Cameroon, Republic of

There is specific taxation of groups within the CEMAC area.

Where a joint stock company and a private limited company own either registered stock in a joint stock company or shares in a private limited company, the net proceeds of the share in the second company paid to the first during the financial year shall be deducted from the total net profit of the latter, less a percentage for costs and charges. This percentage is fixed at 10% of the total amount of the proceeds. This system shall apply when all of the following conditions are met:

• The stocks or shares owned by the parent establishment represent at least 25% of the capital of the subsidiary firm.
• The parent and subsidiary firms have their registered office in a CEMAC state (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Republic of Congo).
• The stocks or shares allotted at the time of issue are still registered in the name of the participating company that undertakes to retain them for at least two consecutive years in registered form.

Transfer pricing

There are provisions in the GTC that relate to transfer pricing.

Within the framework of a tax audit, the documents required for the justification of transfer pricing shall be presented to the tax inspectors at the start of the procedure. Items such as business transactions, payments in consideration for intangible rights, allocations of costs and expenses (head office costs, agreements to share costs, disbursements, etc.), financial transactions, etc. are particularly targeted for close scrutiny.

Companies in the large taxpayers unit shall declare participation in companies that are equal to or more than 25% of the share capital of the latter, as well as the documentation to justify their transfer pricing policy for intra-group transactions, at the same time as their annual tax return.

Companies with a transfer pricing policy for cross-border trade in goods and services are obliged to submit their transfer pricing documentation to the customs authorities by 31 March of each year at the latest. The failure to transmit this declaration is assimilated to the offence of refusal to communicate the documents and is sanctioned.

Since January 1, 2024, financial institutions and similar bodies (including banks, financial establishments and insurance companies) have been required to:

• Identify the tax residence of all financial account holders, including the individuals who control these accounts.
• Communicate to the tax authorities the information required for the application of agreements concluded by Cameroon on the automatic exchange of information for tax purposes. This information is provided by means of a declaration drawn up in accordance with a model provided by the tax authorities.
• This information may be provided by the Cameroon tax authorities to the authorities of countries that have signed an agreement with Cameroon allowing the automatic exchange of information.
• To keep records of actions taken to meet the above obligations, as well as all supporting documents.

Thin capitalisation

The deduction of interests on sums of money left or placed at the disposal of local entities by partners or related companies who directly or indirectly own at least 25% of the share capital or corporate voting rights is capped at:

• one and a half times the amount of equity or
• 25% of profit before corporate tax and before deduction of the said interests and amortisations taken into account in determining such profit.

Otherwise, interests on the excess amount shall not be deductible.

The deduction above is applicable where the following conditions are met:

• The existence of a written and duly registered loan agreement.
• The subscribed share capital has been fully paid up.

Controlled foreign companies (CFCs)

We are not aware of any special provisions for CFCs. Indeed, subject to the provisions of international conventions and the provisions relating to group taxation mentioned above, revenue from stocks and shares held in a company based abroad shall be subject to income tax in Cameroon.