Taxation (VAT) in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Following the approval of the Unified VAT Agreement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a VAT rate of 15% (revised on July 1, 2020).
VAT Rates in KSA
- Standard Rate (15%) — The standard VAT rate.
- Zero-Rated (0%) — Specific goods and services subject to 0% VAT.
- Exempt — Some goods and services are exempt from VAT.
- Out of Scope — Supplies kept out of the scope of VAT.
VAT Registration
Mandatory Registration
If total sales exceed SAR 375,000 during a 12-month period, registration is mandatory.
Voluntary Registration
If total sales exceed SAR 187,500, voluntary registration is available.
VAT Return Filing
The annual taxable supplies of a business determine the filing frequency:
| Annual Taxable Supplies | Filing Frequency |
|---|---|
| Below SAR 40 million | Quarterly |
| SAR 40 million and above | Monthly |
Quarterly Filing Periods
- April to June → Deadline: 31st July
- July to September → Deadline: 31st October
- October to December → Deadline: 31st January
E-Invoicing (Fatoorah)
E-invoicing was rolled out in two phases in KSA:
Phase 1 (December 4, 2021)
Tax invoices are issued through a compliant electronic solution with additional required fields.
Phase 2 (January 1, 2023)
The electronic solution requires integration with ZATCA's systems. E-invoices must be generated in the required format.
Invoice Types
- Tax Invoice (B2B) — Issued by a business to another business. Contains all tax invoice elements.
- Simplified Tax Invoice (B2C) — Issued by a business to a consumer. Contains simplified invoice elements.
Key Definitions
- Fatoorah — The Arabic word for electronic invoices in Saudi Arabia.
- ZATCA — Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority; the governing body for VAT in KSA.