Saudi cabinet approves 5 pct value added tax

Source: Xinhua | 2017-01-30 23:31:05 | Editor: huaxia

US President Donald Trump(L)seen through an Oval Office window gives a thumbs up as he speaks on the phone to King Salman of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office of the White House on January 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (AFP/Xinhua)

RIYADH, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi cabinet on Monday approved a unified agreement on value added tax (VAT) and selective taxes in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries will impose a VAT of 5 percent on all services and products, except 100 main commodities, as of the first quarter of 2018.

The decision will end decades of a tax-free regime as a measure to cope with economic difficulties following a drop in international oil prices.

The selective taxes, on "harmful products" such as tobacco, will be imposed from April. Tax on tobacco, now at 50 percent, will be raised to 100 percent, the same level as those for fizzy and energy drinks.

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Saudi cabinet approves 5 pct value added tax

Source: Xinhua 2017-01-30 23:31:05

US President Donald Trump(L)seen through an Oval Office window gives a thumbs up as he speaks on the phone to King Salman of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office of the White House on January 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (AFP/Xinhua)

RIYADH, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi cabinet on Monday approved a unified agreement on value added tax (VAT) and selective taxes in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries will impose a VAT of 5 percent on all services and products, except 100 main commodities, as of the first quarter of 2018.

The decision will end decades of a tax-free regime as a measure to cope with economic difficulties following a drop in international oil prices.

The selective taxes, on "harmful products" such as tobacco, will be imposed from April. Tax on tobacco, now at 50 percent, will be raised to 100 percent, the same level as those for fizzy and energy drinks.