Following the issue of the final VAT law on July 28, 2017, Saudi Arabia has published its final VAT implementing regulations, said Al Tamimi & Company, a leading law firm in the Middle East.

As Saudi Arabia has now issued the full VAT legislation, which comprises the law and the regulations, businesses have the complete set of information necessary in order to analyse the VAT implications and to prepare before January 1, 2018.

The key features of the Saudi Arabia VAT regulations are as follows:
     
Effective date – the VAT law and executive regulations confirm that VAT will be effective from January 1, 2018.

Scope of VAT – VAT is imposed on all taxable supplies of goods and services in Saudi Arabia by a taxable person or received in Saudi Arabia by a taxable person where the reverse charge mechanism applies and on imports of goods.

Mandatory VAT registration – businesses must register by 20 December if their annual turnover exceeds the mandatory registration threshold of SR375,000 ($99,920).  Businesses with turnover of less than SR 1 million can defer registration until December 31 2018 and businesses that make exclusively zero rated supplies may register voluntarily even if the value of the supplies exceed the mandatory registration threshold.  GAZT had already started registering large businesses automatically based on existing records.  Businesses that are eligible to register and have not received any notification from GAZT that they have been automatically registered may register online.

Voluntary VAT registration - an option to register will be available for businesses where the annual taxable supply is below the mandatory registration threshold but exceeds the voluntary registration threshold of SR187,500.

Group Registration – related companies may apply for VAT group registration subject to certain conditions.

Zero rated supplies – export of goods, services supplied to customers outside the GCC, international and intra-GCC transportation, investment grade precious metals, medicine and medical equipment.

Exempt supplies – leases of residential real estate, life insurance and margin-based financial services.

Compliance – Businesses with taxable supplies exceeding SAR 40 million will be required to submit VAT returns on a monthly basis and all other persons will be required to file returns on a quarterly basis. The VAT return and payment will be due within a month from the end of the tax period.

Transitional rules – there are various transitional provisions including a provision that deals with contracts entered into before 30 May 2017 that are silent on VAT.

With less than four months left until VAT is implemented in Saudi Arabia, Al Tamimi will be happy to undertake a VAT impact assessment to help clients understand the impact of VAT on their business and to enable them to comply with their VAT obligations, the law firm said in a statement. – TradeArabia News Service