VAT is not payable as Mauritius is in Free Port. In relation to Value Added Tax (VAT) in Mauritius, a Freeport Zone acts as a designated, customs-controlled area where imported goods and services intended for export, re-export, or specific manufacturing are legally exempt from VAT. This system entirely bypasses the standard 15% VAT.
1. Tax and VAT Framework at 0% VAT Status: All transactions involving physical gold medallions, rounds, and bullion bars stored and traded strictly within the Freeport zone are 100% exempt from the standard 15% domestic Value Added Tax (VAT).
Zero-Rated vs. Exempt: Unlike physical gold imported into the general Mauritian domestic market (which is treated as an exempt supply), the Freeport environment offers a true zero-rated/tax-exempt framework optimized specifically for international buyers and offshore investors.
2. Logistics, Storage, and Customs Control Offshore Vaulting: Precious metals are housed securely within accredited Freeport vaulting facilities, allowing international investors to safely diversify assets outside of their local economic jurisdictions.
Duty-Free Structure: All physical assets enter the designated zone completely free of customs duties, handling tariffs, or import levies.
3. Regulatory Compliance Requirements Zone Restrictions: To maintain the 0% VAT and duty-free status, all purchased or traded gold must physically remain inside the designated, customs-controlled Freeport zone.
Domestic Withdrawal Penalty: If physical bullion is withdrawn from the Freeport and brought into the general domestic market of Mauritius, the asset immediately becomes subject to standard domestic VAT (15%) and applicable import duties.