Work in Lebanon for a company based in South Africa

By Mark 12 June 2022

Can I live in Lebanon and work remotely for a company in South Africa?

Yes, it is possible, however we usually recommend double-checking the following points:

  1. You are not working for the Lebanese Embassy or the Lebanese Consulate in South Africa
  2. You are not working for a Lebanese company or a Lebanese company that is registered in South Africa
  3. You are not working for a company that is owned by a Lebanese citizen or a company that is owned by a Lebanese citizen
  4. You are not working for a company that is registered in Lebanon

Yes, you can live in Lebanon and work remotely for a company in South Africa.

How to find remote work in South Africa while living in Lebanon?

Usually, it is feasible to get remote jobs in South Africa even though you are located in Lebanon. For that we need to consider a few things:

  1. The country of residence:
    It is very important to understand the legal system of the country of residence. Some countries have no legal protection for work outside the country of residence. For example, South Africa does not have any work protection outside the country of residence. In this case, the best option is to seek legal advice.
  2. The legal status of the company:
    It is important to know the legal status of the company in the country of residence. If the company is not registered, it is very difficult to work remotely. The company needs to be registered and pay taxes in the country of residence.
  3. The legal status of the employee:
    It is important to know the legal status of the employee. If the employee is not a resident of the country of residence, the employer needs to be registered and pay taxes in the country of residence.
  4. The legal status of the company and the employee:
    It is important to know the legal status of the company and the employee. If the company and the employee are not registered in the country of residence, it is very difficult to work remotely.
  5. The legal status of the country of residence:
    It is important to know the legal status of the country of residence. If the country of residence does not have any legal protection for work outside the country, it is very difficult to work remotely.

How to get paid in Lebanon when working remotely for a corporation in South Africa?

You can get paid in Lebanon even if you are working for a company in South Africa, however you need to have an account in the Lebanese banks.

There are three Lebanese banks that are willing to accept money transfers from companies in South Africa. These are:
Lebanese Commercial Bank
Lebanese Bank for Investment and Development
Lebanese Commercial Bank is the only Lebanese bank that allows money transfers from South Africa. This bank is the only bank that can accept money transfers from South Africa to Lebanon.
If you have an account with Lebanese Commercial Bank, you can use their website to transfer money to Lebanon. You can also use the bank’s website to transfer money to your account in Lebanon.
The bank allows you to transfer money from your South African bank account to the Lebanese bank account. You can also use the bank’s website to transfer money to your Lebanese bank account.
The bank charges a small fee to process your transfer. The fee is usually between US$20 and US$40.
Lebanese Bank for Investment and Development is a bank that is owned by the Lebanese government. This bank is the only bank in Lebanon that allows money transfers from South Africa.
If you have an account with Lebanese Bank for Investment and Development, you can use their website to transfer money to Lebanon.

How do taxes work in Lebanon if I’m working remotely for a company Lebanon?

When working remotely in Lebanon for a firm based in South Africa, taxes might be tricky, therefore , it’s important to get a tax accountant to help you with your tax return. The following information will help you with your tax return in Lebanon.

  1. What is the tax rate in Lebanon?
    In Lebanon, the tax rate is 35%. This rate is applicable to individuals and firms.
  2. How is the tax rate calculated?
    The tax rate is calculated by dividing the total amount of tax collected by the total amount of tax paid.
  3. How is the tax collected in Lebanon?
    The tax is collected by the Finance Ministry.
  4. How is the tax paid in Lebanon?
    The tax is paid to the Finance Ministry.
  5. What are the taxes collected by the Finance Ministry?
    The taxes collected by the Finance Ministry are:
  6. Income tax
  7. Value added tax (VAT)
  8. Social security tax
  9. Customs tax
  10. Property tax
  11. Other taxes
  12. What are the taxes paid by the Finance Ministry?
    The taxes paid by the Finance Ministry are:
  13. How is the tax rate determined?
    The tax rate is determined by the Finance Ministry.