Tax in Guinea

Who is the tax authority?

The Direction Nationale des Impots (DNI), under the Ministere du Budget, administers Guinea's tax system. The DNI operates from Conakry and covers all tax categories under the Code General des Impots (CGI).

Substantive law rests on several pillars. The CGI covers income tax, corporate tax, and indirect taxes. The Code Minier (Loi 2011-006, amended Loi 2013-053) governs the extractive sector. OHADA commercial-law harmonization applies to business entities. The Loi de Finances issues annual rate and threshold amendments.

Guinea is an AfCFTA signatory, a Mano River Union member, and was an active ECOWAS member until its suspension in 2024 following the 2021 military transition.

What is the tax year and when are returns due?

Guinea's tax year is the calendar year (1 January to 31 December). IRPP for employees is withheld monthly through payroll.

Who counts as a Guinean tax resident?

Under the CGI, an individual is a Guinean tax resident if any of three conditions applies:

• Habitual residence in Guinea (permanent home or primary centre of life)
• Physically present 183 days or more in the calendar year
• Guinea-source professional activity, even without physical presence

Residents pay tax on worldwide income. Non-residents pay tax on Guinea-source income only. The three tests are independent — meeting any one establishes residency.

What are the personal income tax rates?

Guinea's IRPP uses seven progressive brackets. Rates are applied to monthly taxable income in GNF:

How does corporate tax work?

Guinea's corporate income tax is called the Benefice Industriel et Commercial (BIC). The standard rate is 35% for resident companies.

Withholding tax on dividends paid to non-residents is 10%. Pillar Two global minimum tax has not been transposed. Tax losses carry forward for 5 years. The petroleum sector operates under a separate fiscal framework with production-sharing agreements.

What about TVA and other indirect taxes?

TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutee) is Guinea's VAT. The standard rate is 18% under the Code General des Impots.

Excise duties apply to tobacco, alcohol, and fuel. Customs duties apply to imports under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff framework. TVA-registered businesses file monthly returns. The registration threshold is set by the Loi de Finances and adjusted periodically.

What is the currency framework?

Guinea uses the Guinean Franc (GNF), managed under a float regime by the Banque Centrale de la Republique de Guinee (BCRG).

Bauxite and the Simandou iron-ore project

Guinea is the world's largest bauxite exporter and holds the world's largest known bauxite reserves. Bauxite exports are the dominant foreign-exchange earner and the primary lens through which international investors engage with Guinean tax law.

The Simandou project involves multiple international consortia and has bilateral investment-framework implications for China, Australia, and several European states. Tax practitioners working with mining clients in Guinea must navigate the CGI, Code Minier, production-sharing provisions, and any bilateral investment treaties simultaneously.

How are cryptoassets taxed?

Guinea has no dedicated cryptoasset tax law. The BCRG has issued cautionary advisories treating cryptoassets as restricted instruments. Where declared, gains fall under existing income-tax categories.

Three Guineas — do not confuse them

Three entirely separate countries share the word "Guinea" in their name. Getting the wrong one is a common research error.

2021 coup and ECOWAS suspension

On 5 September 2021, military forces led by Mamady Doumbouya seized power in Conakry. The transitional government extended its timeline for democratic transition into 2026. ECOWAS suspended Guinea in 2024 in response to the delayed transition.

What is the treaty network?

Guinea has approximately 4 active bilateral tax treaties. The network is one of the smallest in West Africa. There is no US-GN double tax treaty.

Guinea has not ratified the OECD Multilateral Instrument (MLI). MLI modifications do not apply to the existing four treaties. The standard statute of limitations is 5 years; extended for fraud and for mining-sector matters.

Where does Guinea sit in the West African francophone cohort?

Guinea occupies a distinctive position in the West African tax landscape. It is francophone but not UEMOA — the only major francophone West African country that kept its own currency after independence.

Common pitfalls for foreign operators

International companies and individuals regularly hit the same traps when engaging with Guinean tax law:

When should you call a Guinean tax pro?

Some situations warrant specialist help in Guinea:

• You operate in the bauxite, iron-ore, gold, or diamond sectors — the Code Minier framework is distinct from the CGI
• You are involved in the Simandou iron-ore project or related supply chains
• Your entity has cross-border income and no DTA covers your home country
• You received a DNI audit notice, reassessment, or back-tax query
• You are establishing a company under OHADA rules and need tax-accounting alignment
• The 2021 transitional government context is affecting your regulatory approval timelines
• You are uncertain whether TVA registration applies to your turnover level

Vetted Guinea practitioners are listed in the directory below.

This page contains general information about Guinean tax rules. It is not personal guidance for your specific situation. Tax rules change — always verify current figures with the DNI or a licensed Guinea practitioner before filing.