VAT Press Releases

Riyadh, July 2, 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) – represented by the “ESAL” e-platform - signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage companies and government entities to implement e-invoicing through the e-platform, with the aim of enhancing transparency in business invoices as well as reducing tax evasion cases.

Riyadh، 28 June 2018: Eighty-five accountants recently completed training programs for VAT specialist accountants provided by the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA) in partnership with the General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT).

Riyadh، 27 June 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Income Tax (GAZT) called on all businesses registered in VAT with more than SAR 40 million in annual supplies of taxable goods and services to file their May tax returns before the end of June.

Riyadh - May 30, 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) announced that its field inspection teams recently issued VAT-related violations against foodstuff retail and wholesale shops in Riyadh and Al-Kharj.

Riyadh, May 16, 2018: Ahead of the uptick in shopping activity during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) urged consumers to use the VAT App when purchasing goods and services in order to verify that the businesses they deal with are fact registered in the VAT and report cases of tax fraud.

Riyadh, 13 May 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) recently stepped up its field inspection efforts which aim to follow up on the implementation of VAT by businesses. The efforts come in anticipation of the increased shopping activity normally witnessed during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Riyadh, 10 May 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) announced that its field inspection team recently issued violations against several car showrooms in Riyadh for their non-compliance with the VAT implementing regulations.

Riyadh، 29 April 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) reminded companies that the fine for failing to file the tax return on time ranges from a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 25% of the value of the tax amount due on the company, further noting that there will be an additional penalty for delayed payment of the tax amount due equaling 5% of the value of the unpaid tax amount for each month or part thereof.

Riyadh, 26 April 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) published a helpful guide on its treatment of imported and exported goods and services subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) under the GCC Unified VAT Agreement and VAT Law and Implementing Regulations.

Riyadh, 22 April 2018: The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) renewed its call for VAT-registered companies whose annual supplies of taxable goods and services equals SAR 40 million or less to file their tax returns for the first quarter of this year by April 30.

Riyadh, February 15, 2018: : The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) announced that the number of users of the VAT app reached 1,375,813 users, with 869,915 users downloading it on IOS devices and 505,898 on Android.

Riyadh, April 11, 2018:  The General Authority for Zakat and Tax (GAZT) confirmed that it issued 4,794 violations in various regions of Saudi Arabia in the first 100 days since VAT was implemented in the Kingdom in the beginning of January.