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.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Tax residence
- 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. 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%.
- A natural person is resident with a permanent residence and 30 days in the Zakat year, or 183 days without a permanent residence.
Standard rules and foreign-source income
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.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Standard rules
Saudi Arabia: Income Tax Law scope for individuals; Zakat for Saudi/GCC nationals
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
Questions people ask
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
- Income Tax (scope of the Income Tax Law) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-11
- General Guideline for Withholding Tax under the Income Tax Law and its Implementing Regulations · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) · checked 2026-10-11
- Implementing Regulations for Zakat Collection 1445H (2024) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) · checked 2026-10-11
- General Guideline for Withholding Tax under the Income Tax Law and its Implementing Regulations · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-10
- Zakat FAQs guideline (persons subject to Zakat collection) · Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority · checked 2026-10-11