Bosnia and Herzegovina: Amendments to the Profit Tax Law in Republic of Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Amendments to the Profit Tax Law in Republic of Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina

topic.jpg

Dajana Topic

The National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska (RS) adopted amendments to the Profit Tax Law on December 28 2016. The main changes entered into force on January 1 2017.

With the amendments, the Law clarifies the definition of "taxable person" and harmonises the concept of residence with the Profit Tax Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Brcko District in order to avoid double taxation. Namely, a company is considered resident in BiH if it is registered as a legal entity there. An entity has a taxable presence in BiH if it carries out business activities in the jurisdiction that meets the criteria for a permanent establishment.

The sources of taxable income are as follows:

  • Profit derived from economic activities of both residents and non-residents in RS;

  • Profit derived from the sale of property located in RS and the sale of movable property if the sale is carried out within RS;

  • Dividends, profit shares and interest income;

  • Income from copyright and similar rights;

  • Income from rent and services paid by residents or permanent establishments in RS; and

  • Capital gains on transfers of securities and shares in equity of residents or permanent establishments based in the RS.

The taxable base is the profit determined by adjusting the profit stated in the profit/loss statement, except in cases prescribed by the law. In order to harmonise provisions of the RS Profit Tax Law with the Profit Tax Law of the FBiH, interest income on bank deposits is no longer tax exempt. Amortisation of goodwill is also a non-deductible expense.

According to the recent amendments, the annual withholding tax returns must be filed by January 31 of the current year for the previous tax year, instead of the previously set date of March 31. The gross amount of payments to non-residents, such as interest income, royalties, technical service fees, insurance premiums, payments for entertainment events, rental payments for movable property and fees for telecommunication services, are all subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%.

Considering thin capitalisation, with effect from 2017, if a legal entity has taken out a loan from a related entity at an interest rate below the market interest rate, it may reduce its taxable base by deducting the amount of interest paid. Yet, the net interest expenses must not exceed 30% of the tax base.

The new amendments also bring several changes in terms of tax incentives, so there are no longer incentives related to new employment. However, taxpayers may reduce their tax liability by 30% if they invest in manufacturing equipment, real estate and plants if the value of which exceeds 50% of their tax base in the current tax year.

Dajana Topic (dajana.topic@eurofast.eu), Banja Luka and Sarajevo

Eurofast Global

Tel: +387 51 961 610

Website: www.eurofast.eu

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

It follows a court case concerning a Freedom of Information request lodged by the founder of a software company
After years of deafening silence, the UK tax authority is taking overdue action against corporates that fail to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion
The US president has raised India’s tariff rate to 50% because of its importation of Russian oil; in other news, firms made key international tax partner hires
Tax auditors themselves had not been aware of the new TP ‘transaction matrix’ requirements, ITR hears as five German partners share their client experiences
Its features include a built-in AI assistant as well as expert insights and commentary from Deloitte specialists
AI is rapidly finding its way into tax advisory services. But how can AI be deployed responsibly, reliably, and in compliance with legal standards?
Specified taxpayers will have to apply a 19% VAT rate on services offered by third parties through their platforms; in other news, Donald Trump imposed 30% South African tariffs
A ‘quiet revolution’ in HMRC’s compliance strategy has caused Adam Craggs to rethink how to advise clients, he tells ITR
If the Reform leader becomes UK prime minister then he may follow the direction of the US in at least one significant way
Trump declared a new national emergency in issuing the order; in other news, Grant Thornton Germany is up for sale and the subject of interest from both its UK and US counterparts
Gift this article