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Saudi Arabia tax

Tax residence: At least 30 days in Zakat year. Foreign-source income of residents: Source/zakat scope. No special regime for new residents in our records.

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Standard rules

Income Tax Law scope, individual residence test and withholding rates

Details
  • On: Non-Saudi partners' share of resident company income

Saudi income tax applies to non-Saudi shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income. Payments to non-residents carry withholding of 5% to 20% by income type. A natural person is resident with a permanent dwelling and 30 days, or 183 days, in the Zakat year. 1 2 3

Taxed on

Non-Saudi partners' share of resident company income; non-residents' Saudi-source income; payments to non-residents (withholding).

Who it applies to

  • Natural person resident test: permanent residence in the Kingdom plus at least 30 days in the Zakat year, or, without a permanent residence, at least 183 days in the Zakat year (Zakat Collection Implementing Regulations).

Exclusions

  • Opening bank accounts and trading in listed Saudi shares by a resident natural person are not taxable activity.

Days in the country

  • At least 30 days in Zakat year · Natural person with a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 30 days, consecutive or aggregated.
  • At least 183 days in Zakat year · Natural person without a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 183 days, consecutive or aggregated.

Tax residence

Residence is judged per Zakat year. Withholding rates: management fees 20%, royalties 15%, dividends 5%, rent 5%, loan charges 5%, insurance 5%, technical and consulting services 5%, air tickets or freight 5%, international telecoms 5%, land transport 15%, other payments 15%.

Visas

Premium Residency does not by itself determine tax status.

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Standard rules

Saudi Arabia: Income Tax Law scope for individuals; Zakat for Saudi/GCC nationals

Source/zakat scope

Foreign-source income: Source/zakat scope
Details

Income tax applies to non-Saudi partners' shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income; resident Saudi and GCC nationals carrying on an activity are subject to Zakat instead. 1 4 5 3

Taxed on

Income tax: non-Saudi partners' shares of resident capital-company profit and income of non-residents from Saudi sources (by withholding tax or permanent establishment); taxable activity covers commercial, industrial, agricultural, service, banking, insurance, investment, leasing and professional activity.

Who it applies to

  • Resident Saudi natural persons and GCC nationals treated alike who engage in an activity are subject to Zakat collection rather than income tax (ZATCA Zakat FAQ).

Exclusions

  • Opening bank accounts and trading shares of companies listed on the Saudi Capital Market by a resident natural person are not taxable activity under the Law (ZATCA Income Tax page).
  • Withholding tax on payments to non-residents ranges from 5% on dividends, rent, loan charges and insurance to 15% on royalties and 20% on management fees (ZATCA WHT guideline).

Tax residence

A natural person is resident with a permanent residence and 30 days in the Zakat year, or 183 days without a permanent residence.

Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log

When do you become a tax resident in Saudi Arabia?

At least 30 days in Zakat year (Natural person with a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 30 days, consecutive or aggregated); At least 183 days in Zakat year (Natural person without a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 183 days, consecutive or aggregated). Residence is judged per Zakat year.

Is foreign-source income taxed in Saudi Arabia?

Source/zakat scope. Income tax applies to non-Saudi partners' shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income; resident Saudi and GCC nationals carrying on an activity are subject to Zakat instead.

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Sources (5)

Official sources

  1. Income Tax (scope of the Income Tax Law) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-11
  2. General Guideline for Withholding Tax under the Income Tax Law and its Implementing Regulations · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) · checked 2026-10-11
  3. Implementing Regulations for Zakat Collection 1445H (2024) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) · checked 2026-10-11
  4. General Guideline for Withholding Tax under the Income Tax Law and its Implementing Regulations · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-10
  5. Zakat FAQs guideline (persons subject to Zakat collection) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-11