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When the Saudi government developed their national transformation plan, one of its primary goals was to create an environment that would encourage the growth of the real estate industry in Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030 outlined various ways this could be achieved, one of which was their goal to build 300,000 new housing units over the next five years. Over 106,000 new housing units have already been constructed, with a further 101,000 currently under construction. This investment has injected much-needed diversity into the current housing stock, creating a surge of new jobs in construction and related industries such as architecture.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) published its e-invoicing regulations on 4 December 2020, which was also effective from the date of publication. The regulations stipulated that e-invoicing would become mandatory for taxpayers by 4 December 2021. As phase one draws to an end, phase two becomes enforceable from 1 January, 2023 in waves. Taxpayers must ensure they are prepared.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a modern and comprehensive tax system in place, which is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a growing economy. The Saudi Arabian government has been working hard to attract foreign investment and spur economic growth, and as part of this effort has been reforming the tax system.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (“ZATCA”), have announced that effective from 12 June, 2022, the customs tariffs of 99 goods have been adjusted in order to protect and encourage national industries.

Taxation in Saudi Arabia is constantly evolving as the government looks for new ways to generate revenue and promote economic development. As a country that has traditionally avoided taxation, the new Saudi tax system is still in its infancy. However, the government is committed to modernising the tax system and making it more efficient. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort towards the increased digitisation of both commercial and government interactions.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has announced a tax amnesty initiative, which will provide taxpayers with the option of cancellation and or removal of tax penalties relating to taxes covered in the tax laws including Value-Added Tax (VAT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and Withholding Tax (WHT), on the condition that the taxpayers settle the principal tax claims by November 30, 2022.

As the GCC region moves away from an era of oil dependency, many of its member states are implementing new taxes as part of a wider fiscal reform agenda. Economic diversification has been a key focus for policymakers in recent years, and taxes are seen as one way to generate non-oil revenue and promote sustainable growth.

Historically, Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has been a tax-free nation. However, in line with the government's efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependency on oil revenues, the nation has begun to introduce various forms of taxation in recent years. These new laws will further align the nation towards the government's national transformation program — Vision 2030.