens beneficial-ownership requirements for partnerships, companies, foundations, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships.

Partnerships would need to maintain accurate and current beneficial-ownership records, including written declarations from the beneficial owners themselves.

Changes would generally have to be notified to the Registrar of Companies within 14 days.

Existing partnerships would have until 31 March 2027 to comply with the new requirements.

Companies and several other legal structures would also be required to include the date of birth of a beneficial or ultimate beneficial owner in their records.

These changes reinforce the principle that authorities expect legal entities to know, document and update who ultimately owns or controls them.

Maintaining a name on a form is no longer sufficient. Companies need an evidenced process for identifying ownership, recording declarations and updating records when circumstances change.

Sustainability reporting

The Financial Reporting Act would be amended to recognise sustainability-reporting standards, including standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board where adopted or recognised by the Financial Reporting Council.

Reporting could be introduced voluntarily or mandatorily.

Future regulations may establish:

Sector-specific reporting. Different implementation dates. Transitional relief. Enforcement arrangements. Categories of entities required to comply.

The move reflects growing international pressure for businesses to explain climate, sustainability and governance risks alongside conventional financial performance.

For larger companies and financial institutions, sustainability reporting is increasingly becoming part of investor due diligence rather than simply a corporate-social-responsibility exercise.

Employment law: major expansion of family and menstrual leave

The employment proposals are among the most socially significant provisions in the Bill.

Maternity leave on full pay would increase from 16 weeks to 26 weeks.

A female worker could then elect to take up to a further 26 weeks at half pay.

Qualifying adoptive mothers adopting a child under 12 months would be entitled to equivalent leave, subject to documentary requirements.

Paternity leave would increase from four consecutive weeks to six consecutive weeks.

Every female worker would also be entitled to one day of menstrual leave per month on full pay. A medical practitioner could be asked to examine the worker where leave is taken on this basis.

These changes offer greater support to parents and female employees.

At the same time, employers will need to assess:

Payroll costs. Temporary staffing. Workload cover. Internal policies. Record keeping. Return-to-work arrangements. Protection against unfair treatment or discrimination.

The success of the measures will depend partly on whether employers implement them in a way that supports workers without creating unintended barriers to recruitment or progression.

Tax administration: more data and stronger enforcement

The Bill expands the information available to the MRA and increases the consequences of non-compliance.

The Central Electricity Board and Central Water Authority would be required to provide annual information concerning customers whose total payments exceed Rs100,000.

Crypto-asset service providers would also be required to submit information to the MRA from 1 October 2026.

Failure to issue a fiscal invoice could attract a penalty of Rs5,000 per day, capped at Rs1 million.

Failure to use a mandatory electronic-invoicing system could become an offence carrying a fine of up to Rs500,000 and possible imprisonment.

Penalties for obstructing inspections or failing to provide books, records or electronic access would also increase.

The message is clear: the tax system is becoming more data-driven and interconnected.

Businesses should assume that information provided to banks, utility companies, corporate registries, customs authorities and digital platforms may increasingly be capable of comparison.

Accurate records and consistent reporting are therefore more important than ever.

What does the Finance Bill mean for Mauritius?

The Finance Bill 2026 attempts to pursue several objectives simultaneously.

It seeks to:

Increase revenue. Make personal taxation more progressive. Attract high-value investors. Encourage technology and artificial-intelligence businesses. Strengthen Mauritius as a private-wealth and financial-services centre. Improve regulatory enforcement. Expand employee protections. Maintain international standards on beneficial ownership and financial crime.

These objectives do not always pull in the same direction.

Higher taxes and compliance costs can raise revenue and improve supervision, but they may also affect international competitiveness.

More generous employment rights support workers and families, but they may increase business costs.

New visas and investment schemes can attract capital, while higher Occupation Permit thresholds may make entry harder for smaller entrepreneurs.

The practical success of the Bill will depend on how the final legislation is drafted, how efficiently the measures are administered and whether affected people are given clear guidance.

Who should review their position?

The following groups should pay particularly close attention:

Property buyers and sellers

Especially first-time buyers, foreign purchasers, developers and vendors of G+2 apartments on State land or Pas Géométriques.

Existing and prospective expatriates

Particularly those applying for an Occupation Permit, considering the Golden Visa or planning their tax residence.

High-income individuals

Those whose chargeable income may exceed Rs12 million should model the effect of the new 35% band.

Employers

Employment policies, payroll planning and leave administration may require substantial updates.

Technology businesses

The AI City Scheme and start-up tax holiday may create opportunities, while tax rules for software and remote ICT services create new obligations.

Financial-services firms

Private wealth licensing, conservatorship, sustainability reporting, cybersecurity and beneficial-ownership measures require close attention.

Digital marketers and virtual-asset businesses

Promotion of virtual assets and payments to online influencers or content providers may now carry additional regulatory or withholding-tax implications.

Final perspective

The Finance Bill 2026 is not a single reform. It is a broad recalibration of the Mauritian economic, tax and regulatory landscape.

There are clear opportunities.

The reversal of the planned increase in duties on certain foreign property purchases may support international real-estate activity.

Enhanced first-time buyer relief may help local households.

The AI City Scheme and start-up tax holiday may encourage innovation.

The Golden Visa and Private Wealth Management Licence could attract international capital and expertise.

There are also significant challenges.

The 35% personal tax band changes the country’s message to high earners.

Occupation Permit thresholds are becoming more demanding.

Businesses face more reporting, data disclosure and enforcement.

Employers will have to absorb and manage considerably expanded leave rights.

The most sensible response is not to view every measure as either wholly positive or wholly negative.

Individuals and businesses should identify the changes that apply to them, calculate the likely cost or benefit and prepare before the relevant commencement date.

Mauritius remains a country with many structural advantages, including its location, legal system, international connectivity, multilingual population and established financial-services sector.

The Finance Bill shows that the next phase of its development will combine investment incentives with more progressive taxation, stronger regulation and increasing expectations of economic substance and transparency.

Frequently asked questions Has the Finance Bill 2026 already become law?

A Finance Bill sets out proposed legislative measures. Individual provisions may require enactment, gazetting or a separate commencement date before taking effect.

Is everyone earning more than Rs12 million taxed at 35% on all income?

No. Under the proposed progressive system, the 35% rate applies only to the portion of chargeable income above Rs12 million.

Has property tax for foreign buyers doubled?

The Bill proposes reversing the previously planned doubling of registration duty and land transfer tax on qualifying non-citizen acquisitions under EDB property schemes. The standard 5% rates would remain.

Does the Golden Visa require buying property?

The Golden Visa proposal is linked to a minimum USD1 million investment in qualifying business activities. Residential purchases under EDB property schemes are expressly excluded from that investment requirement.

Can Golden Visa holders use foreign cards in Mauritius without automatically remitting income?

The Bill proposes that local expenditure paid with a foreign credit or debit card will not, by itself, be treated as a remittance of foreign income.

What is changing for investor Occupation Permits?

The Bill proposes a minimum USD100,000 initial investment and higher turnover requirements.

What is the AI City Scheme?

It is a proposed framework designed to attract artificial-intelligence businesses, technology founders and investment through incentives, expedited permits and regulatory facilitation.

Are insurance premiums increasing?

A 5% Insurance Premium Tax is proposed for general insurance policies entered into or renewed from 1 January 2027. The ultimate effect on customer pricing will depend on how insurers apply the tax.

What changes are proposed for maternity leave?

Paid maternity leave would increase from 16 to 26 weeks, with the option of an additional 26 weeks at half pay.

Will virtual-asset advertising be regulated?

Yes. The Bill proposes broad restrictions on marketing, promoting or facilitating virtual-asset transactions in Mauritius without the appropriate licence or registration.