First Free Black Republic -- Art, Resilience & Caribbean Soul
The top marginal rate on personal income is 30%, applied through a progressive set of brackets with a tax-free amount at the bottom. Employers withhold tax on salaries at source.
Haiti does not have a classic VAT. It applies the TCA (Taxe sur le Chiffre d'Affaires), a turnover/sales tax at a standard rate of 10% on goods and services, with some exemptions.
The fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September. Annual returns relate to this period rather than the calendar year, so plan your accounting accordingly.
Yes. Every taxpayer needs a NIF (Numéro d'Identification Fiscale) issued by the DGI. You apply at a DGI office with your ID and, for a business, your registration documents.
Foreigners are taxed on their Haitian-source income, such as salary earned in Haiti. Haiti has very few tax treaties, so relief from double taxation usually depends on your home country's rules — get cross-border advice.
Yes, the CFPB (Contribution Foncière des Propriétés Bâties) is an annual tax on built property assessed on rental value, administered by the DGI. Rental income and property transfers are also taxed.
Public facilities exist and are nominally low-cost, but they are severely under-resourced and often lack supplies, staff, and power. Most foreigners and many Haitians who can afford it use private or mission care and pay out of pocket.
Yes — strongly. Buy comprehensive international insurance that explicitly includes medical evacuation, because serious conditions often require transfer to the Dominican Republic, the US, or elsewhere for adequate treatment.
Get travel-medicine advice on hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and routine vaccines, and discuss malaria prophylaxis and cholera. Guard against mosquito-borne dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and malaria, and be strict about water and food hygiene.
Pharmacies in cities stock many medicines, but availability of specific drugs is inconsistent. Bring an adequate personal supply of any essential medication in its original packaging, with a doctor's letter.
Only within the international bubble. Daily life runs on Haitian Creole, and French is used in formal settings. Learning basic Creole is transformative for both practicality and relationships.
No. Use treated, bottled, or filtered water for drinking and food preparation. Most residents buy treated bottled water or use home filtration.
Not from the public grid, which is intermittent. Households depend on inverters, generators, and increasingly solar. A home's backup power setup is a top priority when renting or buying.
Security is the dominant concern, with serious gang violence and kidnapping risk especially in Port-au-Prince, and many governments advise against travel. People do live and work there safely by respecting the risks, choosing secure housing, using trusted drivers, and staying informed — but it must be planned around, not ignored.
Cash dominates. Cards work only at some hotels, larger supermarkets, and upscale venues in the capital. Carry gourdes for daily needs and keep US-dollar cash for larger purchases and emergencies; mobile money (MonCash) is widely used too.