Deadline extended for filing returns and payment of taxes in KSA due to COVID-19

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has issued a media release on its website for providing support to the business community due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) global crisis.

Key economic reliefs:·        

• Extending the deadline by three months for filing Tax/Zakat returns, Withholding Tax (WHT) returns, Value Added Tax (VAT) returns, etc.      
• Extending the deadline by three months for making payments for Income tax, WHT, Zakat, VAT, excise duty, etc.
• Zakat and tax certificates expiring for the fiscal year 2019 will be issued without any restrictions.      
• Deferring the collection of customs duties on imports for a period of thirty days against the submission of a bank guarantee for the next three months.
• Relief on expat levy, fees of issued work visas, extending exit and re-entry visas, some government services fees municipal fees, etc. with certain conditions.

The media release does not specifically address other matters such as deadlines for filing objections and appeals.

However, in a related matter, the General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) and the General Secretariat for Tax Committees (GSTC) had previously issued notifications that hearings by the Internal Settlement Committee and the Appeal Committees respectively have been suspended until further notice. The GAZT is expected to issue additional guidelines soon.