Taxes in Suriname for Expats: Rates, Residency and the Guilder Question

Suriname is a small, Dutch-speaking country located on the north coast of South America, bordered by Guyana and French Guiana. Its tax system is relatively simple compared to many other countries. It has a wage and income tax with four tax brackets, a 36% company tax, and a value-added tax (VAT) that was implemented on January 1, 2023. For expats, the tax rates and residency status depend on their income and the exchange rate between the Surinamese guilder (SRD) and other currencies.

The Surinamese guilder has lost most of its value since 2020, and the exchange rates are published daily by the Central Bank of Suriname. As of September 26, 2026, the non-cash exchange rate was 37.8 SRD to buy one US dollar. This exchange rate is used for tax purposes, as the tax brackets are fixed in SRD by law. The income tax law was established in 1922 and has undergone numerous amendments since then.

Surinamese residents are taxed on their entire annual income after deductions, while non-residents are only taxed on income generated within the country. There is no specific 183-day rule for determining residency.

Foreigners working in Suriname face higher tax rates compared to local employees. For example, a foreign professional earning the equivalent of US$5,000 per month is taxed at an average rate of about 35%, approaching the top rate of 38%. Additionally, Suriname introduced a value-added tax (VAT) on January 1, 2023, with a standard rate of 10% for most goods and services.

The government has proposed scrapping the dividend tax for residents receiving dividends from local companies, although this remains a pending initiative as of September 2026.