What happened
Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has urged VAT-registered businesses to submit their returns for September and for the third quarter of 2026. The call was published on 21 October 2026.
The filing period depends on business size. Establishments whose annual supplies of goods and services exceed SAR 40 million are asked to file for September. Those whose annual supplies do not exceed SAR 40 million are asked to file for Q3 2026 (July to September) no later than 31 October 2026.
ZATCA wants returns filed and payments made promptly through its app.
What it means for you
If you run or manage a business in Saudi Arabia, including an Indian-owned or Indian-run one, check which filing group you fall into based on your annual supplies. Then file and pay within the period.
Missing the deadline carries a cost. A business that does not file in time faces a fine set somewhere between 5% and 25% of the tax it was supposed to declare. So the lowest penalty is one-twentieth of the tax due, and the highest is a quarter of it.
For questions, ZATCA lists its 24/7 call centre on 19993, the @Zatca_Care account on X, the email info@zatca.gov.sa and instant chat on zatca.gov.sa.
Background
VAT (value added tax) is an indirect tax in force in Saudi Arabia. It applies to goods and services bought and sold by businesses, with a few exceptions. It is paid on transactions rather than on income, and businesses collect it and report it to the authority through periodic returns.
Readers who deal with tax at home can compare it with India’s GST using the GST Calculator, though the two systems have separate rules.
