Bosnia and Herzegovina

Overview

Last reviewed - 23 August 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country located on the Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe, is bordered by Croatia to the north and west, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the south. The official languages are Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian.

Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991. The country is politically decentralised and comprised of two governing entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS), with a third region, the Brčko District (BD), being administered by both. Its capital is Sarajevo. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM), the national currency introduced in 1998, is pegged to the euro (EUR).

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, direct taxes are imposed on entities at the district level, while indirect tax regulations are imposed at the state level.

Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in September 2007. Bosnia and Herzegovina has also signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU), applicable as of 1 January 2009, which brought down the customs tariff for EU products in different time periods. Bosnia and Herzegovina formally applied for EU membership on 15 February 2016 and became a potential candidate country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered an upper-middle-income economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The calculations made on the basis of available official indicators of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entities’ statistical institutes show that the gross domestic product (GDP) for 2016 was EUR 15.83 billion (EUR 4,485 per capita). The GDP for 2017 is estimated at EUR 16.3 billion (EUR 4,616 per capita). The real GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to the same quarter of the previous year, amounted to 3%. According to seasonally adjusted data, GDP increased by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2017, as compared to the previous quarter.

PwC has been in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1998, serving many leading clients. PwC provides audit and assurance services, advisory services, and tax services to local clients and foreign investors.

Quick rates and dates

Corporate income tax (CIT) rates
Headline CIT rate (%)

10

Corporate income tax (CIT) due dates
CIT return due date

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 30 days after expiry of deadline for submission of annual financial statements;

Republika Srpska and Brčko District: no later than 90 days following the end of the tax year.

CIT final payment due date

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 20 working days upon submission of tax return;

Republika Srpska and Brčko District: no later than 90 days following the end of the tax year.

CIT estimated payment due dates

Monthly instalments.

Personal income tax (PIT) rates
Headline PIT rate (%)

10

Personal income tax (PIT) due dates
PIT return due date

FBiH and RS: 31 March;

BD : 28 February

PIT final payment due date

NP

PIT estimated payment due dates

NP

Value-added tax (VAT) rates
Standard VAT rate (%)

17

Withholding tax (WHT) rates
WHT rates (%) (Dividends/Interest/Royalties)

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 5 / 10 / 10;

Republika Srpska: 10 / 10 / 10;

Brčko District: 0 / 10 / 10

Capital gains tax (CGT) rates
Headline corporate capital gains tax rate (%)

Capital gains are subject to the normal CIT rate.

Headline individual capital gains tax rate (%)

Capital gains are subject to the normal PIT rate.

Net wealth/worth tax rates
Headline net wealth/worth tax rate (%)

NP

Inheritance and gift tax rates
Headline inheritance tax rate (%)

NP

Headline gift tax rate (%)

NP

NA stands for Not Applicable (i.e. the territory does not have the indicated tax or requirement)

NP stands for Not Provided (i.e. the information is not currently provided in this chart)

All information in this chart is up to date as of the 'Last reviewed' date on the corresponding territory Overview page. This chart has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this chart without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this chart, and, to the extent permitted by law, PwC does not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this chart or for any decision based on it.