Tunisia’s parliament has officially approved a proposal for a new regulation allowing families to import a car with a customs exemption, following the rejection of a previous proposal that suggested each citizen could import one vehicle in their lifetime without taxes.
The new proposal introduces a set of regulations that limits eligibility to specific types of vehicles and conditions. It allows families to import a car, provided it does not exceed eight years of age. Importantly, this new law stipulates that the car cannot be sold for five years from the date of importation. Furthermore, only 10% of the total cars imported can fall under this exemption, with the remainder allocated to companies.
This new law also defines various eligibility criteria. It restricts the benefit to family households, excluding single individuals. The eligible vehicles are restricted to diesel cars with an engine capacity not exceeding 1700cc, or gasoline cars with an engine capacity of no more than 1400cc. Additionally, there is a consumption tax of 10% and a value-added tax (VAT) of 7%.
To qualify, an individual’s income must not exceed 10 times the minimum wage, and for couples, the combined income must not exceed 14 times the minimum wage. Those who already own a car under 8 years old will not be eligible for this exemption.
Once approved, the applicant must wait three months for a response, and if successful, they must import the vehicle within two years. Additionally, the car can only be sold five years after its importation.
The new law is expected to benefit only a small portion of the population, as it limits the number of cars eligible for the exemption to 10% of all cars imported. The law’s final passage will see a significant reduction in the number of vehicles imported with this exemption, with the majority of vehicles still allocated to companies.
This measure has sparked debate, with some criticizing the restrictive conditions as impractical, while others welcome it as a step toward making cars more accessible for Tunisian families.
Additional Highlights from the 2026 Finance Bill
In other developments, several sections of the 2026 Finance Bill have been revised. Key proposals include a freeze on the social solidarity contribution and a proposal to increase wages by at least 7% for the years 2026-2028, though the latter was ultimately dropped.
New provisions in the Finance Bill also include an initiative to reduce taxes on pensioners’ income, as well as an increase in property registration fees for gifts between family members. A new charge on large commercial invoices and mobile phone top-ups is also included.
The Finance Bill has sparked a mix of reactions, with some sections being passed while others were rejected or amended. The final bill will outline Tunisia’s economic priorities for the next few years.
