(Ecofin Agency) - • U.S. bill includes 5% tax on money sent abroad by migrants, affecting $13B to Africa
• Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya are among the most exposed to this potential loss
• African fintech firms and undocumented senders face the highest risk

A new proposal in the United States to impose a 5% tax on personal money transfers to foreign countries could have serious consequences for African economies and migrant families. Each year, migrants living in the U.S. send about $13 billion to Africa—money that supports relatives, covers school fees, and funds healthcare and small businesses.

The tax is part of a larger Republican-backed bill known as "The Big and Beautiful Bill", which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22. The bill is now heading to the Senate. It is designed to help President Donald Trump fulfill campaign promises by extending the massive tax credits introduced during his first term.

According to fiscal analysts, renewing those tax credits could increase the U.S. federal deficit by $2 trillion to $4 trillion over the next ten years. To reduce the impact on the budget, lawmakers are proposing major cuts to public programs like Medicaid and SNAP (the food stamp program), alongside a new 5% excise tax on remittances sent by migrants.

This tax would not apply to U.S. citizens. It would only target the estimated 46 million migrants living in the United States, including undocumented workers, green card holders, and people with various types of work permits.

This is especially troubling for Africa. The U.S. is home to more than 2 million African migrants, and is one of the largest remittance corridors to the continent. In 2021, Nigeria received $5.7 billion, Egypt $1.8 billion, and Kenya $1.2 billion in remittances from the U.S., based on the latest available data.

If passed, the law could force many migrants to send less money home or transfer funds less frequently, due to the added cost. This would directly impact families back home and could cause financial stress across many African economies.

African startups that specialize in cross-border payments, such as Lemfi, NALA, Kuda, and Moniepoint, may also suffer. These companies provide quicker, cheaper, and more user-friendly services than traditional money transfer giants—but their business could shrink if customers stop sending money through formal channels.

Analysts at Barclays Bank warned that if the law passes, providers with undocumented clients will face major difficulties. They noted that the bill also requires money transfer companies to verify and report the citizenship status of their users.

"In the short term, the biggest disruptions may come in cash-based and retail payment channels," Barclays said in a note to clients. "This adds complexity and cost to an already sensitive space."

Some experts believe migrants may turn to unregulated or unofficial channels to avoid the tax. According to Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances, and Development program at the Inter-American Dialogue think tank, people will find other ways to send money. He pointed to cryptocurrencies as a likely alternative.

Coin Center, a group that advocates for digital asset freedom, confirmed that self-hosted crypto wallets are currently outside the scope of the bill, since they are not classified as money transfer providers.

As the Senate reviews the proposal, its final form—and real-world impact—remain uncertain. But for many African families and fintech firms, the risks are already clear.