Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Summary
Navigating the global tax compliance landscape successfully is complex and resource-intensive. Every country has a specific and constantly evolving set of legislated e-invoicing requirements.
Non-compliance, intentional or not, can result in significant financial penalties, business disruption, and reputational damage.
Updates
08.01.22
|07.06.22
|07.06.22
|07.06.22
|07.06.22
|03.23.22
|02.04.22
|Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced violations and penalties of the first phase of e-invoicing (Generation Phase), which took effect on 4th December 2021.
Businesses who fail to issue and archive electronic invoices are subject to a fine between SAR 5,000- 50,000. In addition, the authority may issue a warning for not including the QR code on simplified tax invoices, not including the VAT registration number on the e-invoices where required, and failing to inform ZATCA of any malfunction that hinders the issuance of e-invoice. Amendment and deletion of e-invoices after issuance will also trigger a fine between SAR 10,000 – 50,000.
ZATCA has also clarified that all fines are applied depending on the types of violation and the number of times it has been committed. The penalties for first-time violations are likely to be modest, while repeat violations will attract higher fines.
01.04.22
|The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has developed the “SDK (Software Development Kit) Toolkit”, which enables taxpayers and developers of e-invoicing solutions to verify the compliance of generated e-invoices, credit, and debit notes, as well as the respective QR codes generated, against the e invoicing standards, specifications and regulations published by ZATCA.
A user manual is also available to guide users through the technical and functional aspects of the Compliance and Enablement Toolbox SDK such as what is the SDK, how to use it, and how to install it. To download the user manual and the SDK Toolkit, please access this page.
01.04.22
|The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) published the guidelines for generating and printing QR codes on electronic tax invoices on 18 November 2021. The guide provides some further information on the QR code specification, Tag-Length-Value (TLV), how to create a TLV, code snippets as well as some details on the representation of QR code data.
For the full guideline, please visit: QRCodeCreation.pdf (zatca.gov.sa). Note that the use of QR codes on Tax Invoices will become mandatory from 01/01/23. QR codes are required on Simplified Invoices from 04/12/2021.
09.08.21
|In Saudi Arabia, the deadline for the implementation of Phase 2 of the e-invoicing mandate has been delayed to 1st January 2023 and it will be implemented in waves by targeted taxpayer groups. Select taxpayer groups will be informed 6 months prior to the go-live date.
In relation to Phase 1 – the Generation Phase, which will be enforced by December 4th, 2021, there is no prescribed invoice format. However, e-invoices must be issued as a structured file. This means that from the implementation date, paper and PDF invoices no longer qualify as valid tax invoices.
The mandate rules for Phase 2 remain unchanged. E-invoices must be issued in XML/Hybrid (PDF A-3) format and suppliers will need to clear the invoices with GAZT before sending these to buyers. Due to the technical nature of the requirements in Phase 2, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a solution provider or their internal technical teams to ensure their e-invoicing systems comply with ZACTA (General Authority for Zakat and Tax) requirements.
08.08.21
|In Saudi Arabia, the Phase two enforcement date in the e-invoicing mandate has been delayed to 1st January 2023 and it will be implemented in waves by targeted taxpayer groups. Select taxpayer groups will be informed 6 months prior to the go-live date.
Due to the technical nature of the requirements in Phase two, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a solution provider or their internal technical teams to ensure their e-invoicing systems comply with ZACTA (General Authority for Zakat and Tax) requirements.
08.08.21
|In Saudi Arabia, the Phase two enforcement date in the e-invoicing mandate has been delayed to 1st January 2023 and it will be implemented in waves by targeted taxpayer groups. Select taxpayer groups will be informed 6 months prior to the go-live date.
Due to the technical nature of the requirements in Phase two, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a solution provider or their internal technical teams to ensure their e-invoicing systems comply with ZACTA (General Authority for Zakat and Tax) requirements.
07.04.21
|Further to VAT rate increase from 5% to 15% announcement effective the 1st of July 2020, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (“ZATCA”) in Saudi Arabia has announced transitional rules governing supplies that are made during the transitional period for the VAT rate increase i.e. from 11 May 2020 to 30 June 2021. The transitional rules would not be applicable starting from the 1st of July 2021 onward and the VAT rate to be applied going forward should be 15% applicable to all supplies made (except where zero-rated or exempt by law).
07.04.21
|Further to VAT rate increase from 5% to 15% announcement effective the 1st of July 2020, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (“ZATCA”) in Saudi Arabia has announced transitional rules governing supplies that are made during the transitional period for the VAT rate increase i.e. from 11 May 2020 to 30 June 2021. The transitional rules would not be applicable starting from the 1st of July 2021 onward and the VAT rate to be applied going forward should be 15% applicable to all supplies made (except where zero-rated or exempt by law).
03.31.21
|We have now been aware for some time that KSA is moving towards mandatory e-invoicing.
On 18 March 2021, GAZT published a draft resolution – again for public consultation – on the requirements. The draft resolution includes technical specifications and procedures for implementing the provisions of the E-Invoicing Regulation. The resolution aims to specify the business and technical requirements that will need to be adhered to as Saudi Arabia moves toward e-invoicing.
GAZT encourages businesses start assessing how the e-invoicing regulations will impact their systems and processes and commence the planning work to successfully implement e-invoicing by the deadline of December 4th, 2021.
An English translation of the draft resolution can be found here.
03.31.21
|We have now been aware for some time that KSA is moving towards mandatory e-invoicing.
On 18 March 2021, GAZT published a draft resolution – again for public consultation – on the requirements. The draft resolution includes technical specifications and procedures for implementing the provisions of the E-Invoicing Regulation. The resolution aims to specify the business and technical requirements that will need to be adhered to as Saudi Arabia moves toward e-invoicing.
GAZT encourages businesses start assessing how the e-invoicing regulations will impact their systems and processes and commence the planning work to successfully implement e-invoicing by the deadline of December 4th, 2021.
An English translation of the draft resolution can be found here.
02.23.21
|As we reported before, Saudi Arabia is well on its way to mandatory electronic invoicing, only 4 years after the introduction of VAT in the Kingdom.
In autumn of 2020, KSA completed their public consultation regarding the planned e-invoicing regulation, followed by the approval of the GAZT board of directors of the final version of the regulations. This final version has been published in the official Saudi gazette on 4 December 2020 and entered into force immediately on the same day it was published. The regulations contain the framework of the e-invoicing mechanism GAZT is anticipating to apply and the expectation is that businesses in scope of the regulation will be able to comply by 4 December 2021.
While the timeline is very tight, not all details are clear, and it is expected that further details will follow prior to the effective date to help taxpayers comply with the new rules.
This is a tight timeline and businesses in the Kingdom should begin their implementations early in 2021. We see this as a unique opportunity for organisations to leverage digital technology and benefit from more streamlined tax operations.
02.23.21
|As we reported before, Saudi Arabia is well on its way to mandatory electronic invoicing, only 4 years after the introduction of VAT in the Kingdom.
In autumn of 2020, KSA completed their public consultation regarding the planned e-invoicing regulation, followed by the approval of the GAZT board of directors of the final version of the regulations. This final version has been published in the official Saudi gazette on 4 December 2020 and entered into force immediately on the same day it was published. The regulations contain the framework of the e-invoicing mechanism GAZT is anticipating to apply and the expectation is that businesses in scope of the regulation will be able to comply by 4 December 2021.
While the timeline is very tight, not all details are clear, and it is expected that further details will follow prior to the effective date to help taxpayers comply with the new rules.
This is a tight timeline and businesses in the Kingdom should begin their implementations early in 2021. We see this as a unique opportunity for organisations to leverage digital technology and benefit from more streamlined tax operations.
12.18.20
|As stated before in our earlier update, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making fast progress with the introduction of compulsory e-invoicing. The electronic invoicing system aims to drive down shadow economy transactions and to fight commercial concealment.
The Saudi General Authority of Zakat and Tax approved the new electronic invoicing regulation on Friday 4 December 2020. The electronic billing regulation contains seven articles that regulate the mechanism for issuing and keeping electronic invoices for taxpayers. The regulation also stipulates the procedural rules and timings, as well as further provisions, procedures and persons subject to these. Mandatory issuance of electronic invoices will commence from 4 December 2021; followed by mandatory invoice reporting to the government in June 2022.
For further information, please review the English version of the e-invoicing Regulations and FAQs as recently released by GAZT.
12.18.20
|As stated before in our earlier update, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making fast progress with the introduction of compulsory e-invoicing. The electronic invoicing system aims to drive down shadow economy transactions and to fight commercial concealment.
The Saudi General Authority of Zakat and Tax approved the new electronic invoicing regulation on Friday 4 December 2020. The electronic billing regulation contains seven articles that regulate the mechanism for issuing and keeping electronic invoices for taxpayers. The regulation also stipulates the procedural rules and timings, as well as further provisions, procedures and persons subject to these. Mandatory issuance of electronic invoices will commence from 4 December 2021; followed by mandatory invoice reporting to the government in June 2022.
For further information, please review the English version of the e-invoicing Regulations and FAQs as recently released by GAZT.
09.21.20
|On the 17th September Saudi’s General Authority for Zakat and Taxes recently published a draft e-invoicing regulation and have sought consultation with industry experts to provide input into their proposals. Tungsten is actively engaged in the consultation process which ends on October 14th.
09.21.20
|On the 17th September Saudi’s General Authority for Zakat and Taxes recently published a draft e-invoicing regulation and have sought consultation with industry experts to provide input into their proposals. Tungsten is actively engaged in the consultation process which ends on October 14th.
05.19.20
|Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announces a base-rate VAT increase from 5% to 15%: KSA’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Al Jadaan, announced starting from 1 July 2020 the VAT rate will increase from 5% to 15%.
05.19.20
|Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announces a base-rate VAT increase from 5% to 15%: KSA’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Al Jadaan, announced starting from 1 July 2020 the VAT rate will increase from 5% to 15%.
01.01.18
|In February 2016 the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced that Value-Added Tax (VAT) would be rolled out throughout the Gulf States, starting in January 2018.
01.01.18
|In February 2016 the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced that Value-Added Tax (VAT) would be rolled out throughout the Gulf States, starting in January 2018.
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