Resident Withholding Tax

Effective from 1st August 2018, a resident company or permanent establishment in Fiji of a non-resident company is required to deduct 10% Withholding Tax from interest payments to its customers who are resident persons. This 10% withholding tax is not required to be withheld if the payment is to a financial institution, or the customer who is a resident person holds a valid Certificate of Exemption (COE).

Resident Interest Withholding Tax (RIWT) is a final tax which means that the gross amount of any interest income paid or credited to resident individuals by a financial institution in Fiji will be taxed at a fixed rate of 10% and will not be assessed under tax table, is not reduced by any deduction, and tax withheld is not reduced by any credits under the Income tax act.  However, if the RIWT has been over or incorrectly deducted, the taxpayer may file a tax return.

Exemptions from Resident Interest Withholding Tax (RIWT)

The 10% RIWT must be withheld from gross amount of interest except if CEO issues a COE to a resident person on the basis that the interest is exempt as prescribed by regulations made under the Income Tax Act.  

  1. Gross income $30,000 and below – with effect from 1st August 2021 the interest income earned by an individual whose gross income is $30,000 or less in a year can apply for exemption.
  2. Senior Citizens and Pensioners – With effect from 1st August 2021, all senior citizens (55 years old or above) and pensioners who earn interest income up to $30,000 are eligible to apply for COE  from RIWT provided their only additional source of income is from social welfare pension provided by the Fiji Government and or pension from the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). The requirements for pensioners and senior citizens to qualify for COE are stated below:
    • Requirements for Pensioners:
      • Must receive or have received a pension from an approved fund (e.g., FNPF, Fiji government pension).
      • Total annual interest income must not exceed $30,000.
    • Requirements for Senior Citizens:
      • Must be 55 years or older.
      • Total annual interest income must not exceed $30,000.
      • Current income must be from interest only, except for FNPF/Fiji government pension income.

Note: The RIWT exemption on interest income less than $1,000 will be removed effective 1 January 2024.

What are the requirements for the application of RIWT COE?

Before Issuance of COE:

  1. All tax returns must be lodged.
  2. All taxes must be paid.
  3. The source of funds on which interest is earned must be explained.

If the applicant does not have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), they must obtain a TIN from FRCS.   

How to apply for RIWT COE?

Taxpayers can lodge their application on our TPOS portal on this link Click here.

Validity of COE:

The certificate is valid until the maturity date or the current year.

What happens if RIWT is deducted before obtaining the RIWT COE?

Taxpayers may file tax return on TPOS or email for further clarification at info@frcs.org.fj.

Last Updated - July 1, 2025

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Resident Withholding Tax

Effective from 1st August 2018, a resident company or permanent establishment in Fiji of a non-resident company is required to deduct 10% Withholding Tax from interest payments to its customers who are resident persons. This 10% withholding tax is not required to be withheld if the payment is to a financial institution, or the customer who is a resident person holds a valid Certificate of Exemption (COE).

Resident Interest Withholding Tax (RIWT) is a final tax which means that the gross amount of any interest income paid or credited to resident individuals by a financial institution in Fiji will be taxed at a fixed rate of 10% and will not be assessed under tax table, is not reduced by any deduction, and tax withheld is not reduced by any credits under the Income tax act.  However, if the RIWT has been over or incorrectly deducted, the taxpayer may file a tax return.

Exemptions from Resident Interest Withholding Tax (RIWT)

The 10% RIWT must be withheld from gross amount of interest except if CEO issues a COE to a resident person on the basis that the interest is exempt as prescribed by regulations made under the Income Tax Act.  

  1. Gross income $30,000 and below – with effect from 1st August 2021 the interest income earned by an individual whose gross income is $30,000 or less in a year can apply for exemption.
  2. Senior Citizens and Pensioners – With effect from 1st August 2021, all senior citizens (55 years old or above) and pensioners who earn interest income up to $30,000 are eligible to apply for COE  from RIWT provided their only additional source of income is from social welfare pension provided by the Fiji Government and or pension from the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF). The requirements for pensioners and senior citizens to qualify for COE are stated below:
    • Requirements for Pensioners:
      • Must receive or have received a pension from an approved fund (e.g., FNPF, Fiji government pension).
      • Total annual interest income must not exceed $30,000.
    • Requirements for Senior Citizens:
      • Must be 55 years or older.
      • Total annual interest income must not exceed $30,000.
      • Current income must be from interest only, except for FNPF/Fiji government pension income.

Note: The RIWT exemption on interest income less than $1,000 will be removed effective 1 January 2024.

What are the requirements for the application of RIWT COE?

Before Issuance of COE:

  1. All tax returns must be lodged.
  2. All taxes must be paid.
  3. The source of funds on which interest is earned must be explained.

If the applicant does not have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), they must obtain a TIN from FRCS.   

How to apply for RIWT COE?

Taxpayers can lodge their application on our TPOS portal on this link Click here.

Validity of COE:

The certificate is valid until the maturity date or the current year.

What happens if RIWT is deducted before obtaining the RIWT COE?

Taxpayers may file tax return on TPOS or email for further clarification at info@frcs.org.fj.

Last Updated - July 1, 2025

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