Poker taxation: why players choose Paraguay (0% on winnings)

You make a living from poker and you've just done your accounts: between taxing your winnings as professional income, social security contributions, and paperwork, a large part of your win rate goes to the tax authorities every year. In France, a regular player's winnings are taxed at the progressive rate, up to 45% excluding social security contributions. There is a legal alternative that more and more French-speaking players are adopting: tax residency in Paraguay. Here's why.

The principle: 0% on foreign-sourced income

Paraguay applies territorial taxation (Law 6380/2019): only income generated in Paraguay is taxed there. Foreign-sourced income of a Paraguayan tax resident is not taxed. For a player, the consequence is direct: your winnings on foreign online rooms and your performance in live tournaments abroad are considered foreign-sourced income. As a Paraguayan tax resident, they are not taxed in Paraguay. No tax brackets, no professional status to defend, no session accounting to justify every year.

Why it works for poker in particular

Poker ticks all the boxes for the ideal profile for Paraguayan territoriality. Your income is international by nature: platforms are based in Malta, Gibraltar, or elsewhere, tournaments are played in Las Vegas, Barcelona, or Monte Carlo. Nothing ties you economically to your country of origin, apart from your tax residence – and that's exactly what you're moving. Unlike an employee or a merchant, you can work from anywhere: all you need is a good connection, and Asunción is very well served. Bonus for online grinders: the Paraguayan time zone places the European evening peak time in the local early afternoon.

The game-changing condition: a clean tax exit

Let's be clear on one point: obtaining Paraguayan papers is not enough if you remain fiscally tied to your country of origin. As long as your home and the center of your interests remain in France or Belgium, their tax authorities will continue to consider you a resident. A successful player's expatriation is a true transfer of the center of life and a solid, documented Paraguayan status: residency, cédula, RUC, and the tax residency certificate that materializes your new status to your original administration. This is precisely what our Paraguayan tax residency support covers.

What about life there?

It's often a pleasant surprise. A comfortable lifestyle in Asunción costs a fraction of what it costs in Paris, London, or Dubai: the bankroll breathes on both sides, on winnings and expenses. The French-speaking expat community is growing, the country is stable, and nothing obliges you to spend the whole year there: resident status is maintained with limited presence, which leaves plenty of room for the live circuit. Several players are already among our supported clients.

Concretely: 2 days in Asunción

The setup is simpler than a tax package in Malta or a visa in Dubai: a 2-business-day visit to Asunción with our packages starting from €1,400, and we handle the entire process with you. For an overview, consult our A-Z guide to expatriation in Paraguay, then write to us on WhatsApp at +595 971 362 302 with your situation (online, live, or both). Over 200 cases supported, 100% acceptance.