By Houda Mzioudet
Tunis, 12 September 2015:
The new Tunisian government has suspended the TD 30 stamp duty to be paid by citizens . . .[restrict]of other Maghreb states when leaving the country.
The tax is imposed on all foreigners exiting Tunisia including Libyans and Algerians. It was approved by National Constituent Assembly MPs as part of 2014 complementary finance bill. The law came into effect on 28 August 2014.
Although imposed on all foreigners, it hit Libyans as well as Algerians hard – partly because they constitute the largest number of visitors to the country and partly because Libyan and Algerian incomes are significantly lower than those of European tourists who make up the other major stream of visitors. The latter will still have to pay the tax.
It has been deeply resented by Libyans who saw themselves being deliberately and uniquely penalised by Tunisia. Libya responded by imposing a LD 30 tax on Tunisians entering the country. For the moment, it still stands.
Tunisia also imposes a TD 30 tax on vehicles from Libya and Algeria crossing the border. This too remains.
Libyan complaints about the exit tax were raised by Interior Minister Omar Sinki with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi when he was in Tunis at the beginning of last week. [/restrict]
