Stripe, the global financial infrastructure platform for the internet, continues to be a game-changer for digital entrepreneurs worldwide. From powering seamless online payments to enabling borderless commerce, Stripe is the backbone of thousands of businesses, from Silicon Valley unicorns to Lagos-based startups. Yet, Stripe’s limited presence in the region remains challenging for many African founders.
While Stripe’s direct payment processing is still available in only a handful of African countries, the company is accelerating its continental footprint through another route: tax compliance automation.
Stripe Tax Now Supports 19 African Nations
As of May 2025, Stripe’s flagship tax tool, Stripe Tax, now supports 102 countries globally, up from 57 in 2024. This includes a significant leap forward in Africa, with 19 countries now covered, including recent additions like Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, and Ethiopia.
This service automatically calculates and collects sales tax, VAT, and GST, helping businesses comply with local regulations in real time, a major headache for many African founders seeking to scale across borders.
Here’s the full list of African countries currently supported by Stripe Tax:
- Angola
- Benin (New)
- Burkina Faso (New)
- Cameroon (New)
- Cape Verde (New)
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Ethiopia (New)
- Guinea
- Kenya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
This expansion is a clear nod to the continent’s growing digital economy and the urgent need for infrastructure that enables cross-border commerce and regulatory compliance.
But What About Stripe Payments in Africa?
While Stripe Tax is expanding, Stripe’s full payment processing capabilities are still not available in countries like Algeria, Rwanda, Botswana, Gabon, or Gambia. But that doesn’t mean African founders in these markets are left out.
Enter Stripe Atlas.
With Stripe Atlas, entrepreneurs can incorporate a U.S. company, open a U.S. bank account, and access the full suite of Stripe tools—from payments to subscriptions and fraud protection, without ever setting foot outside their home country.
This workaround has enabled Rwandan, Algerian, and other African founders to build global businesses by billing customers abroad, even without direct Stripe support in their country.
Why This Matters
Stripe’s slow rollout of payments infrastructure in Africa has long been a barrier to entry for internet-first businesses on the continent. But the company’s recent moves, especially around compliance automation, suggest a strategic commitment to building the rails for Africa’s internet economy.
As more African businesses join the global digital marketplace, tools like Stripe Tax and Atlas will be critical for navigating regulatory complexity, tax remittance, and cross-border scale.
While Stripe is not everywhere in Africa yet, it’s planting essential seeds, offering both practical solutions and a roadmap for deeper integration across the continent.
