---
title: "The Bahamas tax for new residents 2026: No personal income tax"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/the-bahamas/tax/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-10
---

# The Bahamas tax

Foreign-source income of residents: No personal income tax. No special regime for new residents in our records.

Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

## Standard rules and foreign-source income

Standard rules

### No personal income tax; VAT and National Insurance

No personal income tax

Foreign-source income: No personal income tax

**Details**

- On: Consumption (VAT) and wages (National Insurance contributions)

The Bahamas Government investment guidance lists personal income, capital gains, inheritance, withholding, dividend and payroll taxes as absent; residents pay VAT and National Insurance contributions instead. (sources 1, 2, 3)

#### Taxed on

Consumption (VAT) and wages (National Insurance contributions)

#### Tax residence

No income tax residence test applies because no personal income tax is levied; National Insurance applies to employees, employers and the self-employed.

#### Visas

Permanent residence and permit holders pay VAT and National Insurance on the same basis.

#### Other taxes

National Insurance contribution rates rose by 1.5 percentage points from the first Monday of July 2024 (shared by employer and employee), with further 1.5-point rises every two years to 2044. Real property tax applies to owners.

Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

## VAT, social security and other taxes

- National Insurance contribution rates rose by 1.5 percentage points from the first Monday of July 2024 (shared by employer and employee), with further 1.5-point rises every two years to 2044. Real property tax applies to owners.

## Questions people ask

### Is foreign-source income taxed in The Bahamas?

No personal income tax. The Bahamas Government investment guidance lists personal income, capital gains, inheritance, withholding, dividend and payroll taxes as absent; residents pay VAT and National Insurance contributions instead.

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

**Sources (3)**

## Official sources

1. [Frequently Asked Questions (Why should I invest in The Bahamas)](https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/faqs) · Government of The Bahamas · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Value Added Tax (VAT)](https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/service/value-added-tax-vat) · Government of The Bahamas (Ministry of Finance) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Minister Sears updates on Immigration and National Insurance](https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/news-press-release/minister-sears-updates-on-immigration-and-national-insurance-steps-to-increased-efficiencies) · Government of The Bahamas · checked 2026-10-10