Warning Against the Negative Consequences of Wealth Tax in Tunisia
Tunisian Member of Parliament, Maher Kettari, warned on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, against the negative repercussions of the wealth tax planned in the 2026 finance bill, estimating that this measure could harm investment and the business climate in Tunisia.
Key Concerns
Speaking on Express FM, Kettari indicated that the project provides for a tax calculated on the value of real estate, commercial assets, and movable property of all categories. He emphasized the need to clarify the notion of "acquired assets in all their forms" to avoid any ambiguity in the application of the text.
Implications for Investment
Kettari specified that upcoming decrees and circulars from the Ministry of Finance will determine whether variable capital investment companies (SICAV) and listed shares will be subject to this tax. He called for the publication of an explanatory note to prevent divergent interpretations and contradictory decisions.
Evaluation and Calculation of Assets
The MP also raised the question of evaluating real estate and the methods of calculating their value, wondering about the opportunity to impose a wealth tax on startup companies or companies recording losses.
International Precedents
Kettari recalled that the wealth tax has been abandoned in several countries due to its negative effects on investment. He estimated that the tax's denomination gives it a social dimension that influences public perception of the measure.
Impact on Business Environment
He emphasized that investment in Tunisia relies mainly on mechanisms such as SICAR, SICAV, and banks, which would also be affected by this tax. Kettari affirmed that the tax would have an unfavorable impact on the business environment.
Conclusion
The MP concluded by warning against the risk of Tunisia transitioning from an attractive country for investment to a country with high tax pressure, considering that the current orientation tends to gradually consecrate this choice.
