Finance Minister Sihem Namsia said on Sunday that the tax benefits granted to Tunisians residing abroad in their final return cost the state TND 1,700 million annually.

Speaking during a plenary session held at the Bardo Palace to continue the examination of the articles added to the 2024 Finance Law, the minister pointed out that the benefits related to means of transport account for the lion’s share of the benefits enjoyed by expats.

Commenting on an article proposed by MPs to allow Tunisians residing abroad to benefit from tax advantages on car imports, Namsia said that “54% of cars imported by them are sold within a year”, adding that the legal framework governing the advantages granted to this category has been amended several times to adapt it to their needs.

The article proposed by the MPs allows Tunisians to benefit from tax concessions every ten years on the import or sale on the local market of motorcycles or tourist or professional vehicles, including off-road vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes
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Namsia also suggested that “tax concessions for cars are regulated by decree and cannot be changed in the Finance Act”. However, despite the minister’s opposition, that article was adopted by the ARP with 100 votes in favour, 27 against and 7 abstentions.

The MPs also adopted a new article (50) concerning the regularisation of the situation of construction workers aged over 45 and under 55, as well as a new article introducing a tax of 1 dinar on every kilogram of used clothing destroyed.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse