Benin officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the chair of government is in Cotonou. The Government of Benin encourages foreign investment. The Presidential Investment Council, established in 2006 to reinforce dialogue between the GOB and investors, aims to fast implementation of reforms and boost the business environment. Benin made starting a business easier by appointing a representative of the commercial registry at the one-stop shop for business registration.

Incorporating a Company in Benin

– In Benin, as in all member countries of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), any company must choose a unique company name before it is registered in the trade register.
– The limited liability company, in the largest business city and is 100% domestically owned.
– There is a free trade zone in the port of Cotonou for Benin’s landlocked neighbours (Burkina Faso and Niger).

Import goods for commercial purposes must obtain an importer’s permit from the Ministry of Trade, Crafts and Tourism.

Accounting and Tax for Company Registered in Benin

The corporate income tax rate is 38% for most companies, and 58% for petroleum and mining firms. Those companies exempt from income tax include agricultural credit unions and mutual associations. If reinvested within 3 years, capital gains are exempt from tax.
Dividends paid to residents and tax law, but it includes companies registered corporate income tax liability is less than non-residents generally are subject to a 15% in Benin and permanent establishments and XOF 200,000 withholding tax. This rate is reduced to 10% branches of non-resident corporations.

If your company in Benin does not make a profit, it still needs to file its tax records in Benin and prepare a basic Financial Statement. You may also be required to withhold taxes on the salary of your staff. VAT can also be relevant for your Benin company, even if you are not making a profit. Our Benin tax advisors can assist you to determine the best tax strategy for your company in Benin before you decide to start.

How we can help you

If you are considering forming a business or you need expert help with company registration in Benin, LegalGenius™ is ready to assist you with its skilled team of lawyers, consultants and tax experts. We are committed to making the process as stress-free and streamlined as possible for you, and we will take care of all your document preparation and administrative tasks regarding the registration forms, payment of government fees, local address registration, banking support, etc., whilst always keeping your exact objectives and unique vision in mind throughout the process.

Please use our Company Formation Wizard if you would like to set up your registered company in Benin or if you would like to know the costs involved prior to proceeding with our exceptional services. For other queries and special requests for complex or customised company formation services, please contact us at legal@7geniusgroup.com