Corporate Taxation in Senegal: Reform and Tax Avoidance

Authors: Luisito Bertinelli, Arnaud Bourgain, Seydi Ababacar Dieng & Jean-Paul Diagne

ISSN: 2709-8575
Affiliations: University of Luxembourg; University of Luxembourg; LAREM, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar; LAREM, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar
Source: African Multidisciplinary Tax Journal, Volume 6, Issue 1 (2026), p. 169–196
https://doi.org/10.47348/AMTJ/V6/i1a8

Abstract

This paper examines corporate income taxation in Senegal using firm-level data from the Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD), covering nearly the entire formal private sector for the period 2008–2019. This study uses firms’ effective tax rates (ETRs) to assess the actual corporate tax burden and identify the main determinants of tax avoidance. Particular attention is paid to the effects of the 2013 tax reform. Empirical results show that ETRs increased overall after the 2013 reform but declined for large firms. These findings are robust across alternative specifications and measures of effective taxation. The results support a review of tax incentives and exemptions, particularly those benefiting large and export-orientated firms.