Asia-Pacific · MVR
Maldives
Reviewed 2026-06-21
Top income tax
15%
Self-employed SS
Optional
VAT
8%
Capital gains
15%
Exit tax
No
Nomad visa
No
59
/ 100
Tax efficiency59
Ease to enter42
Ease to exit81
Cost of living80
Internet9
English60
The Maldives taxes residents on worldwide income under a progressive personal income tax that exempts the first MVR 720,000 (around 47,000 USD) and tops out at 15 percent. There is no wealth, inheritance, or exit tax, but capital gains are folded into ordinary income and a worldwide CFC regime applies, so a solopreneur cannot park profits in a foreign shell untaxed. Corporate income tax is 15 percent above a MVR 500,000 threshold, GST is 8 percent for general goods and there is no dedicated digital nomad or entrepreneur visa yet.
Personal income tax
Income tax structureProgressive
Top income tax rate15%
Entry income tax rate5.5%
Top rate threshold$155,600
Taxation basisWorldwide
Local/state income taxNo
Social security
Self-employed social securityOptional
Employee SS rate7%
Employer SS rate7%
Indirect & other taxes
VAT standard rate8%
Capital gains rate15%
Long-hold CGT exemptionNo
Wealth taxNo
Inheritance/gift taxNo
Property taxNo
Exit & residency
Exit taxNo
EU/EEA deferralNo
Days to trigger residency183 days
Corporate
Corporate income tax rate15%
WHT on dividends10%
CFC rulesYes
Incentives & special regimes
Special expat regimeNo
Immigration & setup
Digital nomad visaNo
Entrepreneur visaNo
Ease of setup2 / 5
Lifestyle
Cost of living index45.3
Internet speed50 Mbps
English proficiencyMedium
Civil liberties37
Sources
- Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides 2025 — Maldives Tax (S&A Lawyers)
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority — Income Tax for individuals overview
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority — Tourism Sector GST Rate Change effective 1 July 2025 (FS005)
- Maldives Pension Office — Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme
- Numbeo — Cost of Living rankings by country (Maldives)
Informational only. Nothing here is tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules change often and vary by personal circumstance. Verify every figure against an official source and a qualified adviser before acting. Figures are re-expressed from public sources and cited per country.