Barbados tax
Tax residence: More than 182 days in income year. 2 special regimes for new residents: Special Entry Permit non-domicile tax treatment and Deemed non-resident for income tax.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Tax residence
- More than 182 days in income year · Aggregate days present in Barbados in an income year make an individual tax resident
- Residency by day count (more than 182 days) or ordinarily resident status; domicile is a separate test that decides whether foreign-source income is taxed on an arising basis.
Special regimes for new residents
Special regime
Special Entry Permit non-domicile tax treatment
Tax relief
Details
- On: Barbados-source income
- Who: Holders of a Special Entry Permit under the high net worth non-domicile programme
Resident non-domiciled permit holders are taxed on income derived from Barbados sources, and on foreign-source income only if remitted, with foreign currency tax credits. 4
Taxed on
Barbados-source income; remitted foreign-source income
Who it applies to
- Holders of a Special Entry Permit under the high net worth non-domicile programme.
Tax residence
Resident but not domiciled in Barbados.
Visas
Tied to the Special Entry Permit.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Special regime
Barbados Welcome Stamp: deemed non-resident for income tax
Tax relief
Details
- On: Income received by the Stamp holder (foreign-source remote employment income)
A non-national granted a Barbados Welcome Stamp (12 months, remote work for a non-Barbados employer) is deemed not resident in Barbados for the purposes of section 85(5) of the Income Tax Act, and income received by a Stamp holder is excluded from income derived from Barbados for section 16, so foreign-source employment income is not taxed in Barbados during the Stamp year. 5
Taxed on
Income received by the Stamp holder (foreign-source remote employment income); the Stamp does not cover employment in Barbados other than the employment for which it was granted.
Who it applies to
- Non-national employed in a country other than Barbados, granted a Barbados Welcome Stamp for 12 months by the Minister responsible for Immigration (Remote Employment Act 2020, s.3 and s.5).
- Income must be generated outside Barbados; valid passport and health insurance are Stamp conditions (s.3).
Exclusions
- No employment in Barbados other than the employment for which the Stamp was granted (s.7).
- Stamp can be revoked for non-compliance (s.8); the deemed non-residence applies only for the Stamp period.
Tax residence
Deemed non-resident for section 85(5) of the Income Tax Act while holding the Stamp (12 months only, s.4 and s.5(1)); the ordinary 182-day and ordinarily-resident tests do not apply during that period.
Visas
The tax treatment is created by the Remote Employment Act 2020 for holders of the Welcome Stamp visa; it is not available to Barbados residents under the ordinary income tax rules.
Other taxes
Welcome Stamp fee is BBD 4,000 (≈ $2,000) for an individual and BBD 6,000 (≈ $3,000) with family (Act s.5(2)); duty waivers on imported items are handled by Customs under a Ministry of Finance memorandum dated 11 May 2023 (Customs notice).
Checked against official sources on Change log
Which visas the regimes apply to
- Special Entry Permit non-domicile tax treatment: Special Entry Permit · HNWI. Tied to the Special Entry Permit.
- Deemed non-resident for income tax: Welcome Stamp nomad visa. The tax treatment is created by the Remote Employment Act 2020 for holders of the Welcome Stamp visa; it is not available to Barbados residents under the ordinary income tax rules.
Standard rules and foreign-source income
Standard rules
Personal income tax from income year 2026
27.5% tax
Details
- On: Employment and other personal income
- Limit: BBD 25k/yr ≈ $13k
From income year 2026, after a BDS$25,000 personal allowance, individuals pay 11.5% on the first BDS$50,000 of taxable income (income of BDS$25,001 to BDS$75,000) and 27.5% on the rest; the rates were 12.5% and 28.5% before. 1 2 3
Taxed on
Employment and other personal income
Limits
- BBD 25,000 a year (≈ $12,500) · Personal allowance deducted before tax; 11.5% applies to income above this up to BDS$75,000.
- BBD 75,000 a year (≈ $37,500) · Income above which the top rate of 27.5% applies.
Visas
Welcome Stamp holders working remotely for non-Barbados clients are stated by the programme not to be liable to Barbados income tax.
Other taxes
VAT is 17.5%; the general corporation tax rate is 9% from 1 January 2024; no capital gains, wealth, inheritance or gift tax.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Standard rules
Barbados individual income tax: residence, domicile and scope
Worldwide income
Details
- On: Resident and domiciled: world income
- Who: Tax resident: more than 182 days in Barbados in an income year in aggregate
- Limit: BBD 25k/yr ≈ $13k
Individuals who spend more than 182 days in Barbados in an income year, and persons with ordinarily resident status, are tax resident; residents who are also domiciled are taxed on worldwide income, while residents who are not domiciled are taxed on Barbados income and on foreign-source income from which a benefit is received in Barbados. From income year 2026 the rates are 0% to BBD 25,000 (≈ $12,500) allowance, 11.5% on BBD 25,001 (≈ $12,500)-75,000 and 27.5% above BBD 75,000 (≈ $37,500). 6 7 8 9
Taxed on
Resident and domiciled: world income. Resident but not domiciled: income derived in Barbados plus foreign-source income remitted to Barbados or from which a benefit is derived in Barbados. Rates apply to chargeable income after the BBD 25,000 (≈ $12,500) personal allowance.
Who it applies to
- Tax resident: more than 182 days in Barbados in an income year in aggregate, or ordinarily resident status.
- Domicile determines whether foreign-source income is taxed when not remitted.
Exclusions
- Non-residents are taxed only on income derived from Barbados.
- Barbados has no tax on capital (BRA tax types page).
Limits
- BBD 25,000 a year (≈ $12,500) · Personal allowance used in the BRA policy note examples; income above it is taxed at 11.5% up to BBD 75,000 (≈ $37,500)
- BBD 75,000 a year (≈ $37,500) · Income over this amount is taxed at 27.5% from income year 2026 (was 28.5%)
Days in the country
- More than 182 days in income year · Aggregate days present in Barbados in an income year make an individual tax resident
Tax residence
Residency by day count (more than 182 days) or ordinarily resident status; domicile is a separate test that decides whether foreign-source income is taxed on an arising basis.
Visas
Tax residence under the Income Tax Act is independent of immigration status; the Welcome Stamp has its own deemed non-resident rule (see “Barbados Welcome Stamp: deemed non-resident for income tax”).
Other taxes
Income tax is self-assessed; PAYE applies to employees. Other taxes (VAT, land tax) are administered separately by BRA.
Checked against official sources on Change log
VAT, social security and other taxes
- VAT is 17.5%; the general corporation tax rate is 9% from 1 January 2024; no capital gains, wealth, inheritance or gift tax.
- Welcome Stamp fee is BBD 4,000 (≈ $2,000) for an individual and BBD 6,000 (≈ $3,000) with family (Act s.5(2)); duty waivers on imported items are handled by Customs under a Ministry of Finance memorandum dated 11 May 2023 (Customs notice).
- Income tax is self-assessed; PAYE applies to employees. Other taxes (VAT, land tax) are administered separately by BRA.
Questions people ask
When do you become a tax resident in Barbados?
More than 182 days in income year (Aggregate days present in Barbados in an income year make an individual tax resident).
Who qualifies for Special Entry Permit non-domicile tax treatment?
Holders of a Special Entry Permit under the high net worth non-domicile programme. Tied to the Special Entry Permit.
Who qualifies for Deemed non-resident for income tax?
Non-national employed in a country other than Barbados, granted a Barbados Welcome Stamp for 12 months by the Minister responsible for Immigration (Remote Employment Act 2020, s.3 and s.5). The tax treatment is created by the Remote Employment Act 2020 for holders of the Welcome Stamp visa; it is not available to Barbados residents under the ordinary income tax rules.
Is there a tax break for Special Entry Permit · HNWI holders in Barbados?
Special Entry Permit non-domicile tax treatment: Resident non-domiciled permit holders are taxed on income derived from Barbados sources, and on foreign-source income only if remitted, with foreign currency tax credits. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Is there a tax break for Welcome Stamp nomad visa holders in Barbados?
Barbados Welcome Stamp: deemed non-resident for income tax: A non-national granted a Barbados Welcome Stamp (12 months, remote work for a non-Barbados employer) is deemed not resident in Barbados for the purposes of section 85(5) of the Income Tax Act, and income received by a Stamp holder is excluded from income derived from Barbados for section 16, so foreign-source employment income is not taxed in Barbados during the Stamp year. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Sources (9)
Official sources
- Policy Note OGC No. 001/2026: Reduction of Personal Income Tax Rates · Barbados Revenue Authority · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-04
- Barbados Tax Rates · Invest Barbados (Government of Barbados) · checked 2026-10-10
- 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp · Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (Visit Barbados), Barbados Welcome Stamp programme · checked 2026-10-11
- High Net Worth Individuals: special entry permit · Invest Barbados (Government of Barbados) · checked 2026-10-10
- Remote Employment Act, 2020 (Cap. 2020-23) · Government of Barbados (Office of the Attorney General) · checked 2026-10-10
- Individuals: Income Tax (residency, domicile and scope of charge) · Barbados Revenue Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- Personal Income Tax Rate Reduction - Income Year 2026 (Policy Note OGC No. 001/2026) · Barbados Revenue Authority · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-04
- Policy Note OGC No. 001/2026: Reduction in Personal Income Tax Rates · Barbados Revenue Authority · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-04
- Tax Types: Income Tax · Barbados Revenue Authority · checked 2026-10-10