Macau's Legislative Assembly has approved the 2026 budget bill in its final reading, confirming a forecast gaming revenue of MOP 236bn and a projected fiscal surplus, according to Macao Daily.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip attended the session, while Second Standing Committee chair Ip Sio Kai outlined the assumptions underpinning next year's public finance framework.
According to Ip, the Government expects the tourism sector to continue recovering through 2026, although uncertainties in global economic conditions were factored in. Based on this outlook, the administration adopted a gaming revenue estimate of MOP 236bn as the primary income source for next year's budget.
Total integrated budget revenue is set at MOP 118.8bn, with planned expenditure of MOP 113.48bn. This results in a projected surplus of MOP 5.31bn, including MOP 5.22bn from the central accounts and MOP 91.6m from autonomous departments and agencies.
The Government confirmed that all existing public welfare programs will remain in place in 2026. These include cash sharing, medical subsidies, continuing education funding, electricity bill support for residential units, free education allowances, tuition subsidies for students outside the free education system, tertiary learning subsidies, textbook allowances, subsidies for teachers at private schools, the old-age allowance, the old-age pension and disability benefits.
Macau will also introduce three new tax relief measures: adjustments to real estate tax incentives, the creation of a preferential tax regime for corporate treasury centers and new tax benefits for investment fund activities.
Existing exemptions for business tax, stamp duty, tourism tax, complementary tax, professional tax and urban property tax will remain. Tax incentives supporting modern finance and technological innovation development will also continue.
For specific institutions, consolidated budget revenue is forecast at MOP 30.94bn and expenditure at MOP 20.81bn, resulting in an operating surplus of MOP 10.14bn. Investment expenditure for these entities is budgeted at MOP 46m.
The Government will retain all major social support programs in 2026, including cash sharing and medical subsidies
